Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Hierarchy, which became one of Netflix’s most talked-about teen dramas of 2024, diving deep into the dark world of Korea’s most exclusive high school. This series takes viewers inside the privileged bubble of elite students where power, money, and family connections determine everything.
Hierarchy premiered on Netflix on June 7, 2024, featuring 7 episodes with an average runtime of about 60 minutes each, all released simultaneously for binge-watching. Directed by Bae Hyeon-jin and written by Chu Hye-mi, this teen romance thriller stars Roh Jeong-eui, Lee Chae-min, Kim Jae-won, Ji Hye-won, and Lee Won-jung. The top 0.01% of students control law and order at Jooshin High School, but a secretive transfer student may find a way into their indomitable world.
The story unfolds at Jooshin High School, an elite private institution founded by South Korea’s top conglomerate, the Jooshin Group, where students are essentially chosen from birth based on their family’s wealth and status. What sets Hierarchy apart from other teen dramas is its unflinching examination of how economic inequality shapes young people’s lives and relationships. The series doesn’t shy away from showing the brutal reality of class differences and the lengths people will go to maintain or challenge the existing social order.
Breaking the Elite Circle: A Scholarship Student’s Mission
Kang Ha (Lee Chae-min), a mild-mannered scholarship student, transfers to Jooshin High School with a heavy heart and a singular mission: to unearth the school’s biggest-ever scandal … and get his revenge. However, Hierarchy quickly reveals that infiltrating this world of extreme privilege isn’t just difficult, it’s dangerous.
The premise centers on how Kang Ha’s arrival disrupts the carefully maintained power structure at Jooshin High, where students include Jung Jae-I (Roh Jeong-Eui), who is is the first daughter of the family that runs Jaeyool Group, Kim Ri-An (Kim Jae-Won) who is the successor of the Jooshin Group, and other heirs to massive fortunes. The series masterfully shows how these students use their inherited power to control not just the school environment, but the lives and futures of everyone around them.
Kang Ha (Lee Chae-min): The Outsider with a Secret Agenda
Lee Chae-min delivers a compelling performance as Kang Ha, the scholarship student who refuses to be intimidated by the elite students’ attempts at dominance. Although it is a different world for Kang Ha, he doesn’t fear the bullies. In the episode one trailer, he stands up against a bully when the latter tries to threaten him. His character represents the outsider’s perspective on extreme wealth and privilege, serving as the audience’s entry point into this rarefied world.
Throughout Hierarchy, we watch Kang Ha navigate the complex social dynamics while hiding his true motivations for transferring to Jooshin High. Lee Chae-min brings both vulnerability and determination to the role, creating a character who must constantly balance his desire for justice with the need to survive in an environment designed to exclude people like him.
Jung Jae-I (Roh Jeong-eui): The Conflicted Heiress
Roh Jeong-eui portrays Jung Jae-I, the daughter of one of Korea’s most powerful families, who finds herself torn between her privileged world and her growing feelings for the mysterious transfer student. Her character represents the internal conflict of someone born into extreme privilege who begins to question the system that benefits her.
Roh Jeong-eui’s performance captures the complexity of a young woman who has never had to consider the consequences of her family’s wealth until Kang Ha’s arrival forces her to confront uncomfortable truths. The chemistry between her character and Kang Ha creates the romantic tension that drives much of the series, while also serving as a metaphor for the possibility of bridging class divides.
The Truth Behind the Privilege: When Secrets Explode
Hierarchy reaches its most intense moments when the carefully guarded secrets of Jooshin High’s elite families begin to unravel. The series doesn’t hold back in showing how these students and their families maintain their power through manipulation, corruption, and sometimes violence. These revelations transform what initially appears to be a typical teen romance into a dark thriller about the price of extreme wealth.
The uncovering of the school’s “biggest-ever scandal” serves as the catalyst for confrontations that expose the true nature of the relationships between these characters. Hierarchy excels in showing how privilege can corrupt even the youngest members of society, creating a generation that sees others as expendable in the pursuit of maintaining their status.
The Ecosystem of Elite Power
The supporting cast, including Kim Jae-won as Kim Ri-An and Ji Hye-won as Yoon He-Ra, creates a comprehensive portrait of how different elite families maintain their power and influence. Each character represents a different aspect of inherited privilege, from corporate succession to political connections to old money versus new money dynamics.
The ensemble work particularly shines in showing how these students have been shaped by their families’ expectations and the pressure to maintain their social position. The series explores how privilege can be both a blessing and a curse, trapping these young people in predetermined roles that may not reflect their true desires or moral compass.
Success on Netflix: Mixed Reception but Important Themes
It was released on Netflix on June 7, 2024, and received generally negative reviews. Hierarchy has achieved a 6.0/10 rating on IMDb and Score: 6.9 (scored by 24,211 users) on MyDramaList. “Hierarchy” is a well-executed drama that effectively tackles important social issues within the setting of an elite high school. While it may not be groundbreaking or particularly innovative, it provides a gripping and engaging viewing experience. The series format of 7 episodes allows for focused storytelling without the padding that often affects longer teen dramas. Hierarchy represents Netflix’s commitment to exploring contemporary social issues through the teen drama format.
A Mirror to Modern Inequality Worth Watching
If you love teen dramas that tackle serious social issues and aren’t afraid to show the dark side of privilege and power, Hierarchy is the perfect series to binge on Netflix. This isn’t just high school drama, it’s a commentary on how economic inequality shapes every aspect of young people’s lives and relationships.
Why This Elite School Drama Deserves Your Time
Hierarchy succeeds in using the familiar setting of an elite high school to explore very real issues about wealth, power, and social mobility in contemporary Korea. While the execution may not always match the ambition of its themes, the series raises important questions about privilege, justice, and the cost of maintaining social hierarchies. It’s a show that will make you think about inequality long after the final episode ends.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 7 (Complete Limited Series)
Platform: Netflix
Release Year: 2024
Current IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
Genre: Teen Drama, Romance, Thriller
Status: Complete Limited Series
Main Protagonists: Lee Chae-min (Kang Ha), Roh Jeong-eui (Jung Jae-I)
Antagonist: The systemic inequality and corruption of elite society