Despite the lead actor’s military enlistment preventing full-scale promotions, TVING's original series 'Study Group' has captivated audiences, dominating paid subscription contributions for four consecutive weeks and sparking widespread demand for a second season. 

Beyond its subscription impact, 'Study Group' also ranked high in buzzworthiness. According to Good Data Corporation's FUNdex analysis, the drama entered the TV-OTT drama buzz rankings at No. 8 in the fourth week of January and consistently remained in the Top 10. On Watchapedia, it peaked at No. 4 and stayed in the platform’s Top 10 throughout its run, proving its widespread popularity.

Except for lead actor Hwang Min Hyun, most of the cast consists of rookie actors, leading to relatively low pre-release anticipation. Additionally, Hwang Min Hyun enlisted in the military shortly after filming, making it difficult to conduct press conferences or active promotions. Despite these challenges, the drama achieved remarkable success, surprising many with its strong performance from start to finish.

Hwang Min Hyun enlisted as a public service worker on March 21, 2024, and is set to be discharged on December 20, 2025.

Released on January 23, 'Study Group' is a high school action comedy about Yoon Ga Min (played by Hwang Min Hyun), a student who desperately wants to excel academically but only possesses a natural talent for fighting. He forms a study group in one of the worst-performing schools, embarking on a fierce battle for academic success. Due to its intense action scenes, the drama received a restricted rating despite being a school-based series. The show, based on the Naver webtoon of the same name, features Hwang Min Hyun, Han Ji Eun, Cha Woo Min, Lee Jong Hyun, and Shin Soo Hyun in key roles.

The original webtoon began serialization in January 2019 and gained immense popularity with its unique blend of school life and action. Currently in its third season, it enjoys a solid readership both in Korea and internationally, with official releases in Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, China, and Japan, as well as printed editions.

For the drama adaptation, new elements were introduced that were not present in the webtoon, the most notable being the "Ranking App." This system ranks students based on their fighting abilities, granting special privileges to those with the highest rankings. The drama also adjusted certain characters' academic standings and personalities, adding fresh storylines that were not in the original webtoon.

In the final episode, the study group faces disbandment due to a scheme orchestrated by Pi Han Wool (played by Cha Woo Min). To protect Lee Han Kyung (portrayed by Han Ji Eun), who was at risk due to Han Wool’s disciplinary committee plot, the group comes together.

As Lee Han Kyung falls into a trap the day before the disciplinary hearing, the study group springs into action, facing off against the "Yeonbaek Gang" and showcasing their individual strengths. Yoon Ga Min, in particular, uses a special fighting technique to overpower Pi Han Wool, heightening the drama’s tension. In the climactic battle, even the reformed students of Yuseong High School join in, bringing the fight to a dramatic close.

With Pi Han Wool gone, Yuseong High students voluntarily delete the Ranking App, ushering in a new era of order. The study group members return to their normal student lives, supporting each other’s dreams.

After the finale, fans flooded online forums expressing their hopes for a second season, commenting: “This has become one of my favorite dramas! The acting, directing, story, action, and music are all perfect," “Study Group was amazing! Please, we need Season 2,” “I really hope they announce Season 2 soon,” “I loved every second of it and can’t wait for more,” “The webtoon was great, but the drama is absolutely insane,” “Hwang Minhyun needs to reunite with the study group!” and “It’s a bit over-the-top at times, but that’s part of its charm.”

Han Ji Eun, who played the temporary teacher of Class 1-4 and the study group’s mentor, addressed the show’s unexpected success in a post-finale interview. She shared, “When I watched the early edited versions, I thought it was fun and would do well, but I didn’t expect it to be this successful. The response has been even better than I imagined.” She added, “Among ourselves, we’ve talked about how much we’d love to do a Season 2.”

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