School 3

“School 3” is the third installment in the iconic School K-drama series, known for its realistic portrayal of teenage life in South Korea. Set in a bustling high school, the series follows a group of students as they navigate the ups and downs of youth—friendship, love, rivalry, and the pressure to succeed. With heartfelt storytelling and relatable themes, this 2000 drama captures the essence of growing up in a competitive academic world. At the center of the story is Lee Se Chan, portrayed by Park Kwang Hyun, a popular and confident student who struggles with hidden insecurities. His classmate, Yoo Da In, played by Lee In Hye, is intelligent and determined, but often finds herself clashing with authority and peers. Bae Lee Kyung (Oh Yoo Na) adds emotional depth as a student balancing school life and personal challenges, representing many young viewers' realities. Rising stars Zo In Sung as Kim Suk Joo and Lee Dong Wook as Lee Kang San deliver standout performances that helped launch their careers. Their roles explore complex themes like bullying, family expectations, and the search for identity. Alongside a diverse cast of teachers and classmates, their stories weave together into a touching mosaic of school life. With its raw and honest look into teenage experiences, “School 3” is a classic Korean high school drama that resonates with audiences across generations. Blending emotional storytelling, strong performances, and socially relevant issues, this series remains a fan favorite for those who enjoy coming-of-age K-dramas filled with heart and authenticity.

Details

🙂 Native Title: 학교 3
🌎 Also Known As: School Season 3, Hakgyo 3
🎭 Genres: Drama, Youth, School
🏷 Tags: High School, Student Life, Teenage Romance, Friendship, Coming of Age
✍ Screenwriters: Kang Eun Kyung, In Jung Ok
🎬 Directors: Lee Min Hong, Hwang Eui Kyung
🇰🇷 Country: South Korea
🎬 Episodes: 49
🗓️ Aired: Mar 6, 2000 – Sep 4, 2000
📅 Airing Days: Monday, Tuesday
📺 Original Network: KBS2
⏰ Duration: 45 min.
🔞 Content Rating: 15+ – Teens 15 or older

Best Scenes

Kim Suk Joo’s emotional confrontation with a teacher, played by Zo In Sung, showcases the pressure of expectations and delivers a powerful early-career performance.
Lee Kang San’s rooftop monologue, portrayed by Lee Dong Wook, is a heartfelt moment of vulnerability that resonated deeply with teen viewers.
Classroom breakdown scene, where tensions explode between students over bullying, delivers raw emotion and realism.
Bae Lee Kyung’s teary fight with her best friend, an emotional fallout that captures the fragility of teen friendships.
Final graduation scene, where the main characters reflect on growth and say goodbye, offers a satisfying and nostalgic closure.

Filming Locations

KBS Studio sets in Seoul served as the main school setting, giving the series a consistent and realistic academic backdrop.
Actual Seoul high school exteriors were used for key outdoor scenes, enhancing authenticity and visual familiarity for local viewers.
City parks and walkways appeared in emotional scenes between friends and couples, often symbolizing transition or solitude.
Residential neighborhoods were featured in side stories, showing the personal lives of students outside school.
Classroom interiors and corridors were carefully designed to reflect a typical Korean high school environment from the early 2000s.

Visual Design and Costumes

Uniforms were styled simply, mirroring the realistic tone of the series and emphasizing the students’ social equality.
Hair and makeup were kept natural, enhancing relatability and grounding the characters in everyday life.
Soft lighting in classroom scenes added warmth and emotional depth to dramatic interactions.
Costumes evolved subtly to reflect changes in character development, especially among main leads.
Set design leaned toward minimalism, highlighting the drama’s realistic, documentary-style storytelling approach.

Themes and Messages

Coming of age in a competitive society is a core theme, showing the emotional and academic struggles of South Korean teens.
Bullying and peer pressure are addressed head-on, revealing the psychological toll they take on students.
Friendship and loyalty are tested and celebrated, forming the heart of the series’ emotional appeal.
Teacher-student relationships are explored, both supportive and conflicting, reflecting real-world school dynamics.
Dreams vs. reality is a recurring dilemma, as students wrestle with what they want to become versus what society expects.

Interesting Facts

Zo In Sung and Lee Dong Wook made early career breakthroughs in “School 3,” later becoming top-tier Hallyu stars.
The “School” series is famous for launching the careers of many K-drama actors across its different seasons.
“School 3” aired during a time when K-dramas were shifting toward realism, helping redefine youth drama formats.
Despite its age, fans still praise the drama for its timeless message and authentic depiction of school life.
The drama’s open-ended storytelling allowed room for interpretation and audience connection, which became a signature of the franchise.

Awards

Here are the awards received by the Korean drama “School 3” (2000):

2000 KBS Drama Awards: Zo In-sung won the Best Young Actor Award for his role as Kim Suk-joo in “School 3”.
2000 KBS Drama Awards: Yang Hee-kyung received the Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance as Teacher Yang Hee-jung in “School 3”.
2000 KBS Drama Awards: Park Kwang-hyun was honored with the Best New Actor Award for his portrayal of Lee Se-chan in “School 3”.
2000 KBS Drama Awards: Lee In-hye was nominated for the Best New Actress Award for her role as Yoo Da-in in “School 3”.

These accolades highlight the significant impact “School 3” had in showcasing emerging talent in the South Korean television industry.

Real-Life Loves on Set

There is no public or confirmed report of a real-life romance between any of the cast members of the Korean drama “School 3” (2000). While the show featured strong on-screen chemistry—especially between rising stars like Zo In Sung, Lee Dong Wook, Oh Yoo Na, and Lee In Hye—their relationships remained professional.

The realistic portrayal of teen love and friendship may have led fans to speculate about off-screen romances, but none of the cast members have acknowledged or revealed any romantic involvement that began during the filming of “School 3.” As of now, the love stories in the drama stayed fictional and didn’t translate into real-life relationships.