# School 2021

School 2021 (Korean: 학교 2021) is a 2021 South Korean television series directed by Kim Min-tae and starred Kim Yo-han, Cho Yi-hyun, Choo Young-woo and Hwang Bo-reum-byeol. It is the eighth installment of KBS2's School franchise. The series tells the story of 18 youths, who choose a path rather than an entrance examination. It depicts their growing period of dreams, friendship, and excitement as they struggle through the undefined boundaries. It was premiered on KBS2 on November 24, 2021 and aired every Wednesday and Thursday at 21:30 (KST) till January 13, 2022.

## Synopsis

School friends helping each other overcome the barriers that come up while taking a less chosen path. In the course they learn valuable lessons about life, love, and friendship.

## Cast and characters
### Main

* Kim Yo-han as Gong Ki-joon, 18 years old
** Moon Woo-jin as young Gong Ki-joon
    He lost his dream of taekwondo after 11 years of training due to an injury. A member of a woodworking club.
* Cho Yi-hyun as Jin Ji-won
** Park Ye-rin as young Jin Ji-won
    A bright high school girl with a resolute dream to become a carpenter. She lives in the house which is under Ki-joon's house.
* Choo Young-woo as Jung Young-joo
    Transfer student with a secret story. He looks like a quick-tempered but a warm-hearted person. Young-joo has tangled relationship with Ki-joon due to past events. He and Seo-young made an agreement to pretend to be a couple but, later on, has a crush on Ji-won.
* Hwang Bo-reum-byeol as Kang Seo-young
    The quiet student in the class so that she is mistaken for conceit. She prepares for entrance examination on her own to enter in any of the top five universities in South Korea because she wants to get the scholarship and lighten the load of the orphanage's people. After making the couple agreement with Young-joo, she secretly falls in love with him.
* Jeon Seok-ho as Lee Kang-hoon
    39 years old, new teacher in the Department of Architecture, he is a character who values work-life balance more than students.

### Supporting
#### Nulgigo Architecture Design Class 2-1

* Kim Kang-min as Ji Ho-sung
    He is serious about every dream thats keeps changing, a passionate fan of Go Eun-bi and a friendship bridge between her and Jin Ji-won
* Seo Hee-sun as Go Eun-bi
    An idol trainee, who is a person with a wound inside. Unlike the cold and arrogant outside, there is a love and hate relationship with Kang Seo-young.
* Yoon Yi-re as Lee Jae-hee, twin sister of Lee Jae-hyuk.
* Lee Sang-joon as Lee Jae-hyuk
    Lee Jae-hee's twin brother, nephew of the school president Gu Mi-hee, was a person who was specially treated at the school and was faithful to his wishes. Try to make the most of his favorable conditions and in the meantime by getting involved with Kang Seo-young.
* Lee Ha-eun as Jung Min-seo
    An architecture student with clam and tender-hearted personality. An intern at Nulji Science and Technology High School, a calm and gentle person. She unintentionally caused an accident at work which made her contemplate taking her own life but not before writing a letter referencing Hanna Dains' poem.
* Kim Nu-rim as Jong-bok
    A sophomore in the architecture department of Nulji Science and Technology High School, in addition to understanding how to get along well with his classmates. He is a close friend of Gong Ki-joon.
* Kim Jin-gon as Hong Min-ki
    Second year high school student in the architectural design department. A friendly person who cares about others and believes what he hears.
* Park Ga-ryul as Jo Tae-ri, class president. A bit harsh and direct.
* Jung Ye-seo as Lee Hyo-joo
    A sophomore architecture student at Nulji Science and Technology High School. Jin Ji-won's close friend and someone who always worries about Ji-won and supports him in what he does.
* Kim Cha-yoon as Kim Myung-ah
    A sophomore in the Department of Architecture. She has a bold personality and is a straightforward person, but no one can hate her.
* Cha Joo-wan as Taekang Choi, the captain of the school's taekwondo club.

#### Teachers

* Kim Kyu-seon as Song Chae-rin
    37 years old, new professor in the Department of Architecture, who knows how to stand by the students and bump into Lee Kang-hoon.
* Lee Ji-ha as Gu Mi-hee
    54 years old, two-faced president. She's someone who values the employment rate more than the student's dream. She created a slight conflict with the students.
* Kim Min-sang as Lee Han-soo
    50 years old, head of the Education Department, he also values employment rate more than student's dream, so he is secretly in conflict with students.
* Park Geun-rok as Shin Chul-min
    38 years old, a teacher who likes to hang out with children.
* Shin Cheol-jin as Oh Jang-seok, 65 years old, principal
* Go Eun-min as Kim Young-na, 20 years old
* Im Jae-geun as Yeo Sam-yeol, 50 years old

#### Families
##### Ki-joon's family

* Park In-hwan as Gong Young-soo
    70 years old, Ki-joon's grandfather. A former carpenter, he currently lives alone with his grandson Ki-joon due to family circumstances. He loves Ki-joon infinitely.

##### Ji-won's family

* Kim Soo-jin as Jo Young-mi
    50 years old, Ji-won's mother, she is unhappy with Ji-won's dream.
* Jo Seung-yeon as Jin Deok-gyu
    52 years old, Ji-won's father.
* Kim Ye-ji as Jin Jin-soo
    24 years old, Ji-won's older sister.

##### Jung Young-joo's family

* Bang Jae-ho as Chul Joo-jeong
    24 years old, Young-joo's older brother.
* Jo Ryeon as Kim Seon-ja
    51 years old, Young-ju and Cheol-ju's mother.

## Production
### Development

Originally planned to be produced in 2020 under the name School 2020, and to air in the second half of 2020, the series was delayed for completeness. The script was revised and the name was changed to School 2021.

### Casting

In February 2020, Kim Yo-han was confirmed as the male lead. Ahn Seo-hyun was cast as female lead, but was removed from the series due to a disagreement between her father (who also served as her talent manager at that time) and the producers. Kim Sae-ron was offered the female lead role later, but she declined.
In April 2021, Kim Young-dae and Cho Yi-hyun joined the cast. On June 21, casting of the four main characters was confirmed. On July 15, it was reported that Kim Young-dae has dropped out of the series. On July 23, it was officially announced that Kim Young-dae withdrew. On July 27, it was reported that Choo Young-woo has been offered the role of transfer student, which originally Kim Young-dae was playing. On July 28, it was reported that Choo Young-woo officially joined.
On August 5, it was announced by Kurznine Entertainment that Seo Hee-sun would debut as an idol trainee in the series. On the same day, Mystic Story announced that Kim Kang-min also joined the cast of School 2021. On August 6, the cast lineup for teachers and families was announced. On October 13, script reading site was revealed by releasing photos.

### Filming

On November 13, one of the cast member of the series was tested positive for COVID-19 and subsequently the main lead was also found positive, the production and presentation was suspended as per the guidelines.

### Music

On September 24, it was reported that producers Yoon Il-sang, and artist Yoon Min-soo of Vibe, and Mamamoo's RBW Entertainment are participating in the School 2021 album production together and working on the songs. It is progressing along with the production of the drama.

## Release

School 2021 was originally scheduled to be released on November 17, 2021, however, Kim Yo-han caught COVID-19 and the premiere date was postponed to November 24.
A special broadcast titled '2021, Let's Go to School!' to promote the series was aired on November 18, 2021. The production team said, "Through a special broadcast, we will present an exciting time by highlighting a fresh and refreshing story and teen romance once again."

## Ratings

Average TV viewership ratings (nationwide) :
| Ep. | Original broadcast date | Average audience share (Nielsen Korea) |
| 1 | November 24, 2021 | 2.8% (27th) |
| 2 | November 25, 2021 | 1.6% (39th) |
| 3 | December 1, 2021 | 2.0% (35th) |
| 4 | December 2, 2021 | 1.6% (36th) |
| 5 | December 8, 2021 | 1.6% (42nd) |
| 6 | December 9, 2021 | 1.7% (38th) |
| 7 | December 15, 2021 | 1.6% (43rd) |
| 8 | December 16, 2021 | 1.6% (36th) |
| 9 | December 22, 2021 | 1.5% (43rd) |
| 10 | December 23, 2021 | 1.3% (44th) |
| 11 | December 29, 2021 | 1.6% (42nd) |
| 12 | December 30, 2021 | 1.7% (41st) |
| 13 | January 5, 2022 | 1.8% (39th) |
| 14 | January 6, 2022 | 1.6% (47th) |
| 15 | January 12, 2022 | 2.0% (38th) |
| 16 | January 13, 2022 | 1.6% (47th) |
| Average | Average | 1.7% |
| In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings. |||

## Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination :
| Year | Awards | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2021 | KBS Drama Awards | Best New Actor | Kim Yo-han | Won |
| 2021 | KBS Drama Awards | Best New Actor | Choo Young-woo | Nominated |
| 2021 | KBS Drama Awards | Best New Actress | Cho Yi-hyun | Nominated |
| 2021 | KBS Drama Awards | Best New Actress | Hwang Bo-reum-byeol | Nominated |
| 2021 | KBS Drama Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Kim Kang-min | Nominated |
| 2021 | KBS Drama Awards | Best Couple Award | Kim Yo-han and Cho Yi-hyun | Won |
| 2022 | APAN Star Awards | Best New Actress | Cho Yi-hyun | Nominated |