I Am A Running Mate- Episodes 1-4

The high-stakes student council elections at Youngjin High aren’t just about politics... they’re about pride, grudges, and survival.

Episode 1 kicks off on election day, then rewinds 33 days earlier to introduce Noh Se-hoon, a top student whose life derails after an embarrassing bus incident earns him the nickname “Mr. Hard On.” Choir practice is his only refuge, mostly because it lets him watch his crush, Ha Yu-gyeong. When choir captain Yang Won-dae asks him to be his running mate, Se-hoon thinks it’s his ticket to restoring his reputation. But after learning he was actually Won-dae’s 12th choice, and that the popular, well-connected Choi Sang-hyeon genuinely wants him, Se-hoon jumps ship.

In Episode 2, Se-hoon joins Sang-hyeon’s team as vice president, ignoring Won-dae’s calls. Tensions rise when a crude drawing of Yu-gyeong gets Gyeong-tae in trouble and Se-hoon is branded “the rat” for reporting it. In the choir captain elections, Won-dae nominates Se-hoon as a goodwill gesture, but Se-hoon flips the script, rejecting the post and nominating someone he deems more worthy. He quits choir entirely, vowing not to settle for applause over real achievement.

Episode 3 brings booze, bullies, and birthday drama. At Sang-hyeon’s party, Se-hoon clashes with a guest and wakes up next to Mi-na, with no memory of what happened. Gyeong-tae overhears him talking about it, planting the seed for future trouble. While Sang-hyeon’s campaign gains steam, Se-hoon faces harassment from school delinquents. Then a twist: the police pick up Won-dae, but it turns out to be for a Brave Citizen Award, giving his popularity a boost and hurting Sang-hyeon’s momentum.

In Episode 4, the official campaigns kick off. Won-dae’s team dominates the opening rally, pulling a 65% lead to Sang-hyeon’s 35%. Desperate, Sang-hyeon’s strategist In-gyeon urges Se-hoon to dig up dirt on Won-dae and Ji-hun. Se-hoon’s day takes a violent turn when he’s hit by a motorcycle. At the hospital, suspicions swirl when Won-dae shows up with a bleeding leg, especially since he once told Se-hoon he wanted to run him over. The episode ends with a tense face-off as everyone wonders if this was an “accident” at all.

DramaZen's Opinion

Okay… I did not expect a high school election drama to be this juicy, but I Am A Running Mate has me hooked like it’s the next big K-drama obsession.

From the moment poor Se-hoon’s “bus incident” blew up (seriously, my secondhand embarrassment was through the roof 😭), this show has been a rollercoaster of teen politics, petty rivalries, and “did-they-really-just-do-that?” moments.

We’ve got Mr. 12th Choice Won-dae (ouch) versus Golden Boy Sang-hyeon, with Se-hoon caught in the middle, trying to clear his name while navigating friendships, crushes, and sabotage. The twists are fabulous... one minute you’re laughing at choir room drama, the next you’re wondering if someone literally tried to run our boy over.

Episodes 1–4 give us so much: friendship shakeups, campaign wars, accidental almost-love triangles, shady strategists, and a cliffhanger that has me side-eyeing everyone with a motorcycle license.

It’s messy. It’s dramatic. It’s addictive. And if this is just the first four episodes, I’m bracing myself for absolute chaos in the weeks ahead.