Study Group- Episodes 3-4
Ji-woo
Hey Study Group fans! Episode 3 continues the intense ride at Yusung Technical High School with shocking twists, brutal fights, and the introduction of a new character. Let’s break it all down!
The episode begins with Han-gyeong investigating Pi Han-ui, only to be warned that prying into his affairs could be a death sentence. In a shocking move, Pi Han-ui himself appears before Han-gyeong, hinting that her curiosity might get her into trouble.
Meanwhile, Ga-min and Se-hyeon begin their search for Ji-woo, the mysterious new applicant for the study group. They soon discover that Ji-woo is actually Hyeon-wu’s twin sister, but she never applied to join. Instead, her best friend, Hee-won, submitted the application to protect Ji-woo from bullies. Ji-woo is being blackmailed by Gyu-jin, who has a video of Hyeon-wu robbing a store. Worse, Gyu-jin tricked Hyeon-wu into taking a loan, creating a web of manipulation.
Ga-min soon witnesses Ji-woo being harassed by Gyu-jin and his girlfriend, forcing him to step in. Hee-won begs Ga-min to help, promising that Ji-woo will join the study group if the bullies are dealt with. However, this means confronting the school’s disciplinary committee—a feared organization that operates more like a mafia. Despite the danger, Ga-min is determined to get the blackmail video and sneaks into their office, only to find two other students searching for it as well.
Gyu-jin catches the intruders and beats them up before attempting to upload the incriminating video online. With no other choice, Ga-min reveals himself, engaging in a calculated fight to retrieve the USB containing the video. He endures a few punches to lower Gyu-jin’s guard before landing a decisive strike and securing the USB. However, before he can escape, more members of the disciplinary committee arrive, triggering another brutal brawl. Se-hyeon and Hee-won worry that Ga-min may be in over his head.
Ji-woo, unaware of their plan, is furious when she finds out what’s happening. She has been lying low to protect her brother but refuses to stay silent any longer.
Elsewhere, Han-gyeong meets with Pi Han-ui, trying to persuade him to release Hyeon-wu from his influence. Unsurprisingly, Pi Han-ui refuses and warns her to stay out of his business. However, he seems intrigued by Han-gyeong’s defiance.
Back at the disciplinary committee, Gyu-jin realizes the video is already on his hard drive and moves to upload it. Ga-min steals the hard drive and leads a chaotic chase across the school. Se-hyeon and Hee-won join the pursuit, while Gyu-jin’s gang follows closely behind. In the climax, Se-hyeon destroys the hard drive by throwing it off the rooftop. Before Gyu-jin can retaliate, Ji-woo steps in and delivers a fierce beating, proving she is more than capable of handling herself.
Meanwhile, Ga-min loses his grip on the USB, and Hee-won scrambles to retrieve it. She faces off against Mi-hee, one of Ji-woo’s bullies, and for the first time, refuses to back down. The girls fight for possession of the USB, but their victory is overshadowed by an even bigger threat—Hyeon-wu, armed with a knife. Manipulated by Pi Han-ui, Hyeon-wu arrives at school with the intent to kill Gyu-jin. Han-gyeong tries to intervene but gets stabbed in the process. Before losing consciousness, she reassures Hyeon-wu that she will help him.
The students are left in shock as Han-gyeong is rushed to the hospital. After her surgery, she welcomes Ji-woo and Hee-won to the study group. Ji-woo, torn between her loyalty to her brother and the reality of his actions, accepts that he made a mistake.
The next day, the study group holds its first official meeting. Ga-min is thrilled to finally see his efforts taking shape. Meanwhile, Pi Han-ui is briefly detained by the police but is released without much scrutiny. The episode ends with a new challenge—Tae-oh, another formidable student, declares war on Ga-min after hearing about his legendary fights. Ga-min tries to ignore him until Tae-oh’s gang targets Lee-joon, a student hoping to join the study group. Infuriated, Ga-min leaps from a third-floor window and knocks Tae-oh out with a single punch.
Lee-joon
The episode kicks off with a look into Lee-joon’s past. He enrolled at Yusung Technical High School with one goal: to become a great fighter. As a child, he was protected by an older friend who later turned to gang life and abandoned him. Now, Lee-joon wants to repay that kindness, but ironically, he’s terrible at fighting.
Lee-joon approaches Ga-min, hoping to join the study group—not for academics, but to learn how to fight. However, Ga-min isn’t convinced and refuses to let him in unless he commits to studying. To prove his sincerity, Lee-joon agrees to take a math test while the rest of the group visits Han-gyeong in the hospital. As he works through the exam, a man named Jang-ho approaches and mistakes him for Ga-min. Seeing an opportunity, Lee-joon falsely claims to be Ga-min and is promptly kidnapped.
Jang-ho takes him to a secluded warehouse, offering him a car if he can pass the Yeonbaek Gang test. Unsurprisingly, Lee-joon fails miserably. Meanwhile, Ga-min and the others return to school and realize he’s missing. When they check his math test, they’re surprised to see he performed well. Before they can figure out what happened, Geon-yeob arrives with dire news—Lee-joon has been taken by the gang.
Ga-min, Geon-yeob, and Ji-woo race to the warehouse while Se-hyeon and Hee-won rush to the police station. When they arrive, they find Jang-ho mercilessly beating Lee-joon for lying and failing the test. A brutal fight breaks out, with Ga-min once again using his strategy to outsmart his opponent. Ji-woo grows anxious as Ga-min takes a beating, but at the last moment, he turns the tide and demolishes Jang-ho.
Meanwhile, Detective Tae-man begins to suspect corruption within the police force. He questions why Pi Han-ui was released so quickly but is met with resistance from his superior. He also begins to worry about Han-gyeong’s safety, hinting that he knows more about her past than he lets on.
Back at the warehouse, the police arrive just in time to arrest Jang-ho and his men after Hee-won and Se-hyeon report the incident. Tae-man hands the students his business card, urging them to reach out if they’re ever in danger. However, Geon-yeob takes off in pursuit of a gang member who mentioned his mother’s death, suggesting that his past is far more complicated than we knew.
With tensions at Yusung Technical High School rising, Pi Han-ui continues scheming behind the scenes, ensuring more chaos is on the horizon. Meanwhile, the study group officially welcomes Lee-joon into their ranks. They set up a messaging group and begin their sessions, growing stronger as a team. After recovering from her injuries, Han-gyeong returns to school and confronts the principal, accusing him of ignoring Pi Han-ui’s crimes. She submits an official report, putting herself at risk once again.
To help her students, Han-gyeong organizes a study trip to Seoul, hoping it will teach them how to run a proper study group. Excited, the students dress in their best and prepare for their big trip. However, in classic Ga-min fashion, he runs late—and Ji-woo accidentally sends him to the wrong school, setting the stage for another unexpected adventure.
DramaZen's Opinion
These two episodes were a rollercoaster of action, emotion, and major plot twists. Ji-woo’s introduction added new stakes to the story, and her dynamic with Hee-won brought a fresh perspective on friendship and resilience. Ga-min’s determination continues to drive the narrative, but now we see his influence inspiring those around him to stand up for themselves.
The fight sequences were intense, and the emotional weight behind them made them even more compelling. Hyeon-wu’s tragic downfall was a heartbreaking turn, and Han-gyeong’s willingness to take a stab—literally—shows her unwavering resolve to change the school. Pi Han-ui’s looming presence continues to be a chilling reminder that the real battle has only just begun.
Lee-joon’s backstory adds new heart to the series, showing that not all students at Yusung Technical High are fighters by nature. His struggle to prove himself—both in combat and academics—makes him a compelling new addition to the study group.
Ga-min’s fight against Jang-ho was as intense as ever, showcasing his growth not just as a fighter but as a strategist. Meanwhile, the growing police corruption plot with Detective Tae-man adds another layer of intrigue, suggesting that the school’s problems run much deeper than we thought.
With the study group finally forming and new enemies emerging, the stakes are higher than ever. What did you all think of this episode? Let’s discuss in the comments!
Rating: 9/10
