{ "id": "epqhy7pgp4", "slug": "high-school-mystery-club", "title": "High School Mystery Club (여고추리반)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.korean_eastasian_webseries", "label": "Korean and East Asian web series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.korean_eastasian_webseries" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.asia.nodate.culture", "label": "Asia (other) · Not dated: Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.nodate.culture", "path": [ { "id": "geo.asia", "label": "Asia (other)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia" }, { "id": "geo.asia.nodate", "label": "Asia (other) · Not dated", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.nodate" }, { "id": "geo.asia.nodate.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.nodate.culture" } ] } ], "excerpt": "High School Mystery Club (여고추리반, Girls' High School Mystery Class) is TVING's first original Korean mystery-adventure variety series (2021), directed by Jeong Jong-yeon, starring Park Ji-yoon, Jang Do-yeon, JaeJae, BIBI, and Choi Ye-na as transfer students solving school mysteries across three seasons.", "snippet": "High School Mystery Club (여고추리반, Girls' High School Mystery Class) is TVING's first original Korean mystery-adventure variety series (2021), directed by Jeong Jong-yeon, starring Park Ji-yoon, Jang Do-yeon, JaeJae, BIBI, and Choi Ye-na as transfer students solving school mysteries across three seasons.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.korean_eastasian_webseries", "markdown": "# High School Mystery Club (여고추리반)\n\n**High School Mystery Club** (여고추리반, also translated Girls' High School Mystery Class) is a South Korean mystery-adventure variety series in which five celebrities, cast as transfer students, investigate suspicious incidents at a girls' high school. It was the first original variety program of the Korean streaming service TVING, directed by Jeong Jong-yeon, the producer behind *The Genius* and *The Great Escape*, and premiered on January 29, 2021.[1](https://d.namu.moe/w/%EC%97%AC%EA%B3%A0%EC%B6%94%EB%A6%AC%EB%B0%98) • [2](https://www.starnewskorea.com/broadcast-show/2021/01/18/2021011815133854883)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Format | Mystery adventure in which five cast members, as transfer students, solve cases at a fictional girls' high school; each season is a single connected story rather than an omnibus[2](https://www.starnewskorea.com/broadcast-show/2021/01/18/2021011815133854883) |\n| Cast | Park Ji-yoon, Jang Do-yeon, JaeJae, BIBI, and Choi Ye-na, unchanged from season 1 through season 3[3](https://idolounge.tistory.com/1880) |\n| Season 1 | TVING, January 29 to March 19, 2021, 16 episodes plus a special; TVING's first original program[1](https://d.namu.moe/w/%EC%97%AC%EA%B3%A0%EC%B6%94%EB%A6%AC%EB%B0%98) |\n| Season 2 | Released from December 2021, final episode February 18, 2022; unique viewers up more than 120% versus season 1 over the same period[4](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/amp/A2022022809510002388) • [5](https://www.newstomato.com/ReadNews.aspx?no=1108181) |\n| Season 3 | April to June 2024, 8 episodes, with Im Soo-jung as main director after Jeong Jong-yeon stepped down[6](https://www.cineplay.co.kr/ko-kr/articles/14695) • [7](https://www.viva100.com/article/202311024138020) |\n| Commercial performance | Season 1 ranked first in TVING's paid-subscription contribution metric for 26 consecutive days from episodes 7–8 through the finale[8](https://v.daum.net/v/cyhO6CgbXV?f=p) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Format and premise\n\nEach season places the five cast members in a new school as transfer students who join the school's mystery club and unravel a connected storyline. Season 1 is set at the fictional Saera Girls' High School (새라여고), where the club investigates disappearances and conspiracies involving students, teachers, and the police. Jeong Jong-yeon described the program as one in which cast members, participating as real players, solve suspicious incidents at a high school one by one, and said the idea grew out of a girls'-school episode of *The Great Escape*.[2](https://www.starnewskorea.com/broadcast-show/2021/01/18/2021011815133854883)\n\nUnlike the omnibus structure of *The Great Escape*, each season of *High School Mystery Club* runs as a single continuous story, and Jeong said viewers need to watch to the end for the major plot threads to resolve.[2](https://www.starnewskorea.com/broadcast-show/2021/01/18/2021011815133854883) The production builds elaborate physical sets: for season 1, an abandoned school in Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province, was renovated over about three weeks into the Taepyeong Girls' High School set, with a principal's office, staff room, school store, club room, and even a donation seat, and sets continued to be added or revised during filming.[9](https://www.kukinews.com/article/view/kuk202104060279) Non-player characters (NPCs), actors playing teachers and students with scripted roles, appear throughout; Jeong said NPCs were selected through auditions, with some performers, such as Moon Sang-hoon, recruited directly after the production encountered them in other media.[8](https://v.daum.net/v/cyhO6CgbXV?f=p)\n\n## Cast and chemistry\n\nThe five members are broadcaster Park Ji-yoon, comedian Jang Do-yeon, host JaeJae, rapper BIBI, and singer [Choi Ye-na](https://www.edgepedia.org/choi-ye-na). Jeong said he cast Park Ji-yoon as an anchor he trusted to keep the group oriented, given her record on the deduction show *Crime Scene*, and that he wanted performers matching TVING's younger target audience rather than all-age name recognition.[2](https://www.starnewskorea.com/broadcast-show/2021/01/18/2021011815133854883) • [8](https://v.daum.net/v/cyhO6CgbXV?f=p) He rated the group's chemistry \"100 points,\" noting that most members barely knew each other beforehand and that closeness formed quickly from the first recording.[8](https://v.daum.net/v/cyhO6CgbXV?f=p) Reviewers on the aggregation site Kinolights likewise praised the members for cooperating fully on problems without bickering over individual credit.[10](https://m.kinolights.com/season/87867)\n\n## Seasons and reception\n\n**Season 1 (2021).** The first season ran on TVING from January 29 to March 19, 2021, in 16 episodes plus a special, with new episodes released Fridays.[1](https://d.namu.moe/w/%EC%97%AC%EA%B3%A0%EC%B6%94%EB%A6%AC%EB%B0%98) • [11](https://www.iconsumer.or.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=15405) Within eight episodes it surpassed the viewership of Jeong's previous work *The Great Escape 3* on VOD, and from episodes 7 and 8 until the finale it held first place in TVING's paid-subscription contribution ranking for 26 consecutive days.[8](https://v.daum.net/v/cyhO6CgbXV?f=p) A later trade analysis noted that early episodes drew mixed reactions but that praise rose sharply from mid-season as the cast's immersion and deduction improved, completing what viewers described as a growth arc.[12](https://www.cineplay.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=16298)\n\n**Season 2 (2021–2022).** The second season moved the club to a new school and expanded the scale and worldview; its cases included a body found in a reservoir and incidents at a [Halloween](https://www.edgepedia.org/halloween) party.[4](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/amp/A2022022809510002388) • [13](https://tvn.tving.com/en/featured-contents/high-school-mystery-club2/) All episodes were released on December 18, 2021 (Korean reporting), followed by a commentary video on the 25th; the finale aired February 18, 2022.[5](https://www.newstomato.com/ReadNews.aspx?no=1108181) • [4](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/amp/A2022022809510002388) Unique viewers over the season's eight weeks rose more than 120% compared with the same period of season 1, and TVING reported that season 2 ranked first among all its content in paid-subscription contribution on its release day.[4](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/amp/A2022022809510002388) • [14](https://kisdi.re.kr/report/fileView.do?arrMasterId=4334696&id=1768736&key=m2102058837181) tvN also rebroadcast season 2 episodes on linear television.[15](https://enter.etoday.co.kr/news/view/227461)\n\n**Season 3 (2024).** In November 2023 TVING announced a third season with Jeong Jong-yeon stepping down and [Im Soo-jung](https://www.edgepedia.org/im-soo-jung), who had directed alongside him since season 1, taking over as main director, with writer Gong Yun-hee, stage director Hwang Woo-taek, and art director Jang Yeon-ok returning.[7](https://www.viva100.com/article/202311024138020) The season, set at Songhwa Girls' High School, ran for 8 episodes from April to June 2024 and incorporated school-gothic elements such as curses and rituals that viewers had asked for, alongside themes of gambling and school violence.[6](https://www.cineplay.co.kr/ko-kr/articles/14695) • [16](https://www.g-enews.com/article/ICT/2024/07/20240707133208770ea588b1547_1) Its most-discussed innovation was a metaverse: the gambling den at the heart of the story was built on the ZEP metaverse platform, and fans visited the in-show spaces while the season aired.[16](https://www.g-enews.com/article/ICT/2024/07/20240707133208770ea588b1547_1) The season reached 5th place in GoodData Corporation's TV-OTT non-drama buzzworthiness chart on May 28, 2024.[17](https://www.kocca.kr/globalOTT/vol06/file/Global_OTT_Trends_vol.6.pdf) Reviewers praised the cast's established characters and chemistry but criticized contrived hints and plausibility gaps, and the finale ended with a returning villain and an apparent setup for a fourth season.[16](https://www.g-enews.com/article/ICT/2024/07/20240707133208770ea588b1547_1)\n\n## Place in Korean mystery variety\n\nThe series is part of the deduction-and-brain-game lineage built by Jeong Jong-yeon, whose credits include tvN's *The Genius*, *Society Game*, and *The Great Escape*; Korean trade press credits him with establishing season-based mystery variety on OTT platforms.[4](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/amp/A2022022809510002388) • [18](https://v2.www.edaily.co.kr/News/Read?mediaCodeNo=257&newsId=03060246645610952) Its alumni have carried the format elsewhere: JaeJae, described in Korean press as the series' key brain, joined the cast of Netflix's *The Devil's Plan* season 3.[18](https://v2.www.edaily.co.kr/News/Read?mediaCodeNo=257&newsId=03060246645610952) The show also built an unusually active fan culture, with weekly deduction discussions in online communities during season 1 and a pop-up cafe in Hongdae after season 3 that drew large crowds.[8](https://v.daum.net/v/cyhO6CgbXV?f=p) • [16](https://www.g-enews.com/article/ICT/2024/07/20240707133208770ea588b1547_1)\n\n## References\n\n1. [여고추리반, Namu wiki](https://d.namu.moe/w/%EC%97%AC%EA%B3%A0%EC%B6%94%EB%A6%AC%EB%B0%98)\n2. [\"끝까지 봐야 큰 떡밥 해결\"..'여고추리반' 정종연PD의 新추리예능[종합], Star News (2021.01.18)](https://www.starnewskorea.com/broadcast-show/2021/01/18/2021011815133854883)\n3. [마니아 많은 여고추리반3 '여고괴담'으로 돌아오다, Idolounge (2024)](https://idolounge.tistory.com/1880)\n4. [OTT형 시즌제 예능으로 자리매김한 '여고추리반', 감독이 밝힌 매력은?, Hankook Ilbo (2022.02.28)](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/amp/A2022022809510002388)\n5. [여고추리반 2 코멘터리 공개 보도, Newstomato](https://www.newstomato.com/ReadNews.aspx?no=1108181)\n6. [[인터뷰] 〈여고추리반3〉 임수정 PD에게 듣는 송화여고 (메)추리반 비하인드!, Cineplay (2024.05.24)](https://www.cineplay.co.kr/ko-kr/articles/14695)\n7. ['여고추리반' 시즌3 내년 공개…\"정종연 PD 하차, 출연진은 그대로\", Bridge Economy (2023.11.02)](https://www.viva100.com/article/202311024138020)\n8. ['여고추리반' 정종연 PD \"비비, 활약 기대 이상..멤버 케미 100점\"[인터뷰S], Spotv News via Daum (2021.04.04)](https://v.daum.net/v/cyhO6CgbXV?f=p)\n9. [[쿠키인터뷰] '여고추리반' 정종연 PD의 '영웅론', Kukinews (2021.04.07)](https://www.kukinews.com/article/view/kuk202104060279)\n10. [여고추리반 다시보기, 키노라이츠 리뷰](https://m.kinolights.com/season/87867)\n11. [OTT 오리지널 콘텐츠 경쟁 시대, 소비자평가회원소비자모니터링센터](https://www.iconsumer.or.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=15405)\n12. [시즌제 이어간 OTT산 예능들, Cineplay](https://www.cineplay.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=16298)\n13. [High School Mystery Club2, CJ ENM](https://tvn.tving.com/en/featured-contents/high-school-mystery-club2/)\n14. [여고추리반 시즌2 유료가입기여 1위 보도, KISDI Perspectives](https://kisdi.re.kr/report/fileView.do?arrMasterId=4334696&id=1768736&key=m2102058837181)\n15. [tvN, '여고추리반' 시즌2 4회 재방송, Biz Enter](https://enter.etoday.co.kr/news/view/227461)\n16. [[리뷰] 넷플 '미스터리 수사단', 티빙 '여고추리반' 전격 분석, Global Economic (2024.07.07)](https://www.g-enews.com/article/ICT/2024/07/20240707133208770ea588b1547_1)\n17. [Global OTT Trends Vol.6, KOCCA](https://www.kocca.kr/globalOTT/vol06/file/Global_OTT_Trends_vol.6.pdf)\n18. [넷플릭스 '데블스 플랜3' 라인업 공개, Edaily (2025)](https://v2.www.edaily.co.kr/News/Read?mediaCodeNo=257&newsId=03060246645610952)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Web-native and streaming-original series › Korean and East Asian web series*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/high-school-mystery-club", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/high-school-mystery-club.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"High School Mystery Club (여고추리반)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/high-school-mystery-club. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[High School Mystery Club (여고추리반)](https://www.edgepedia.org/high-school-mystery-club)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/high-school-mystery-club](https://www.edgepedia.org/high-school-mystery-club). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"High School Mystery Club (여고추리반)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/high-school-mystery-club. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "High School Mystery Club is TVING's first original Korean mystery-adventure variety series, directed by Jeong Jong-yeon, starring Park Ji-yoon, Jang Do-yeon, JaeJae, BIBI, and Choi Ye-na as transfer students solving school mysteries across three seasons." }