The gates of Cheongdam International High School swing open once more—but this time, the stakes are higher, the rivalries more explosive, and the secrets even darker.
Cheongdam International High School 2—a high-teen psychological thriller laced with romance and ambition—officially premieres on July 3 at 5 PM via major domestic OTT platforms, bringing back the electrifying intensity that captivated audiences in its first season.
Helmed by directors Lim Dae-woong and Park Hyung-won—both known for their sharp, layered storytelling—and penned by Kwak Young-im, who won acclaim for her gripping scripts, the second season returns with even more grit and intrigue. With a mix of returning favorites and intriguing new faces, the series promises to unravel deeper emotional threads, fiercer mind games, and fresh power dynamics within the prestigious, cutthroat halls of Cheongdam International.
Hye-in vs. Je-na: The Battle of Wills Heats Up
The complex dynamic between Kim Hye-in (Lee Eun Saem) and Baek Je-na (Kim Ye Rim) is set to dominate once again. In season 1, Hye-in—a scholarship student from a modest background—was thrust into the elite world of Cheongdam after witnessing a mysterious accident. There, she clashed with Je-na, the queen bee of the school’s most powerful clique, Diamond 6. Their icy rivalry simmered with unresolved tension, suspicion, and pride.
Now in Season 2, their delicate dance of friendship and antagonism enters a more intense phase. Both characters evolve into active players in their own right, making bold choices, confronting their emotions, and navigating the blurred lines between ally and enemy. No longer content to simply survive, Hye-in and Je-na seem ready to challenge the system—and each other—with a new level of conviction. Their volatile relationship promises to anchor the season with emotional depth and razor-sharp tension.
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New Entrants, New Disruption: The Gameboard Expands
Just when Cheongdam’s hierarchy seemed set, a fresh crop of characters arrives to turn the tide. Kim Min Kyu joins as Cha Jin-wook, a mysterious transfer student whose presence quickly sends ripples through both social and emotional circles. Won Gyu-bin plays Lee Sa-rang, a new recruit to the elite Diamond 6, adding a fresh spark—and possibly friction—to the group’s once-solid alliance.
Meanwhile, Oh Ji-ho shakes things up as Seo Hee-kwon, the new school chairman who is determined to reform Cheongdam… even if it means stepping on a few reputations. Each of these new characters carries hidden agendas, moral ambiguity, and the power to tip the balance, making them wild cards in an already unstable environment.
Love on Thin Ice: Romance Amid Rivalry
Love at Cheongdam is never just about hearts—it’s about leverage, loyalty, and survival. This season introduces emotionally charged romantic entanglements that cross lines and complicate loyalties. Hye-in unexpectedly finds herself drawn to the younger but intense Jin-wook, sparking a relationship built on emotional tension and unspoken truths.
Meanwhile, a strategic engagement looms between Jin-wook and Je-na—an arrangement that threatens to ignite jealousy, rivalry, and further confusion. Add to that Seo Do-eon (Lee Jong-hyuk), who still harbors deep, unresolved feelings for Hae-in (Jang Seong-yoon), who has just awakened from a coma following the season 1 accident. These overlapping romances bring not only moments of vulnerability and warmth but also the kind of tension that makes hearts race, for better or worse.
The Collapse of Order: Secrets, Power, and Survival
If Season 1 centered on Hye-in’s uneasy journey through Cheongdam’s elite structure, Season 2 zooms out to explore the broader ecosystem of power, privilege, and desperation. The once unshakable Diamond 6 begins to show fractures, as new alliances form and internal dissent grows. As personal ambitions clash with inherited legacies, every character is forced to adapt—or risk being cast out.
Every hallway holds a secret, and every relationship hides a motive. This season dives deep into the characters’ personal battles—greed, guilt, revenge, identity—and magnifies them against a backdrop of academic excellence and social control. It’s a story of who you become when everything you thought you controlled begins to crumble.
Cheongdam International High School 2 officially premieres on July 3 (Thursday) at 5 PM KST via domestic platforms including Netflix, Wavve, and TVING. For television audiences in Korea, the first two episodes will air back-to-back on MBN at 12:10 AM on July 4 (Friday).
Internationally, the series will be available across approximately 190 countries via global platforms such as Viu, Rakuten Viki, ABEMA TV in Japan, and Friday Video, Taiwan’s leading paid OTT service.
Filled with high expectations, a gripping new cast, and a darker, more intricate storyline, Cheongdam International High School 2 is poised to be a standout of the season. It’s no longer just about who holds the crown—it’s about who’s willing to lose everything to keep it.
