In this high school, a popularity poll determines who gets bullied and who rules.

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: At Baekyeon Girls' High School, students participate in a monthly popularity poll called the Pyramid Game. The results dictate the social hierarchy, where those at the bottom face systematic physical and psychological abuse. When a new transfer student arrives, she decides to dismantle this cruel, student-led system of violence.

The 2024 South Korean psychological thriller Pyramid Game explores the dark side of school hierarchy. Based on a Naver webtoon by Dalgonyak, the series centers on Class 2-5, where students use a voting app to rank their peers. This ranking system is not merely a social exercise; it creates a rigid structure that justifies the bullying and torture of those relegated to the lowest tier. The protagonist, Seong Soo-ji, enters this environment as a transfer student, only to find herself targeted by the very system she is forced to join.

The narrative follows Soo-ji's strategic rebellion against the mastermind behind the game. As she navigates the complex social dynamics of the classroom, she discovers that the violence is not just a student issue but one that is ignored or actively hidden by school authorities, including the principal. The cast of characters includes a diverse range of students, from chaebol heirs to idol trainees and athletes, each playing a specific role within the classroom's internal power structure. The series highlights how such a system can corrupt even the most ordinary students, turning them into perpetrators or bystanders.

Released on TVING between February 29 and March 21, 2024, the show was directed by Park So-yeon and created by Lee Jae-kyoo. It serves as a critique of institutionalized bullying and the complicity of those who benefit from or ignore it. By focusing on the psychological toll of the game, the series examines how power is maintained through fear and social manipulation. The struggle to bring down the game becomes a fight for survival, forcing the characters to confront the moral consequences of their participation in a system designed to dehumanize their classmates.

The production involved a large ensemble cast, including Bona, Jang Da-ah, and Ryu Da-in, reflecting the intricate web of relationships within the school. Beyond the students, the involvement of teachers and family members underscores the systemic nature of the abuse. As the series progresses, the focus shifts from individual survival to a collective effort to expose the truth, challenging the status quo that has allowed the Pyramid Game to persist within the walls of Baekyeon High.

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