SUMMARY

• In our article “Hierarchy Season 1 Recap And Ending Explained” we recap Hierarchy Season 1 which tells the story of a prestigious university dominated by the elites, as the name implies.
• At the prestigious Jooshin High School, we see the hierarchy of power that students wield based on their status.
• The dynamics of Jooshin High School are disrupted when a new student, Kang-ha, who was admitted on a scholarship, challenges the status quo.
• Kang-ha’s interference directly impacts the university’s most influential students, Kim Ri-an and Jeong Jae-yi.
• As the episodes peel back the layers of the mystery surrounding Kang-ha’s arrival, we quickly discover that he has deeper motivations.
• If you have any questions about the kdrama, this article will recap Hierarchy Season 1 and explain the ending, to provide you with all the answers you need.

Hierarchy Season 1 Recap

Hierarchy Season 1 begins with the death of Jooshin High School’s student Kang In-han. We see him accusing the entire school of being the source of his anxiety just before he is killed. Kang In-han’s death sets the tone for the show, which is mysterious and chilling. Throughout the drama, we peel back layers to determine who is responsible for Kang In-han’s death.

The beginning of the disruption of power within Jooshin High School

The scene then shifts to the arrival of Kang-ha, a mysterious new student at Jooshin High School. We learn that he was admitted in the school because of a scholarship. It quickly becomes clear that the school was founded by the Jooshin family, with Kim Ri-an and elites like Jeong Jae-yi and Yoon He-ra being treated differently than middle-class students like Kang-ha who attend Jooshin High School through scholarships. Furthermore, even their uniform ties separate them.

What pushes the plot of Hierarchy Season 1 in motion?

Hierarchy Season 1’s rising action begins when Kim Ri-an’s girlfriend, Jeong Jae-yi, returns from New York and ends their relationship. Following this, she becomes increasingly close to Kang-ha, which upsets Kim Ri-an. Kim Ri-an attempts to question her about the reason behind their breakup. However, she refuses to respond.

Jeong Jae-yi also pretends to date Kang-ha to further distance herself from him. This makes Kim Ri-an even more furious. Kim Ri-an’s classmates attempt to bully Kang-ha in the same way that they have previously bullied Kang In-han. However, Kang-ha’s attitude makes it difficult for them to accomplish anything.

Who is Kang-ha?

As the episodes of Hierarchy Season 1 go on, it becomes clear that Kang-ha is Kang In-han’s brother. We understand that he has come to Jooshin High School to find his brother’s killer and avenge his brother’s murder. While attempting to blend in with the elites, Kang-ha develops feelings for Jeong Jae-yi. However, Jeong Jae-yi claims to be his girlfriend solely to protect him from the bullies. She explains that she does not want him to face the same fate as Kang In-han.

Jeong Jae-yi’s, Kim Ri-an’s and Yoon He-ra’s family dynamics

We also get a glimpse into the characters’ family lives in Hierarchy Season 1. We learn that Jeong Jae-yi’s father and biological mother are no longer together. Her father is extremely authoritative and micromanages everything in her life, from her dress and lipstick color to her fiancé.

On the other hand, Kim Ri-an’s mother adores him. However, she does not know how to love him properly. She replaces showing love and understanding for him with money and unlimited resources. This leaves Kim Ri-an with an emptiness in his life.

We also see Yoon He-ra’s (Jeong Jae-yi’s best friend’s) family. Yoon He-ra’s father showers Yoon He-ra with a lot of love. We see how her father prioritizes her needs above all else, which contrasts dramatically with the other families.

Romantic entanglements in Hierarchy Season 1

Hierarchy Season 1 has skillfully woven romance throughout its storyline. We learn that Kim Ri-an and Jeong Jae-yi had a serious relationship. However, Jeong Jae-yi abruptly ends their relationship without providing Kim Ri-an with an explanation.

As the episodes progress, we learn about Jeong Jae-yi’s strict father and her miscarriage. This explains that she ended her relationship with Kim Ri-an because she couldn’t face him.

When Kang-ha joins Jooshin High School, Jeong Jae-yi pretends to be his girlfriend. However, the two eventually fall for each other. While Kang-ha admits his feelings from the beginning, we only learn that their feelings are mutual near the end of the show. Since Jeong Jae-yi truly loves Kim Ri-an, she does not do much to express her feelings for Kang-ha.

We also see Jeong Jae-yi’s best friend Yoon He-ra try to woo Kim Ri-an. However, it is clear that Kim Ri-an only has genuine feelings for Jeong Jae-yi, which is why he rejects her advances.

We also witness Lee Woo-jin having a crush on Yoon He-ra. However, he is aware of her feelings for Kim Ri-an. As a consequence, he is seen having an affair with his teacher, Han Ji-soo, throughout season one.

The rise of rivalries and alliances at Jooshin High School

With Kang-ha’s arrival at Jooshin High School, several rivalries and alliances begin to emerge. At first, Jeong Jae-yi and Kang-ha grow closer. This makes Kim Ri-an envious of Kang Ha.

We also see how Jeong Jae-yi and her lifelong best friend Yoon He-ra’s friendship begins to crumble. Furthermore, their relationship gets worse to the point where Yoon He-ra begins to despise Jeong Jae-yi.

We also witness Yoon He-ra try to get closer to Jeong Jae-yi’s ex-boyfriend, Kim Ri-an. However, he isn’t interested in dating her. She then agrees to pretend to date him to make Jeong Jae-yi jealous.

Lee Woo-jin and his teacher Han Ji-soo have an affair during season one. They appear to be working on something together, though the specifics are mostly kept under wraps.

Hierarchy Season 1 Ending Explained: Unveiling Dark Secrets

During Hierarchy Season 1, Jeong Jae-yi is blackmailed with an intimate video of her and Kim Ri-an. When she tells Kang-ha about the situation, they discover that her younger brother filmed a video of her and Kim Ri-an having sex at their family’s beachfront villa. Furthermore, Nam Joo-won downloaded the video from his mother’s monitoring archive.

As the episodes go on, it becomes clear that Jeong Jae-yi is terrified of her father. He constantly threatens to make her disappear, just like her biological mother. This causes a lot of anxiety for Jeong Jae-yi, who deals with it by doing everything her father asks of her. Furthermore, after learning of her sex tape, he decides to send her to New York per Lee Woo-jin’s instructions.

During Hierarchy Season 1, we see how the entire Jooshin High School administration, including the principal and teachers, are involved in concealing Kang In-han’s murder. They are additionally seen attempting to conceal the killer’s identity in order to protect the prestigious Jooshin High School’s reputation.

The Climactic Showdown: Who killed Kang In-han?

Hierarchy Season 1 starts off with Kang-ha’s brother Kang In-han getting murdered. Throughout season one, we are teased about who could be the murderer. We learn that Kim Ri-an’s friends bullied Kang In-han, causing him a great deal of anxiety. They did this to gain Kim Ri-an’s favor, as Kang In-han grew closer to Kim Ri-an’s then-girlfriend Jeong Jae-yi.

During the climactic episodes, we get a glimpse into the past. We see Kang In-han at Lee Woo-jin’s birthday party, where he is bullied. When he flees the party, accusing the entire Jooshin High School of being insane, the teacher Han Ji-soo runs him over with Lee Woo-jin’s car.

In the final moments of the episode, everyone repents for their roles in Kang In-han’s death. We learn that Lee Woo-jin recently discovered evidence against Han Ji-soo. To make things right, he gives Jeong Jae-yi the evidence against Han Ji-soo.

Following this, Han Ji-soo is arrested. Furthermore, the principal, Park Hee-sun, is removed from her position and replaced by a new principal.

Who does Jeong Jae-yi end up with?

In the final episode of Hierarchy Season 1, Kim Ri-an learns about Jeong Jae-yi’s miscarriage and why she distanced herself from him. They then share heartfelt moments together. Kim Ri-an wants Jeong Jae-yi to stay back and resume their relationship. However, she is adamant about going to New York, as her father has demanded, and starting over. She tells him that they might be able to get back together in the future when they are no longer dependent on each other.

Previously, Jeong Jae-yi denied having feelings for Kang Ha. However, when he shows up to meet her before she leaves for New York, she admits that she has feelings for him as well. While this comforts Kang-ha, it does not prevent Jeong Jae-yi from leaving for New York.

In the final moments of the episode, we see Jeong Jae-yi in New York. Here, Jeong Jae-yi reunites with her biological mother. While this is not the ending viewers were hoping for, Jeong Jae-yi’s situation is far from hopeless.

What are your thoughts on Season 1 of Hierarchy? Does it make it into your list of Top K-dramas? Did our article Hierarchy Season 1 Recap And Ending Explained answer your questions? Let us know in the comments.