Is “Hierarchy” K-Drama Based On A Webtoon?

Okay, so I’m deep into another K-drama binge, sipping on my iced Americano (because honestly, caffeine is the only thing keeping me from passing out after yet another all-night drama marathon), and I come across Hierarchy.

It’s got rich, chaebol kids, a mysterious transfer student, and secrets thicker than my patience for slow-burn romances. Naturally, the first thing I ask myself is—wait, is this based on a webtoon?

The Truth Unveiled: No Webtoon Origins Here!

I was convinced Hierarchy had to be a webtoon adaptation. I mean, Netflix has been churning out drama after drama based on webtoons.

So, I did what any desperate viewer would do—I went on a deep-dive search at 2 AM. Guess what? Nothing.

This one is 100% original, straight from the mind of screenwriter Chu Hye Mi, who also wrote About Time (so yes, she clearly enjoys making me emotionally unstable).

This one is 100% original, straight from the mind of screenwriter Chu Hye Mi, who also wrote About Time (so yes, she clearly enjoys making me emotionally unstable).

That means no webtoon to binge when an episode leaves me gasping at a cliffhanger. No “the webtoon did it better” arguments. No spoilers lurking in internet comment sections.

It’s both freeing and frustrating, to be honest!

Webtoon Vibes? Here’s Why Hierarchy Feels Like One!

I swear, if someone told me Hierarchy was adapted from a hit webtoon, I wouldn’t have even questioned it. It’s got all the hallmarks of one, like:

1. Elite High School Politics – Jooshin High is basically Hogwarts, but instead of magic, students have trust funds and backstabbing tendencies.If you don’t know, South Korea’s obsession with education is intense—your school and connections can literally shape your future. It’s a reality that dramas like this exaggerate but don’t entirely make up.
2. Mysterious Transfer Student – Kang Ha struts in, and suddenly, the school’s power structure is on thin ice.This isn’t just a fun trope. It’s symbolic of the tension between privilege and merit, a recurring theme in Korean storytelling.
3. Absurdly Dramatic Love Quadrangles – If my own love life had even a fraction of the messiness of a K-drama romance, I’d be emotionally bankrupt.But Korean dramas are infamous for their second-lead syndrome, making us root for the guy who never gets the girl. (Seriously, why do I do this to myself?)
4. Power Struggles & Dark Secrets – Let’s be real, chaebol drama isn’t complete without corporate backstabbing and hidden agendas.The drama might be fictional, but Korea’s chaebol families have had real-life scandals just as dramatic as any show.

Should Hierarchy Have Been a Webtoon? Let’s Discuss!

Honestly? Part of me wishes this WAS a webtoon first. Imagine scrolling through those intensely detailed panels, zooming in on Kang Ha’s smirk or Jae Yi’s ice-cold stare.

And don’t get me started on the comment sections—they’d be filled with fans passionately defending their ships like it’s the World Cup.

But on the flip side, having Hierarchy as an original drama means we all get to experience the chaos together, with no one spoiling the juiciest moments before they air.

But on the flip side, having Hierarchy as an original drama means we all get to experience the chaos together, with no one spoiling the juiciest moments before they air.

That’s kind of rare these days, and honestly? I’m here for it.

The Final Say: An Original Drama With Webtoon Energy

So, for the people who just scrolled to the bottom (I see you!), no, “Hierarchy” is NOT based on a webtoon.

But does it feel like one? Absolutely.

If you thrive on high school drama, power plays, and emotionally-charged love triangles, then buckle up—this drama is your next obsession.

Just don’t expect to find a webtoon to tide you over between episodes. We’re all suffering in real-time together.

So, am I the only one completely wrecked by the number of cliffhangers in this show? Do you think Hierarchy should have been a webtoon first, or does it shine as an original drama?

Let’s argue about it like we’re in the middle of a K-drama love triangle.

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