“Undercover High School” Episodes 3 and 4 Recap – kdramadiary
Meanwhile, Hae-seong sets out to uncover more ghost stories. For the second tale, Dong-min shares the legend of the grandfather clock in the library, warning that any student left alone there risks being pursued by a monster with crimson eyes.
Just as Dong-min begins recounting the story of two top students, Su-a arrives to pull Hae-seong away, scolding him for taking Dong-min’s grandmother’s ID.
Later, Su-a spots Tae-soo and Dong-min together, follows them, and finally discovers the truth about Dong-min’s situation—something Hae-seong had hinted at before. Confiding in her co-teacher, she realizes that, as a part-time teacher, she is powerless to intervene in Dong-min’s case, as his father is a powerful assemblyman.
That evening, she runs into Hae-seong at a neighborhood convenience store and apologizes for blaming him without knowing the full story. However, she still cannot promise to help Dong-min. In response, Hae-seong hands her 1,000 won—the money he previously received from Dong-min’s grandmother after helping her push her cart.
Unfortunately, the ID Tae-soo stole was used for a web gambling site, leading to Dong-min’s grandmother being taken in by the police as she was registered as the owner.
Feeling powerless in her position, Su-a takes matters into her own hands by anonymously posting on the school’s discussion board about Tae-soo’s bullying of Dong-min and his involvement in illegal gambling. The post quickly gains attention, prompting Chairwoman Seo to arrange a meeting with the concerned parties.
That night, Hae-seong sneaks into the library to investigate the Grandfather’s Clock, but his search is cut short when Chairwoman Seo unexpectedly appears. With a subtle yet pointed remark, she warns him that his curiosity is unusual for a typical student.
“Do you know what the worst part is? That reality isn’t a fairytale. The wounds and trauma he left me will ensure I stay a loser forever. But he’ll forget he bullied me and live happily.”
Meanwhile, Tae-soo confronts Dong-min the night before the meeting, threatening him into submission. Fearing for his grandmother—who will remain in police custody if he disobeys—Dong-min publicly refutes the claims from the online post and, under Tae-soo’s orders, falsely accuses Hae-seong of bullying him instead. He also warns Su-a to stay out of it.
Later, overcome with guilt, Dong-min confesses the truth to Hae-seong, emotionally revealing the pressure he’s under. To his surprise, Hae-seong doesn’t respond with anger but reassures him that none of it is his fault.
Determined to expose Tae-soo’s wrongdoing, Hae-seong disregards his team leader’s caution and orders his junior to dig up any information that could bring Tae-soo’s crimes to light.
Summoned before the school’s discipline committee for the bullying allegations, Hae-seong turns the tables by bringing in the owner of the online gambling site that had been making deals with Tae-soo. As the meeting unfolds, Dong-min gathers his courage and reveals the truth, exposing Tae-soo’s threats and manipulation.
Hae-seong’s team uncovers video evidence of Tae-soo’s past school violence case, further solidifying the truth. With undeniable proof in hand, Hae-seong clears his name, while Tae-soo faces the consequences of his actions.
Nursing Hae-seong’s wound, Su-a loops him into the decision of expelling Tae-soo. She warns him not to use fighting still. He also applauds her effort to protect his student despite being powerless.
“You should never be at school when the clock bell chimes. Crimson eyes will come for you.”
Returning to the second Byeongmun High spooky legend, Dong-min shares a chilling tale with Hae-seong—about a student who murdered the top-ranked student just to claim first place. This gruesome event sparked the long-standing warning to never stay late at school.
While discussing the school’s ghost stories, Dong-min reveals that the fourth legend remains unknown. Despite his attempts to research it, he finds no leads.
Meanwhile, Hae-seong continues investigating the grandfather clock in the library, searching for a hidden mechanism. Yu-jeong informs him that a similar clock exists in the Student Council office, but access is restricted to council members only.
Determined to get in, Hae-seong attempts to enter the room but runs into Ye-na. Seizing the opportunity, she suggests that he join the council—not just for access, but also to become her friend.
When Ye-na offers him a gift she bought, Hae-seong refuses, advising her to earn friendship the right way rather than trying to buy it.
“Why don’t you join the Student Council board? That will solve all the problems.”
For the sake of his mission, Hae-seong ultimately gives in and decides to join the Student Council.
Seeking Su-a’s guidance, he quickly realizes the challenge ahead—qualifying as a council member requires ranking in the top 10 of the class, securing 100 good character references, and obtaining approval from the current council president. Who would have thought that the prerequisites for finding gold would be even tougher than the treasure hunt itself?
Luckily, his team, stationed at a nearby sandwich shop, takes care of gathering the character references. Now, the pressure is on for Hae-seong to ace his midterm exams. However, his potential entry into the council doesn’t sit well with some existing members, who strongly oppose his inclusion.
Things take a comedic turn when Hae-seong is suddenly summoned for routine reserved military training. To cover for his absence, he feigns illness, but Su-a, concerned, insists on visiting him. With less than 20 minutes to prepare, his team scrambles to transform the place into a believable “sickroom.”
As Su-a arrives, Team Leader Ahn, Yeong-hun, and Mi-jeong quickly hide inside the closet. However, when Su-a spills porridge on her pants and heads to the washroom to clean up, chaos unfolds—she accidentally slips, grabbing onto Hae-seong, and the two fall, accidentally sharing a kiss.
Inside the closet, Yeong-hun struggles to hold back a sneeze, only to end up kissing Mi-jeong in the process. Unfortunately for them, their surprise reactions give away their hiding spot, exposing the entire ruse in the most awkward way possible.
Undercover High School Episodes 3 and 4 Musings
In the second week of Undercover High School, our undercover hero’s compassionate nature shines as he steps up to help his bullied seatmate, further solidifying his role as both a protector and a strategist. The series is doing a great job of drawing intrigue and fun while staying focused on its narrative.
Meanwhile, his dynamic with his homeroom teacher takes a positive turn, fostering a deeper understanding between them. As the treasure hunt continues and justice inches closer, the bonds he forms along the way become just as important as the mystery itself.
We’ve gotten used to bullying as the staple conflict in school-set dramas, and its incorporation in Undercover High School blends well with the narrative balance. While the ultimate goal is the treasure hunt, the series wisely takes its time, making Tae-soo’s downfall a necessary step before diving fully into the adventure.
Now, with the school’s urban legends serving as clues to Emperor Gojong’s lost gold, the treasure hunt gains an exciting new layer. What seemed like mere ghost stories are now potential keys to uncovering history, adding depth to both the mystery and the lead character’s journey.
How will Hae-seong and his team escape their sticky situation with Su-a? We’ll have to wait until next week to find out!
Meanwhile, we get a glimpse into Ye-na’s struggles, revealing the immense pressure she faces from her mother to live a predetermined life. This sheds light on her competitiveness and arrogance, showing how her relentless drive not only harms those around her but also takes a toll on herself.
At the same time, Yu-jeong’s reluctance toward Hae-seong joining the council becomes more understandable. As Ye-na’s unwilling sidekick, she likely fears that his presence will expose the mistreatment she endures from the other council members.
It’s refreshing to see Undercover High School balancing fun and intrigue while also addressing real school issues. By weaving these conflicts into the narrative, the series serves as both an engaging mystery and a meaningful reminder to those who may find themselves in similar situations.
Can Hae-seong ace the midterm exams and join the Student Council? Stay tuned in the 3rd week of Undercover High School!
