Social Savvy Class 101 – K-drama Episode 1 Recap & Review

Kim Ji-eun 

Social Savvy Class 101 Episode 1 introduces us to Kim Ji-eun, a young high school. She is currently walking to school, imagining how cool it would be if she were popular. However, two boys accidentally knock into her, pulling her out of her Regina George fantasy.

It turns out that Ji-eun is a misfit. She has been told on numerous occasions that she has no presence. This is evident, given that even her classmates don’t know her name. Sadly, even at home, her parents barely remember to include her in family activities.

As her reality dawns on her, Ji-eun feels envious of the popular girl, Seol-hee, and the class heartthrob, Woo-bin. She tries to google how to change her situation but doesn’t find a suitable solution. 

 The next day at school, Woo-bin suddenly approaches her before the gym class. He asks to check something on her phone since he forgot his at home. Ji-eun is flustered and readily helps him while marvelling at his handsome features. He then explains that he is having a headache and will skip the gym class to visit the nurse.

Outside, Ji-eun can’t stop smiling to herself while the other girls talk about Woo-bin. Woo-bin is an idol trainee, and they are all wondering when he will debut and how chaotic it will be to get his albums.

After the gym class, Ji-eun returns to class and finds one of the popular girls missing her new expensive lipstick. The class president asks Ji-eun if she saw anyone suspicious since she was the last one to leave the class.

Ji-eun tries to explain that Woo-bin was actually the last person, but her voice is so low that no one can hear her. Just then, Woo-bin shows up and defends Ji-eun. He also spots the missing lipstick behind a cushion seat. The students quickly apologise. Later, Woo-bin and Seol-he check on Ji-eun. Ji-eun thanks Woo-bin for coming to her defense. However, he gets her name wrong, and Ji-eun is shattered.

At the end of the day, she heads towards the bus station while venting her frustrations. She spots a phone and when she checks it, she realises it belongs to the administrator of the popular anonymous community app Social Butterfly Time.

The next day, she is excited as she heads to class with the phone. In the epilogue, we learn that Woo-bin has always been looking out for her. He also saw her pick up the phone at the bus station.

The Episode Review

This is a cute teenage show about a girl wanting to be popular and unaware that the class heartthrob is into her. We can’t help but wonder, based on the few hints given in this episode, if Woo-bin owns the phone. Did he see what Ji-eun googled on her phone and decided to help her?

However, we could be wrong since he didn’t know her name. Either way, he is watching her and talking to her. That has to count for something, right? 

It is unfortunate that Ji-eun wants to be popular but is also very shy. Those two normally don’t go hand in hand. Hopefully, the strange phone will help her get some friends and become more self-confident. It all depends on whether she uses the phone wisely or not.