5 Tragic Reasons Why Oh Beom Seok’s Downfall In Weak Hero Class 1 Is Still The Most Discussed K-Drama Arc

The character of Oh Beom Seok from the 2022 K-drama Weak Hero Class 1 remains one of the most compelling and actively discussed antagonists in modern television. His narrative is a harrowing exploration of the victim-to-bully pipeline, a deeply complex character study that resonates with viewers long after the final episode. As of today, December 15, 2025, discussions about his psychological triggers, his desperate need for validation, and his ultimate betrayal continue to dominate fan forums and critical analyses, cementing his arc as a masterpiece of tragic storytelling.

Beom Seok's story is not about a simple villain; it’s about a weak boy who found power and, in his fear of losing it, destroyed everything he cared about. His character’s descent serves as the emotional core of the series, showing how deep-seated trauma and an overwhelming inferiority complex can lead to catastrophic consequences for everyone involved, especially his friends, Yeon Sieun and Ahn Su-ho.

Oh Beom Seok: Biographical Profile and Key Facts

Oh Beom Seok is the primary antagonist of the live-action K-drama Weak Hero Class 1. His character arc is a tragic foil to the main protagonist, Yeon Sieun, detailing the devastating effects of systemic bullying and emotional neglect.

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• Full Name: Oh Beom Seok (오범석)
• Portrayed By: Hong Kyung (The actor received widespread critical acclaim for his nuanced performance.)
• Role: Main Character / Secondary Antagonist
• Affiliation: Eunjang High School (Transfer Student)
• Family Background: Son of an influential, powerful, and abusive father (implied high-ranking official or politician).
• Key Relationships: Yeon Sieun, Ahn Su-ho, Go Hyun-tak, and Jeon Young-yi (his initial bullies).
• Status at End of Season 1: Sent abroad to the Philippines by his father to cover up the assault on Su-ho.
• Character Trait Focus: Inferiority Complex, Victim Mentality, Desperation for Validation.

The Psychological Descent: 5 Triggers That Turned Beom Seok into a Bully

Beom Seok’s character arc is a meticulous study in how a victim transforms into an aggressor. His downfall was not sudden but a slow, agonizing process fueled by deep-seated psychological wounds. Critics and fans often point to a handful of core triggers that accelerated his tragic descent.

1. The Lingering Trauma of Past Bullying

Beom Seok was introduced as a transfer student who had been brutally bullied at his previous school by a group led by Jeon Young-yi. This experience left him with a crippling sense of weakness, fear, and a desperate desire for protection. His initial friendship with Yeon Sieun and Ahn Su-ho was primarily a search for a shield against his fears, not a genuine connection based on mutual respect. The fear of returning to his "weak" state was his primary motivator.

2. The Crippling Inferiority Complex

The core of Beom Seok’s tragedy is his profound inferiority complex, particularly in the presence of Su-ho and Sieun. Su-ho was effortlessly charismatic, popular, and a natural fighter, while Sieun possessed an unparalleled, cold intelligence and fighting prowess. Beom Seok, who was neither strong nor smart, felt constantly overshadowed. This feeling was exacerbated by his abusive father, who made him feel worthless, leading Beom Seok to believe his only value was in being useful or dominant.

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3. The Misinterpretation of Friendship and Validation

Beom Seok craved validation and a sense of belonging. When Su-ho and Sieun genuinely accepted him, he misread their friendship. He saw Su-ho’s protective nature as a reminder of his own weakness, and Sieun’s quiet strength as a challenge. He needed to feel like the most important person, the "leader," or at least the one with the most power. When the group dynamics shifted, and he felt "left out" or less significant, his deep-seated insecurities flared up, causing him to lash out.

4. The Lure of False Power Through Jeon Seok-dae

His true turning point came when he sought out the power of the high-ranking gang leader, Jeon Seok-dae. By aligning himself with Seok-dae, Beom Seok gained a sense of authority he had never possessed. This newfound power was toxic; it allowed him to bully others, specifically his former tormentor Young-yi, and later to orchestrate the attack on Su-ho. This path confirmed his belief that true strength comes from control and dominance, not from genuine bonds.

5. The Ultimate Betrayal of Ahn Su-ho

The climax of his descent was the orchestrated attack on Ahn Su-ho. In a desperate, final act to assert his dominance and eliminate the person who made him feel the weakest, Beom Seok paid the UFC crew to brutally assault Su-ho. This act of betrayal was not just physical violence; it was the ultimate destruction of the trust and friendship that had saved him from his previous life. It proved that his fear and inferiority complex were stronger than his capacity for loyalty, leading to Su-ho being placed in a coma and the complete dissolution of the friend group.

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The Legacy of Oh Beom Seok: A Look Towards Weak Hero Class 2

The ending of Weak Hero Class 1 leaves Beom Seok’s fate open-ended, which has fueled extensive discussion about his potential return and the overall theme of the series. The show concludes with his father quickly covering up the incident and sending Beom Seok to the Philippines, essentially escaping legal consequences but not the moral ones.

The Unredeemable Antagonist

Beom Seok is often cited as an "unredeemable" antagonist because his final actions were calculated and cruel, directly targeting his friend in a life-threatening way. His character arc is a powerful statement on how trauma, if left unaddressed, can turn a victim into a perpetrator, creating a cycle of violence that the series meticulously explores. The drama uses Beom Seok to show that while the system creates bullies, the individual ultimately makes the choice to inflict pain on others.

Impact on Yeon Sieun’s Arc

Beom Seok's actions have a profound, lasting impact on Yeon Sieun. The betrayal and the subsequent coma of Su-ho push Sieun further down a path of violence and isolation. The loss of Su-ho, combined with the shock of Beom Seok's betrayal, is the catalyst for Sieun’s development in the narrative, suggesting that Beom Seok’s legacy is the emotional damage he left behind for his former friends.

Will Beom Seok Return in Weak Hero Class 2?

While the character is physically removed from the main setting, his story is crucial to the foundation of the series. His departure to the Philippines leaves his character’s ultimate fate ambiguous. While the live-action series is based on the webtoon, the adaptation has taken liberties, making his return uncertain. However, the emotional and narrative weight of his actions—the attack on Su-ho—will undoubtedly continue to drive the plot of Weak Hero Class 2, even if Beom Seok himself does not physically appear. His character remains a haunting reminder of the fragility of friendship and the corrosive nature of unmanaged insecurity and power.