The “Study Group” universe is about to get a lot more dangerous. CIX member-turned-actor Hyunsuk has officially been confirmed for Study Group 2, and he’s not playing a good guy this time.

What we know

On July 13, outlet MyDaily reported that Hyunsuk had landed the role of Ji Young Hyun and was already on set filming. A day later, TVING confirmed it directly, stating that his appearance in the drama is true and that he’s currently in production. In the original webtoon, Ji Young Hyun is described as the season’s main antagonist — a meaty, high-stakes role for an idol-actor on the rise.

CIX: Study Group 2

Detail	Info
New Cast Member	Hyunsuk (CIX)
Role	Ji Young Hyun (main villain)
Confirmed By	TVING
Lead Actor	Hwang Minhyun as Youn Ga Min
Genre	High school action-comedy
Based On	Popular webtoon of the same name
Season 1 Success	Top 5 in 140+ regions on Viki

Why this casting matters

Hyunsuk debuted with CIX back in 2019 before pivoting into acting in 2021, and his career has picked up serious momentum since signing with Management Run. Beyond Study Group 2, he’s also set to star in tvN’s upcoming drama My Bias, My Boss alongside his Study Group 2 co-star Cha Woo Min — meaning fans will be seeing plenty of him this year.

The original “Study Group” followed Youn Ga Min, a fighter-turned-student determined to beat the odds at one of the world’s worst high schools. With the show’s global reach already proven on Viki, adding a formidable antagonist like Ji Young Hyun raises the stakes considerably for Season 2. For more on the wave of Korean dramas making noise internationally right now, check out TechnoSports’ Korean drama coverage.

Fans can revisit Season 1 of “Study Group” while waiting for more casting news to drop.