Before the release of All of Us Are Dead Season 2, let’s revisit the unforgettable scenes from Season 1 that gave us spine-chilling thrills and edge-of-the-seat screams, along with its memorable characters.
All of Us Are Dead, the Korean zombie series, took Netflix by storm when it premiered on January 28, 2022, with a total of 12 episodes. This horror-thriller was based on Joo Dong-geun’s Naver webtoon Now at Our School. The series was headlined by Korean stars Park Ji-hu as Nam On-jo, Yoon Chan-young as Lee Cheong-san, Cho Yi-hyun as Choi Nam-ra, and Park Solomon (LOMON) as Lee Su-hyeok.
They were joined by an impressive supporting cast, including Yoon In-soo, Kim Byung-chul, Lee Yoo-mi, Son Sang-yeon, Ha Seung-ri, Lee Eun-saem, and Lim Jae-hyeok.
The series explores the horrific challenges faced by the students of Hyosan High School when a deadly virus spreads. This zombie outbreak threatens the lives of On-jo, Cheong-san, Su-hyeok, Nam-ra, and their schoolmates. As they try to escape the school, the students must fight off zombies in order to survive. They either fight their way out—or risk becoming the very creatures they’re running from.
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Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers about the series. Read with discretion.
What Happens to the Students of Hyosan High School in All of Us Are Dead Season 1?
Byeong-chan, a professor at Hyosan High School, develops a drug that mutates into a deadly virus. His intention was to help his bullied son fight back, but the experiment spirals out of control. When he is brought to the police station, he explains that the world is too unfair—especially to people like his son, who was seen as inferior, vulnerable, and an easy target.
While Byeong-chan is under investigation, the virus spreads across the grounds of Hyosan High School. Chaos erupts as students are infected, and lives are put in danger. Cheong-san and Su-hyeok step up, helping their classmates hide and fend off zombies. They attempt to plan an escape, but every time they feel safe, a new wave of zombies comes crashing in.
The group endures heartbreaking losses—from friends and siblings to their own parents. Still, they refuse to give up on survival, searching for the safest place they can find. But just as hope glimmers, the military bombs Hyosan to contain the outbreak. This devastates On-jo, as Cheong-san remains inside, locked in battle with Gwi-nam.
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Cheong-san and Gwi-nam’s Face-Off
Gwi-nam’s rage toward Cheong-san stems from the moment Cheong-san left him to be devoured by zombies. Adding to his fury, Cheong-san gouged out his eye, temporarily blinding him. Though Cheong-san believed he had finally killed him, Gwi-nam returned as a “half-bie”—a half-human, half-zombie hybrid, as Dae-su called them.
Whenever Gwi-nam caught Cheong-san’s scent, he relentlessly hunted him down. While Cheong-san and his friends were hiding in an abandoned building, Gwi-nam appeared and attacked. During the fight, Gwi-nam bit Cheong-san, infecting him. Knowing his fate was sealed, Cheong-san chose to sacrifice himself, holding off the zombies so his friends could escape.
But Gwi-nam wasn’t done. He reemerged for one final duel, and the two clashed viciously. Gwi-nam managed to get hold of Cheong-san’s eyes before both of them plummeted down an elevator shaft—just as the military bombing engulfed the building in flames.
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What’s Next for the City of Hyosan?
After the bombing, the deputy commander of the military recorded himself taking full responsibility for the decision. But as the scene grew heavier, he ended his life after making a final call to his wife. Hyosan was left in total chaos, its streets littered with lingering zombies.
The corners of the city remained drenched in dread, with no path safe to walk. On-jo and her friends, while making their way to the military camp, had to fight off more zombies. Nam-ra, another half-bie, struggled to contain her infection. At one point, she nearly bit On-jo—but On-jo chose not to fight back.
Unable to control herself and fearing she might hurt her friends, Nam-ra decided to leave them behind. Believing it was for the best, she ran away. On-jo and the others eventually reached the camp, but the grief weighed heavily on them. As On-jo reflected:
I already knew the sorrow of being a survivor, but I didn’t know just how heavy that sorrow would be.
Was There Hope in Surviving the Dread of All of Us Are Dead Season 1?
Months later, the surviving students continued to mourn their loved ones while staying in the camp. On-jo often sneaked out to visit a makeshift memorial for those who had lost their lives. Though they survived, a part of them seemed to have died with their families and friends.
One night, On-jo spotted a flicker of fire on Hyosan High’s rooftop. She immediately thought of Nam-ra, remembering her wish to sit around a campfire with her friends. Alongside the other survivors, On-jo went back to the school. There, they found the fire—and Nam-ra.
Contrary to the monstrous image they feared, Nam-ra appeared refreshed and even content. On-jo begged her to return with them, but Nam-ra refused, saying that there were others like her out there. Before jumping off the building, she told them she still had unfinished business. This closing moment leaves us questioning: Will Nam-ra remain a hybrid, or will she eventually succumb to becoming a full zombie?
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All of Us Are Dead Season 1 Ending Explained: Was There Really Humanity in Humans?
Revisiting the horrors of All of Us Are Dead season 1 does more than just bring back the thrills—it also unravels deeper questions behind each scene. For instance, Byeong-chan’s story reminds us how far a parent will go when their child becomes the constant target of bullying. His actions, however horrifying, stemmed from a desperate love.
The series also sheds light on the duality of adults—how they can be both a flicker of hope and the very reason for despair. When Su-hyeok asked the officers why they had abandoned them in the school, it pierced through the screen. It wasn’t just a student begging for rescue—it was a child who desperately needed help.
On-jo delivered one of the most poignant lines of the series when she declared that she would never ask anything from adults again. Her disappointment reflected the repeated failures of authority figures during the crisis. Similarly, the story of Eun-ji and Cheol-su highlighted the devastating impact of bullying. Eun-ji, who became a half-bie, was consumed by her resentment toward those who never stood up for her.
Nayeon’s arc was also heartbreaking. While she caused Gyeon-su’s death, her actions were rooted in her own trauma and isolation. This doesn’t justify what she did, but it frames her as another victim of a broken system rather than a one-dimensional villain.
Throughout its 12 episodes, All of Us Are Dead continually raised questions about the true nature of humanity. It wasn’t just a zombie thriller to binge at 2 AM—it was a thought-provoking series that held up a mirror to society’s flaws.
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With its ending in episode 12, Season 1 left plenty of room for reflection—and anticipation. Netflix has already confirmed season 2, promising another wave of chaos, suspense, and perhaps more answers. Until then, season 1 remains available for streaming on Netflix.
Source: Netflix 1, Netflix 2, Newsweek, Digital Spy, Collider
