Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the series All of Us Are Dead.
Zombie films and shows are not new to South Korean media, and with the release of the Netflix original series, All of Us Are Dead, South Korea has proven that they are the frontrunners of the genre.
In a situation where it is every person for themselves, All of Us Are Dead unveils humanity's true response to fear and survival. While some characters choose to save themselves, others risk their lives to save others. Whether through action or instinct, the characters from All of Us Are Dead show that bravery comes from a variety of places.
Lee Cheong-San’s Mother
Upon hearing about the zombie outbreak on the news, Lee Cheong-san's mom disregarded all evacuation regulations to find her son. Solely following her motherly instinct before ever truly grasping the situation, she went to the epicenter of the outbreak without any means to protect herself.
She put herself in danger just to try to protect her son and showed true courage by forging headfirst into a school of zombies. Ultimately, her lack of foresight led to her begin bitten and turning. Cheong-san's mother's bravery came from instinct, like other characters in the show.
Park Sun-Hwa
Park Sun-hwa was the homeroom teacher for the group of classroom survivors. Her bravery came from her commitment to her role as an educator.
Even while in a zombie outbreak, she continued to teach her students. The advice she left them with is what held the group together. Her dedication to her students may have led to her death but resulted in Lee Na-yeon living. The heartbreaking plot twist left the group deeply saddened, and they fought and argued amongst themselves but still managed to work as a team. Park Sun-hwa was the only faculty member that put her students before herself.
Jang Wu-Jin
In the beginning episodes of All of Us Are Dead, the group of classroom survivors had more students. This leads the majority to fall behind in the aid of the entire group's survival.
Jang Wu-jin was one of the students who could be seen fighting zombies when it was time, but he did not do much else for the group. As the group began losing people, Wu-jin began to have a more significant role. Wu-jin showed true bravery when he saved his sister, Jang Ha-ri. At that moment, his instinct to save someone he cared for overpowered any fear he held.
Oh Joon-Yeong
Similar to Wu-jin, Oh Joon-yeong only began to take action when the group's numbers suffered. Contrary to Wu-jin, though, he was one of the initial students to act. When the group of classroom survivors needed to find Cheong-san, Joon-yeong volunteered to retrieve a drone in a classroom filled with zombies.
His first act of courage was to help his fellow student. His second was when he kept his word. When the group was surrounded by zombies in the gym, Joon-yeong sacrificed himself for the group to escape. It was not the first sacrifice the group had gone through, but it was the first one they experienced firsthand.
Nam So-Ju
During the outbreak, Nam So-ju continued his work as a firefighter, rushing to every call of distress. When he finally understood that the city of Hyosan was experiencing a zombie virus outbreak, his first instinct was to find his daughter.
Nam So-ju valiantly found his way to the zombified Hyosan High School, and even without having a way to know whether his daughter was dead or not, So-ju never questioned his mission. In the end, he even sacrificed himself to protect her and the other students, aiding in their escape from the school and putting him among some of the best dads on television.
Song Jae-Il
Like Nam So-ju, Son Jae-il was on a mission. His mission involved retrieving the science teacher's laptop from Hyosan High School. Although his mission did not involve saving anyone, he did just that with every person he came across.
Despite understanding the severity of the situation, Jae-il went out of his way to save every survivor he met. He risked his life multiple times and even delayed his mission. Jae-il took his job seriously even while being pursued by hordes of zombies.
Nam On-Jo
When the zombie virus outbreak initially occurred, Nam On-jo froze at the first sight of her infected classmates. If it was not for Cheong-san, she would have immediately been infected.
She slowly showed leadership qualities by sharing the survival knowledge she learned from her father. All the ideas she had helped the group. She was not only knowledgeable but also displayed courage when she volunteered to find Cheong-san along with Joon-yeong. Her actions proved her true strength under pressure, and she ultimately spoke for what she thought was right for the group. All of Us Are Dead, which could be considered among the best K-dramas set in a school, is bolstered by the transformation On-jo undergoes.
Jang Ha-Ri (Archery/Bathroom Survivors)
Jang Ha-ri was the leader of the archery and bathroom survivors until they joined the larger group of classroom survivors. She almost single-handedly helped her group navigate the zombie-riddled campus without a single casualty, and she and Park Mi-jin were the first characters to use weapons to kill zombies.
Throughout the drama, Ha-ri kept a level head and exuded a calm and strong demeanor. She was not afraid of the zombies and persuaded her group to help her find her brother. Although there was pushback from the other survivors, they all ultimately ended up following wherever she went. From her influence, each member of the archery/bathroom survivors showed both courage and valor at some point.
Lee Su-Hyeok
Lee Su-hyeok was one of the leaders of the classroom survivors. He stepped up to be part of every mission to get help or find a safe hideout. He was always either leading or trailing the group to keep everyone safe.
He and Cheong-san were the first ones to defend others from zombies, many times fighting them with weapons or even his bare hands. When Choi Nam-ra was infected, Su-hyeok stayed by her side to make sure she did not bite anyone if she turned. His actions may have been persuaded by his feelings for Nam-ra, but they still show how courageous he was.
Lee Cheong-San
Lee Cheong-san was the first out of the group of classroom survivors to take charge. Naturally, he slid into the leader role and did everything he could to keep the group alive. This included venturing into the zombie-filled halls to find help.
He sacrificed his own safety multiple times by always being at the front of the pack defending others from zombies. He may not have always kept calm through the drama, but there is no doubt that his priority was getting everyone out of the school alive. In the end, Cheong-san even gave his life to keep Yoon Gwi-nam from harming the group. Though All of Us Are Dead did not have happily ever afters for all of the characters, Cheong-san's sacrifice shows his enduring bravery.