Once Upon A Time in High School topped the national box office when it was released. Starring heartthrob Kwon Sang Woo (My Tutor Friend), Lee Jun Jin (Bet on My Disco), and starlet Han Ga In (Yellow Handkerchief), the film is set in 1970s South Korea. Once Upon A Time In High School won awards for Best Art Direction and Most Popular Actor (Kwon Sang Woo) at the 25th Blue Dragon Awards.
Bruce Lee enthusiast Hyun Soo (Kwon Sang Woo) transfers to the notorious Jeong Mun High School where teachers are authoritative and school gangs prevail. He meets another Bruce Lee fan in the hot-blooded student leader Woo Sik (Lee Jung Jin), and the two soon become close friends. Both fall in love with high school beauty Eun Ju (Han Ga In). Though Hyun Soo is gentle and kind, she is attracted to Woo Sik, who has the courage to stand up for her. Later Woo Sik is set up by the school authorities and compelled to leave school. With the leader deposed, the rowdy students burst into violence, and now Hyun Soo must step up. Training hard with those trademark Bruce Lee nunchakus, Hyun Soo makes his mark on the school rooftop.