From drama of teen life to LGBTQ+ themes, director Kim Tae-hee says teen thriller promises authentic portrayal of reality
Girl’s Day member and K-drama star Lee Hye-ri will undertake what promises to be one of the most buzzworthy roles of her career in the upcoming mystery thriller "Friendly Rivalry."
Jointly produced by video production company Ylab Flex and Studio X U+, the content production arm of Korean telecommunications company, "Friendly Rivalry" is the latest addition to Studio X U+'s growing slate of hit dramas and entertainment series, including "Kian CEO" and "High Cookie."
Adapted from a widely popular Naver Webtoon, the series centers on Seul-gi (Jung Soo-bin), a transfer student at the elite Chaehwa Girl’s High School, where she forges an unconventional friendship with Jae-yi (Lee Hye-ri), the school’s top student. As their dynamic unfolds, the narrative delves into an intricate blend of ambition and hidden desires.
Returning to the small screen after three years, the "Reply 1988" breakout star trades in her signature charm of having a carefree, bright presence on-screen for something far more sinister. In "Friendly Rivalry," Lee tackles a role different from her previous repertoire -- stepping into the shoes of a cold, calculating figure shrouded in mystery who explores same-sex attraction.
Speaking about her dramatic transformation, Lee shared that she tapped into uncharted aspects of herself to embody Jae-yi.
"Jae-yi's someone who seems perfect to everyone, but in reality, no one truly knows what she's thinking. People feel drawn to her, but at the same time, there's something unsettling about her. She evokes a mix of emotions. Jae-yi is a character whose true intentions are impossible to read," Lee explained during a press conference in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Thursday.
"Up until now, I've played characters with a lot of warmth, but Jae-yi has a very cold side to her. I tapped into my own sharp and sensitive qualities to bring her to life," she added.
The series first released a kiss scene between Lee and Jung on YouTube -- a choice that director Kim Tae-hee states is rooted in authenticity.
"From the beginning, our goal was to portray teenage emotions realistically, but this is not a work specifically targeted at teenagers. We created it with a mature audience rating in mind. While we did research on what today’s teenagers think, we also believed that any adult who has experienced the intense competition of college entrance exams would be able to understand these characters," Kim explained.
She added, "Rather than focusing on toning things down, we prioritized depicting reality as authentically as possible."
According to Kim, what drew Kim to helm the adaptation was the distinct lack of virtuous characters in "Friendly Rivalry."
"I accepted the offer to adapt the original work almost immediately for two reasons. First, none of the characters were purely good. Second, it was a story filled with women," said Kim.
Kim noted that while the characters may be morally complex, she sought to ground them in a reality that would make audiences root for them.
"The lack of purely good characters was something I found compelling, but they still needed to be convincing (to the audience.) Since the story is set in the highly competitive environment of the college entrance exam system, I hoped that viewers would understand the characters and even find themselves rooting for all of them," the director added.
"Friendly Rivalry" premieres Monday, streaming on U+Mobile TV.
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