Hyeri Discusses Same-Sex Kiss Scene And Smoking For Upcoming Drama “Friendly Rivalry”
The upcoming drama “Friendly Rivalry” has held its press conference and its stars discussed the drama’s various aspects in the said production conference.
On February 6, a press screening for STUDIO X+U’s drama “Friendly Rivalry” was held in Seoul. The event was hosted by Park Seulgi and attended by cast members Hyeri, Jung Su Bin, Kang Hye Won, O Woori, Kim Tae Hun, GOT7’s Youngjae, and director Kim Taehee.
Friendly Rivalry is based on the 76-episode webtoon of the same name. The drama is a mystery girl thriller set in South Korea’s top 1% elite high school, Chaehwa Girls’ High. It follows Seulgi, a transfer student who faces friends revealing their desires and uncovers the mystery surrounding the suspicious death of her father, a former university entrance exam writer.
Director Kim Taehee explained, “It’s a mystery thriller set at Chaehwa Girls’ High, where Seulgi transfers and encounters friends revealing their desires in the midst of a brutal academic competition.” On why she adapted the original webtoon, Director Kim said, “I accepted the offer almost immediately for two main reasons. First, there wasn’t a single ‘good’ character, and second, the abundance of female characters was appealing. The story features girls with hidden secrets who engage in fierce, sometimes bloody, competition, switching between being friends and enemies—that’s what made it fascinating.”
Hyeri, who made a bold transformation with smoking scenes and a same-sex kiss, said, “I wasn’t overly worried. When I read the script, the emotional flow was very convincing.” She added, “It was a clear way to show the relationship between the two characters. Later episodes reveal more about their conflict, closeness, and obsession. I imagined it as a beautiful scene that captured the two friends’ emotions and filmed it with that in mind.”
Director Kim added, “From the start, we didn’t target teenagers as the main audience. We aimed for a realistic portrayal of teens but kept it at a level suitable for an R-rated audience. Although we conducted extensive research on actual teenagers, this drama is meant for every adult in Korea to understand these kids’ emotions.”
She continued, “The appeal of these ‘not-so-nice’ girls lies in making them relatable and convincing to the viewers. Since the story is based on academic competition, I wanted the characters to feel understandable rather than just shocking. By the end, I hope viewers will feel like cheering for all of them.”
Meanwhile, “Friendly Rivalry” is scheduled to premiere on U+tv and U+mobiletv on the 10th of February.
Source: (A)
