Friendly Rivalry

Woo Seul-gi, a girl who grew up in an orphanage after getting lost during a school trip as a child, transfers to Chaehwa Girls' High School, one of the top 1% in South Korea. While facing a cutthroat college entrance exam competition, she gets entangled in the mystery surrounding the suspicious death of her father, who was a member of the CSAT committee.{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Hye-ran |date=2025-01-20 |script-title=ko:교복 입은 이혜리·정수빈·강혜원·오우리, '선의의 경쟁' 메인 포스터 공개 |url=https://www.redian.org/news/articleView.html?idxno=252124 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250210163253/https://www.redian.org/news/articleView.html?idxno=252124 |archive-date=2025-02-10 |access-date=2025-04-20 |language=ko}}

• Lee Hye-ri as Yoo Jae-yi{{Cite web|script-title=ko:이혜리X정수빈X강혜원X오우리, '선의의 경쟁' 캐스팅 확정 [공식]|trans-title=Lee Hye-ri X Jung Soo-bin X Kang Hye-won X Oh Woo-ri, 'Friendly Competition' Casting Confirmed [Official]|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/382/0001140139|via=Naver|publisher=Sports Donga|language=ko|last=Choi|first=Yun-na|date=July 23, 2024|access-date=July 23, 2024|archive-date=August 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815141050/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/382/0001140139|url-status=live}}
• Chung Su-bin as Woo Seul-gi
• Kang Hye-won as Joo Ye-ri
• Oh Woo-ri as Choi Kyung

• Choi Young-jae as Nam Byeong-jin{{Cite web|script-title=ko:상위 0.1% 천재 여고생 이혜리...'선의의 경쟁' 2월 공개|trans-title=Top 0.1% genius high school girl Lee Hye-ri... 'Friendly Competition' to be released in February|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/382/0001171740|via=Naver|publisher=Sports Dong-a|language=ko|last=Choi|first=Yu-na|date=January 7, 2025|access-date=January 10, 2025|archive-date=January 7, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250107202510/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/382/0001171740|url-status=live}}
• Kim Tae-hoon as Yoo Tae-joon
• Chae Seo-eun as Jo A-ra{{Cite web|last=Son|first=Bong-suk|date=February 7, 2025|script-title=ko:채서은, '선의의 경쟁' 조아라 역 낙점|url=https://sports.khan.co.kr/article/202502070237003/|access-date=March 5, 2025|language=ko}}
• Kim Sang-ji as Kim Bum-soo{{Cite web|date=February 21, 2025|script-title=ko:'마스크 걸'부터 '선의의 경쟁'까지 독기 품은 신예 배우 김상지 누구인가?|url=https://www.isnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=267834|access-date=March 5, 2025|language=ko}}
• Na Hyun-jin as Goo Chae-ryung
• Chu Ye-jin as Yoo Je-na
• Han Lee-ie as Lee Si-woo
• Ma Hyeon-ji as Park Byung-hee
• Go Da-hyun as Kim Na-ri{{Cite web|last=Kim|first=So-yeon|date=February 4, 2025|script-title=ko:'선의의 경쟁' 이혜리, 표정 하나로 압도적 카리스마|url=https://www.mk.co.kr/news/broadcasting-service/11232597|access-date=March 5, 2025|language=ko}}

The series was planned by Studio X+U and produced by Ylab Plex and Studio X+U.{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Eun-jin |date=2025-02-06 |script-title=ko:[현장] '선의의 경쟁', 10대 타겟 아닌 19금 걸스릴러 |url=https://www.tvj.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=106091 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250214135200/https://www.tvj.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=106091 |archive-date=2025-02-14 |access-date=2025-04-21 |language=ko}} It is a dramatization of the webtoon of the same name written by Song Chae-yoon, illustrated by Shim Jae-young and produced by Ylab,{{Cite web|script-title=ko:이혜리, 집안·외모 완벽한 천재 여고생 된다 '응팔' 덕선이와|trans-title=Lee Hye-ri, a genius high school girl with a perfect family and appearance, becomes the opposite of Deok-seon in 'Eung-pal' (a friendly competition)|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/609/0000878114|via=Naver|publisher=Newsen|language=ko|last=Park|first=Soo-in|date=July 23, 2024|access-date=July 23, 2024|archive-date=August 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815191447/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/609/0000878114|url-status=live}} and, compared to the original work, it added the mystery surrounding Woo Do-hyuk's death.{{Cite web |last=Jung |first=Min-kyung |date=2025-02-10 |script-title=ko:혜리X정수빈 '♥욕조 키스'는 핫한데…'선의의 경쟁', GL과 걸스릴러 사이 [엑's 이슈] |url=https://news.nate.com/view/20250210n35554 |access-date=2025-04-25 |language=ko}}

Friendly Rivalry was directed by Kim Tae-hee, who co-wrote the script together with Min Ye-ji.{{Cite web|script-title=ko:혜리, 금수저 된다... '선의의 경쟁' 출연 확정|trans-title=Hye-ri, born with a silver spoon in her mouth... Confirmed to appear on 'Good Competition'|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/009/0005336085|via=Naver|publisher=Maeil Business Newspaper|language=ko|last=Park|first=Ro-sa|date=July 17, 2024|access-date=July 17, 2024}} At the series' press conference, Kim stated that she accepted the offer to direct it immediately when she was first asked to write the script in 2021{{Cite web |last=Choi |first=Hye-ri |date=2025-03-13 |script-title=ko:"요즘 아이들 아프다"...살벌한 걸스릴러 '선의의 경쟁' 만든 김태희 감독 |url=https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25320394 |access-date=2025-05-02 |language=ko}} because, "First, there was no good person among the characters, and second, the fact that there were a lot of women was appealing." She also thought that it would be fun to picture "these slightly crazy girls, each hiding their own secrets, engaging in a bloody competition and alternatively becoming friends or enemies." As for the script, Kim said that she wanted the drama to be persuasive to the viewers and hoped that the characters would be ultimately understandable, stating "Our work is a story about everyone who has not learned how to lose in a society that only teaches how to win. If you know that there's definitely a next chapter in life even if you fall and fail, you just have to dust yourself off and get back up and start your own race again. I wrote and directed with the hope that Jae-yi, Seul-gi, Ye-ri, and Kyung will know that the true competition in life begins from that moment."{{Cite web |date=2025-02-24 |script-title=ko:'선의의 경쟁' 감독 "이혜리→정수빈 급변하는 관계 주목" |url=https://enews.imbc.com/M/Detail/450336 |access-date=2025-04-21 |language=ko}} During the four years of development, the director met with female high school students, and consulted with psychiatrists and teachers.

Friendly Rivalry was given a youth viewing restriction.{{Cite web |last=Oh |first=Myung-un |date=2025-02-06 |script-title=ko:'청불' 하이틴 스릴러 '선의의 경쟁'…혜리 "제게도 큰 도전" |url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20250206161100005 |access-date=2025-05-02 |language=ko}} Director Kim Tae-hee stated that they had in mind from the beginning that it was not intended for teenagers because they wanted to reflect reality. As for the same-sex kiss scene with co-star Chung Su-bin, Lee Hye-ri commented that she wasn't worried because she thought it could clearly show the two characters' conflicts and obsessions.

File:"Friendly Rivalry" cast at the drama presscon, 6 February 2025 07.png

On July 23, 2024, Studio X+U announced that Lee Hye-ri, Chung Su-bin, Kang Hye-won, and Oh Woo-ri would work together to tell the story of high school girls.{{Cite web|script-title=ko:이혜리·강혜원, '선의의 경쟁' 호흡...2025년 상반기 방송|trans-title=Lee Hye-ri and Kang Hye-won, 'Friendly Competition' Breathing... Broadcast in the First Half of 2025|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/629/0000306785|via=Naver|publisher=The Fact|language=ko|last=Choi|first=Soo-bin|date=July 23, 2024|access-date=July 23, 2024|archive-date=December 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203123308/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/629/0000306785|url-status=live}} On July 24, Andbut Company stated that Choi Young-jae had been cast for the series.{{Cite web|script-title=ko:갓세븐 영재, '선의의 경쟁' 출연 확정...3년 만에 드라마 복귀[공식]|trans-title=GOT7's Youngjae confirmed to appear in 'Friendly Competition'... Returning to drama after 3 years [Official]|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/477/0000503701|via=Naver|publisher=SPOTV|language=ko|last=Jeong|first=Hye-won|date=July 24, 2024|access-date=July 24, 2024|archive-date=December 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203125904/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/477/0000503701|url-status=live}}

Lee Hye-ri stars as Yoo Jae-yi, the top student of Chaehwa Girls' High School and a hospital director's daughter. When questioned about the reasons behind her decision to take on a role that involved smoking and a same-sex kissing scene, she said that, despite being burdensome in some ways, she really wanted to participate, explaining: "When I looked into the story, I thought that there were parts that could only be understood when you are in your late 20s. That's why I took courage regardless of my age. It's not easy to participate in a school drama as time goes by, so I became even greedier." She also added that Jae-yi was starkly different from her previous, warm and smiling roles. Chung Su-bin said that she auditioned because it was a scenario never seen before in Korea that broke away from the framework of existing dramas. Kang Hye-won shared that she had found the "girl thriller" genre attractive and interesting, with Oh Woo-ri adding that the charm of each character was the most important part.

Filming started in August 2024;{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Na-ri |date=2024-08-30 |script-title=ko:와이랩 웹툰 원작 '선의의 경쟁' 드라마로 제작…내년 상반기 방송 |url=https://www.etoday.co.kr/news/view/2395697 |access-date=2025-04-20 |language=ko}} as of October, more than half was done.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Sang-jin |date=2024-10-16 |script-title=ko:혜리, "선의의 경쟁", '이런 면도 있었어?' 반응 얻었으면 |url=https://m.anewsa.com/article_sub3.php?number=2948983 |access-date=2025-04-20 |language=ko}}

{{track listing

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| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Park Shin-ae|Jeon Hae-jeong|Lee Gwan-hyung}}

| music1 = {{hlist|Lee Kwan-hyung|Jeon Hae-jeong|Park Shin-ae}}

| extra1 = Kim Ye-ji (Kardi)

| length1 = 03:34

| title2 = Burn It Down

| note2 = Inst.

| music2 = {{hlist|Lee Kwan-hyung|Jeon Hae-jeong|Park Shin-ae}}

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| total_length = 07:08

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{{track listing

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| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = Eternal Maze

| note1 =

| lyrics1 = Jung So-hyun

| music1 = {{hlist|Jung So-hyun|Shin Hye-won|Park Seong-min}}

| extra1 = Elaine

| length1 = 3:17

| title2 = Eternal Maze

| note2 = Inst.

| music2 = {{hlist|Jung So-hyun|Shin Hye-won|Park Seong-min}}

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{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2025|2|24}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = BloodStain

| note1 =

| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Jayde|Lim So-young|Jo Ho-jin}}

| music1 = {{hlist|Jayde|Lim So-young|Jo Ho-jin}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Yezi|Yel (H1-Key)}}

| length1 = 3:03

| title2 = BloodStain

| note2 = Inst.

| music2 = {{hlist|Jayde|Lim So-young|Jo Ho-jin}}

| length2 = 3:03

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{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2025|3|4}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = PainDrop

| note1 =

| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Choi Jaegyu|Jeon Haejeong|Lee Gwan-hyeong}}

| music1 = {{hlist|Lee Gwan-hyeong|Jeon Haejeong|Choi Jaegyu}}

| extra1 = Seoyeon, Jiwoo, Yubin and Sohyun (TripleS)

| length1 = 3:32

| title2 = PainDrop

| note2 = Inst.

| music2 = {{hlist|Lee Gwan-hyeong|Jeon Haejeong|Choi Jaegyu}}

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| total_length = 7:04

}}

Before release, Friendly Rivalry garnered attention due to an effective promotional campaign and word of mouth.{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Chae-yeon |date=2025-02-11 |script-title=ko:이혜리 동성 키스신 터졌다..'선의의경쟁' 역대 오리지널 드라마 1위 [공식] |url=https://biz.chosun.com/entertainment/enter_general/2025/02/11/H7VQG7VA5NZV7HZM4AUMIFA4W4/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |language=ko}} As soon as the first episode was released on February 10, 2025, the series took first place in number of views, number of viewers and number of new viewers among U+ Mobile TV and U+ TV original works, and continued to top the charts for three weeks.{{Cite web |last=Choi |first=Hee-jae |date=2025-03-06 |script-title=ko:중국서 대박났다?…'선의의 경쟁', 인기 어느 정도길래 |url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/018/0005957321 |access-date=2025-04-23 |language=ko}} It was released simultaneously in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, achieving good results: in Japan, it ranked first among Asian dramas on Hulu, and first among Korean dramas on Abema and Watcha, while in Taiwan, it ranked first on OTT Friday and second on the drama chart on IQIYI.{{Cite web |last=Ahn |first=Byung-gil |date=2025-02-20 |script-title=ko:'선의의 경쟁' 해외서도 터졌다···화제성 차트 올킬 |url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/144/0001020254 |access-date=2025-04-23 |language=ko}} Due to domestic viewers' requests to make the series available on more accessible platforms, it was subsequently released on TVING in March and in approximately 190 countries around the world through Rakuten Viki.

Friendly Rivalry was also popular in China, where it wasn't officially released due to the Korean Wave contents ban: it recorded over 68,000 fans on the overseas drama section of Weibo, and posts on Xiaohongshu analizing the relationships between the characters and their psychology received thousands of likes. Kim Heon-sik, a popular culture critic, listed the suspicious deaths and drug problems amidst the college entrance exam competition, and the atypical GL romance, as the reasons behind its popularity.

It received favorable reviews for the unique setting and characters, suspenseful storyline, fast-paced development, fresh and unique directing, and acting, with some considering it a turning point in Lee Hye-ri's career and her life's character.{{Cite web |last=Yoo |first=Jung-min |date=2025-03-07 |script-title=ko:'선의의 경쟁' 자유 찾은 이혜리, 정수빈과 재회 암시…호평 속 종영 |url=https://adenews.imbc.com/M/Detail/451815 |access-date=2025-04-25 |language=ko}} Yoo Jung-min of iMBC praised the combination between a densely composed story and sensual directing, stating that the relationships between the characters, which cross friendship and solidarity, trust and suspicion, admiration and jealousy, left a strong impression, expecting it "to be remembered by viewers for a long time as a well-made genre piece where everything was perfect." In her review of the first four episodes, Xportsnews Jung Min-kyung stated that, although the work was intended as a "mystery girl thriller," they focused more on Woo Seul-gi's subtle emotional changes towards Yoo Jae-yi, with many elements that, to viewers, felt closer to GL; on the other hand, reporter Ha Kyung-heon of Sports Kyunghyang felt that it wasn't a queer story, but not a thriller yet.{{Cite web |last=Ha |first=Kyung-heon |date=2025-02-06 |script-title=ko:[봤다 OTT] '선의의 경쟁'…'GL'은 아니에요, 그렇다고 '스릴러'도 아직 아니에요 |url=https://sports.khan.co.kr/article/202502061800003 |access-date=2025-04-25 |language=ko}} Ize commented that, unlike the original work, which focused on friendship and growth, the drama focused on fierce competition and tense narratives, highlighting the minor character of Woo Seul-gi's father and developing the story into a more three-dimensional one by strengthening the mysterious elements of medical accidents and suspicious deaths. It also noted that the characters were reborn into more realistic ones thanks to a more complex background and motivation, and praised the acting performances.{{Cite web |date=2025-09-12 |script-title=ko:예측불가한 이혜리의 마라맛 학원물 '선의의 경쟁' [드라마 쪼개보기] |url=https://www.ize.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=66086 |access-date=2025-05-02 |language=ko}}

Pierce Conran of the South China Morning Post rated Friendly Rivalry 3.5 out of 5 stars, writing "The kinetic energy derived from all the emotional fireworks drives a show that is electrically staged and rhythmically edited. It should be said, however, that while the series thrives on mystery, it has a habit of running out of steam after its many reveals ... After a very strong start, Friendly Rivalry delves deeper and deeper into a mess of drugs, medical malpractice and exam cheating, but more often than not these prove to be distractions from the show's greatest assets – its characterisations and the titular relationship between its leads."{{Cite web |last=Conran |first=Pierce |date=2025-04-16 |title=Review {{!}} Friendly Rivalry: Lee Hye-ri shines in Netflix high school mystery K-drama |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3306755/netflix-k-drama-friendly-rivalry-review-lee-hye-ri-edgy-high-school-mystery-thriller |access-date=2025-05-02 |language=en}} According to Elle Vietnam, the series' story is both realistic and dramatic, and makes the audience ponder the price of success in a society that values achievements while also being a story about the journey of maturity, where young people are pushed into confrontation before they have time to understand the true value of life.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-15 |title=Friendly Rivalry: Trò chơi quyền lực trong giới học đường |url=https://www.elle.vn/the-gioi-van-hoa/review-phim-friendly-rivalry-2025/ |access-date=2025-05-02 |language=vi}} The Midgard Times called Friendly Rivalry "a masterclass in cinematic storytelling," a disorienting and unpredictable drama "[that] thrives not on clean resolutions but on the chaos of its characters' choices," and rated it 7 out of 10.{{Cite web |last=Choudhuri |first=Neerja |date=2025-04-14 |title='Friendly Rivalry' Netflix Series Review - A Chilling Tale of Power and Amicable Feud |url=https://moviesr.net/p-friendly-rivalry-netflix-series-review-a-chilling-tale-of-power-and-amicable-feud |access-date=2025-05-02 |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

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Category:2020s high school television series

Category:2020s teen drama television series

Category:2020s LGBTQ-related drama television series

Category:2025 South Korean television series debuts

Category:2025 South Korean television series endings

Category:South Korean high school television series

Category:South Korean LGBTQ-related television shows

Category:South Korean mystery television series

Category:South Korean teen dramas

Category:South Korean television series about teenagers

Category:South Korean thriller television series