How to Buy a Friend

{{Infobox television

| image = How_to_Buy_a_Friend.jpg

| caption = Promotional poster

| native_name = {{Infobox Korean television name|hangul=계약우정|hanja=契約友情|rr=Gyeyag-ujeong|lk=Friendship Contract}}

| genre = {{ubl|Romantic comedy|Coming of age|Melodrama}}

| creator =

| developer = KBS Drama Production

| based_on = {{based on|Friendship Contract|Laad Kwon}}

| writer = Kim Joo-man

| director = Yoo Young-eun

| creative_director =

| starring = {{ubl|Lee Shin-young|Shin Seung-ho|Kim So-hye|Oh Hee-joon|Min Do-hee|Cho Yi-hyun}}

| music = Choi In-hee

| country = South Korea

| language = Korean

| num_episodes = 8{{efn|name=epcount|In order to circumvent Korean laws that prevent commercial breaks in the middle of an episode, what would previously have been aired as single 70 minute episodes are now being repackaged as two 35 minute episodes, with two episodes being shown each night with a commercial break between the two.{{cite news|last1=Park|first1=Jin-hai|url=https://www.pressreader.com/korea-republic/the-korea-times/20170516/282041917057345|title=Drama viewers angry over commercial breaks|work=The Korea Times|via=PressReader|date=May 16, 2017|accessdate=April 17, 2020}}}}

| executive_producer = {{ubl|Kim Yong-jin|Sohn Jae-sung|Moon Joon-ha}}

| producer = Lee Hyun-kyung

| location =

| cinematography =

| editor =

| camera = Single-camera

| runtime = 35 minutes{{efn|name=epcount}}

| company = Mega Monster{{cite web|first=Woo-joo|last=Lee|url=https://www.sportschosun.com/news/news.htm?id=202004150100109550006761&ServiceDate=20200414|script-title=ko:'계약우정' 오늘(14일) 종영, 비밀 밝힌 이신영X신승호, 납치된 김소혜 구할까|date=April 14, 2020|website=Sports Chosun|accessdate=April 17, 2020|language=ko}}

| network = KBS2

| first_aired = {{start date|2020|4|6}}

| last_aired = {{end date|2020|4|14}}

| related =

}}

How to Buy a Friend ({{Korean|계약우정}}) is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Lee Shin-young, Shin Seung-ho, Kim So-hye, Oh Hee-joon, Min Do-hee, and Cho Yi-hyun. Based on the Daum webtoon Friendship Contract by Laad Kwon, it aired on KBS2 from April 6 to 14, 2020.{{cite web|first=So-hyun|last=Park|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=477&aid=0000234548|title=KBS 월화극 '계약우정'으로 다시 출발…4월 6일 첫방송[공식]|date=March 2, 2020|website=Spot TV News|publisher=Naver|accessdate=April 16, 2020|language=ko}}

Synopsis

Two teenagers begin a contractual relationship — Heo Don-hyuk promises to protect Park Chan-hong from his bully if the latter helps him uncover the truth behind the suicide of his girlfriend.

Cast

=Main=

Lee Shin-young as Park Chan-hong{{cite web|url=https://www.hancinema.net/hancinema-s-news-lee-shin-young-to-star-in-new-drama-139161.html|date=February 28, 2020|work=HanCinema|title=Lee Shin-young to Star in New Drama|accessdate=April 17, 2020}}

:Also known as Ninja among his schoolmates, he is an ordinary high school student who has a talent for writing. He has a crush on Uhm Se-yoon.

Shin Seung-ho as Heo Don-hyuk{{cite web|first=Seo-yeon|last=Pan|url=https://www.ytn.co.kr/_sn/0117_202001230800061581|script-title=ko:[단독] 신승호, 웹툰 원작 드라마 '계약우정' 주인공|date=January 23, 2020|website=YTN|accessdate=April 17, 2020|language=ko}}

:Also known as Iron Man, he is notoriously known for his fists and has fought 10 men at one shot. He landed in juvenile detention and came to the school that Chan-hong, Se-yoon and Kyung-pyo attend.

Kim So-hye as Uhm Se-yoon{{cite web|first=Ji-hyun|last=Jung|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/117/0003327349|script-title=ko:김소혜, KBS '계약우정' 출연 확정…"여주인공 엄세윤役" [공식]|date=January 28, 2020|website=My Daily|publisher=Naver|accessdate=April 17, 2020|language=ko}}

:The prettiest and most popular girl in school.

Oh Hee-joon as Oh Kyung-pyo{{cite web|first=Soo-jung|last=Ha|url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/04/09/2020040902510.html|script-title=ko:'계약우정' 윤활유 오희준, '웃음꽃 만개' 촬영장 대본 인증샷|date=April 9, 2020|website={{ill|Osen (newspaper)|ko|OSEN|lt=OSEN}}|publisher=The Chosun Ilbo|accessdate=April 17, 2020|language=ko}}

:Chan-hong's best friend.

Min Do-hee as Choi Mi-ra{{cite web|first=Yu-na|last=Tae|url=https://www.hankyung.com/entertainment/article/2020030283144|script-title=ko:민도희, '365'에 이어 '계약우정'까지···월화극 잇달아 출격 (공식)|date=March 2, 2020|website=The Korea Economic Daily|accessdate=April 17, 2020|language=ko}}

:Se-yoon's best friend. She was also close to Seo-jung in arts class.

Cho Yi-hyun as Shin Seo-jung{{cite web|url=https://www.hancinema.net/jo-yi-hyun-in-hospital-playlist-and-how-to-buy-a-friend-139337.html|date=March 5, 2020|work=HanCinema|title=Jo Yi-hyun in "Hospital Playlist" and "How to Buy a Friend"|accessdate=April 16, 2020}}

:A senior who committed suicide at school, she was an art student who was close to Se-yoon and Mi-ra when she was alive.

=Supporting=

==Chan-hong's family==

Kim Won-hae as Park Choong-chae{{cite web|first=Eun-kyung|last=Heo|url=https://www.mbn.co.kr/news/entertain/4119133|script-title=ko:'계약우정' 김원해x백지원, 소년원 기록 있는 신승호 감싸안아 '집으로'|date=April 13, 2020|website=Maeil Broadcasting Network|accessdate=April 17, 2020|language=ko}}
Baek Ji-won as Oh Jung-hee{{cite web|url=https://www.hancinema.net/baek-ji-won-to-star-in-how-to-buy-a-friend-as-oh-jeong-hee-139336.html|date=March 5, 2020|work=HanCinema|title=Baek Ji-won to Star in "How to Buy a Friend" as Oh Jeong-hee|access-date=April 16, 2020}}

==Pyung-seop's people==

Jang Hye-jin as Jo Pyung-seop{{cite web|first=Na-kyung|last=Kim|url=https://www.hankyung.com/entertainment/article/202004150388I|script-title=ko:'계약우정' 미트라=유여운, 조이현 죽게 한 장본인..장혜진 악행 드러나|date=April 15, 2020|website=The Korea Economic Daily|accessdate=April 17, 2020|language=ko}}
Kim Do-wan as Kwak Sang-pil{{Cite web|first=Soo-jung|last=Bae|url=http://www.topstarnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=761528|script-title=ko:'계약우정' 신승호, 이신영이 조이현이 게시판에 올린 글과 진짜 글을 다르다는 말 듣고…이정현은 장혜진의 부하 김도완에게 보고하며 '위기 일보직전'|date=April 13, 2020|website=Top Star News|language=ko|accessdate=April 17, 2020}}

==Jeil High people==

Kim In-kwon as Woo Tae-jung{{cite web|url=https://www.hancinema.net/kim-in-kwon-to-star-in-how-to-buy-a-friend-139428.html|date=March 9, 2020|work=HanCinema|title=Kim In-kwon to Star in "How to Buy a Friend"|accessdate=April 16, 2020}}
Kim So-ra as Choi Jung-won{{cite web|first=Dong-woo|last=Kim|url=https://www.hankyung.com/entertainment/article/202004151659I|script-title=ko:'계약우정' 김소라, 애정 어린 종영소감 전해|date=April 15, 2020|website=The Korea Economic Daily|accessdate=April 17, 2020|language=ko}}
Lee Jung-hyun as Kim Dae-yong
Yoo Se-hyung as Ahn Seong-do

Production

The first script reading took place in January 2020 at KBS Annex Broadcasting Station in Yeouido, Seoul, South Korea.{{cite web|first=So-young|last=Yang|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=009&aid=0004530048|script-title=ko:'계약우정' 이신영 신승호 김소혜, 대본리딩도 열정+패기 '뿜뿜'|date=March 4, 2020|website=MK|publisher=Naver|accessdate=April 16, 2020|language=ko}}

Original soundtrack

{{Infobox album

| name = How to Buy a Friend

| type = soundtrack

| artist = Various Artists

| cover =

| alt =

| released = 2020

| studio =

| genre = Soundtrack

| language = {{hlist|Korean|English}}

| label = Danal Entertainment

| producer =

}}

=Part 1=

{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|6}}{{cite web|first=Soo-kyung|last=Kim|url=https://tenasia.hankyung.com/music/article/2020040692264|script-title=ko:'계약우정' OST, 첫 주자는 주예인|date=April 6, 2020|website=Ten Asia Hankyung|accessdate=April 17, 2020|language=ko}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = It Was Spring

| note1 = 그때가 봄이었더라

| lyrics1 = Major League

| music1 = Major League

| extra1 = Joo Ye-in

| length1 = 3:48

| title2 = It Was Spring

| note2 = Inst.

| music2 = Major League

| length2 = 3:48

| total_length = 7:36

}}

=Part 2=

{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|7}}{{cite web|first=So-young|last=Yang|url=https://www.mk.co.kr/star/broadcasting-service/view/2020/04/363454/|script-title=ko:나플라, '계약우정' OST 합류…7일 공개|date=April 7, 2020|website=MK|accessdate=April 17, 2020|language=ko}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = My Friend

| note1 =

| lyrics1 = Nafla

| music1 = {{hlist|Kim Tae-san|Nafla}}

| extra1 = Nafla

| length1 = 3:07

| title2 = My Friend

| note2 = Inst.

| music2 = {{hlist|Kim Tae-san|Nafla}}

| length2 = 3:07

| total_length = 6:14

}}

=Part 3=

{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|12}}{{cite web|first=So-young|last=Yang|url=https://www.mk.co.kr/star/broadcasting-service/view/2020/04/379433/|script-title=ko:하선호, '계약우정' OST 합류…12일 공개|date=April 10, 2020|website=MK|accessdate=April 17, 2020|language=ko}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = One & Only

| note1 =

| lyrics1 = Ha Sun-ho

| music1 = {{hlist|Han Seung-soo|Ha Sun-ho}}

| extra1 = Ha Sun-ho

| length1 = 2:42

| title2 = One & Only

| note2 = Inst.

| music2 = {{hlist|Han Seung-soo|Ha Sun-ho}}

| length2 = 2:42

| total_length = 5:24

}}

=Part 4=

{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|13}}{{cite web|first=Soo-young|last=Kim|url=https://www.hankyung.com/entertainment/article/202004137266H|script-title=ko:이민혁, '계약우정' OST 발표…사랑 넘치는 봄 감성 '꿈에서 널 봤어'|date=April 13, 2020|website=The Korea Economic Daily|accessdate=April 17, 2020|language=ko}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = I Saw You in My Dream

| note1 = 꿈에서 널 봤어

| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Kangaroo|Rhinoceros}}

| music1 = Crazy Park

| extra1 = Lee Min-hyuk

| length1 = 3:48

| title2 = I Saw You in My Dream

| note2 = Inst.

| music2 = Crazy Park

| length2 = 3:48

| total_length = 7:36

}}

=Part 5=

{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|14}}{{cite web|first=So-young|last=Yang|url=https://www.mk.co.kr/star/broadcasting-service/view/2020/04/392728/|script-title=ko:에이스 김병관·찬, '계약우정' OST 참여|date=April 14, 2020|website=MK|accessdate=April 17, 2020|language=ko}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = Still Love

| note1 =

| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Major League|Kim Dong-ha}}

| music1 = {{hlist|Major League|Buzzer Beater}}

| extra1 = A.C.E{{efn|Performed by A.C.E members Kim Byeongkwan and Chan.}}

| length1 = 3:29

| title2 = Still Love

| note2 = Inst.

| music2 = {{hlist|Major League|Buzzer Beater}}

| length2 = 3:29

| total_length = 6:58

}}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Recipient ! Result
rowspan="5"\| 2020 \| rowspan="5"\| 34th KBS Drama Awards \| rowspan="2"\| Best Supporting Actress \| Baek Ji-won \| {{Nom}}
Jang Hye-jin \| {{Nom}}
rowspan="2"\| Best Actor in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama \| Lee Shin-young \| {{Won}}
Shin Seung-ho \| {{Nom}}
Best New Actress \| Kim So-hye \| {{Nom}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Recipient

! Result

rowspan="5"| 2020

| rowspan="5"| 34th KBS Drama Awards

| rowspan="2"| Best Supporting Actress

| Baek Ji-won

| {{Nom}}

Jang Hye-jin

| {{Nom}}

rowspan="2"| Best Actor in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama

| Lee Shin-young

| {{Won}}

Shin Seung-ho

| {{Nom}}

Best New Actress

| Kim So-hye

| {{Nom}}

Ratings

In this table, {{color|blue|the blue numbers}} represent the lowest ratings and {{color|red|the red numbers}} represent the highest ratings.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
rowspan="2" \| {{abbr\|Ep.\|Episode}} ! rowspan="2" \| Broadcast date ! rowspan="2" \| Title
Average audience share (Nielsen Korea){{cite web\|url=https://www.nielsenkorea.co.kr/tv_terrestrial_day.asp?menu=Tit_1&sub_menu=2_1&area=00\|title=Nielsen Korea\|language=ko\|accessdate=April 6, 2020}}
1 \| rowspan="2" \| April 6, 2020 \| rowspan="2" \| What Could You Possibly Do With a Poem? ({{lang\|ko\|시따위로 뭘 할 수 있겠어?}}) \| 2.3%
2 \| {{color\|red\|2.7%}}
3 \| rowspan="2" \| April 7, 2020 \| rowspan="2" \| The Limits of Poetic License ({{lang\|ko\|시적허용의 범위}}) \| {{color\|blue\|1.4%}}
4 \| 1.6%
5 \| rowspan="2" \| April 13, 2020 \| rowspan="2" \| What Rhythm Has Taught Me ({{lang\|ko\|운율이 내게 가르쳐 준 것}}) \| 2.6%
6 \| 2.4%
7 \| rowspan="2" \| April 14, 2020 \| rowspan="2" {{N/A}}{{efn\|Episodes 7 and 8 were not given any title.}} \| {{color\|blue\|1.4%}}
8 \| 1.8%
colspan="3" \| Average ! {{color\|green\|2.0%}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

rowspan="2" | {{abbr|Ep.|Episode}}

! rowspan="2" | Broadcast date

! rowspan="2" | Title

Average audience share
(Nielsen Korea){{cite web|url=https://www.nielsenkorea.co.kr/tv_terrestrial_day.asp?menu=Tit_1&sub_menu=2_1&area=00|title=Nielsen Korea|language=ko|accessdate=April 6, 2020}}

| rowspan="2" | April 6, 2020

| rowspan="2" | What Could You Possibly Do With a Poem?
({{lang|ko|시따위로 뭘 할 수 있겠어?}})

| 2.3%

| {{color|red|2.7%}}

| rowspan="2" | April 7, 2020

| rowspan="2" | The Limits of Poetic License
({{lang|ko|시적허용의 범위}})

| {{color|blue|1.4%}}

| 1.6%

| rowspan="2" | April 13, 2020

| rowspan="2" | What Rhythm Has Taught Me
({{lang|ko|운율이 내게 가르쳐 준 것}})

| 2.6%

| 2.4%

| rowspan="2" | April 14, 2020

| rowspan="2" {{N/A}}{{efn|Episodes 7 and 8 were not given any title.}}

| {{color|blue|1.4%}}

| 1.8%

colspan="3" | Average

! {{color|green|2.0%}}

Notes

References

External links

{{Official website|http://program.kbs.co.kr/2tv/drama/howtobuyafriend/pc/index.html}} {{in lang|ko}}
{{Hancinema drama|How_to_Buy_a_Friend}}
{{KBS World TV program|1484}}

Category:Korean Broadcasting System television dramas

Category:Korean-language television shows

Category:2020 South Korean television series debuts

Category:2020 South Korean television series endings

Category:South Korean romantic comedy television series

Category:South Korean melodrama television series

Category:South Korean high school television series

Category:South Korean teen dramas

Category:Television shows based on South Korean webtoons

Category:Television series by Mega Monster

Category:South Korean television series about teenagers