Latest news with #FriendlyRivalry
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Hyeri can't hide her jealousy of Park Bo Gum over When Life Gives You Tangerines' success, complains about joining Netflix late
Park Bo Gum and Kim So Hyun recently dropped by Hyeri's Hyell's Club to promote their Prime Video release Good Boy. Lately, Bo Gum's been on a winning streak, thanks to his Netflix smash When Life Gives You Tangerines. In the drama, he stars as Gwan Sik alongside IU; the show dominated global charts for consecutive weeks and even sparked full-blown 'Gwan Sik syndrome.' Meanwhile, Hyeri's Friendly Rivalry also arrived on Netflix at the same time but didn't quite hit Tangerines levels. But she made sure to show her playful jealousy, barely hiding how much that stung. Also read: Park Bo Gum made a request to Kim So Hyun years ago: 'Remember this when the time comes'; the story behind Good Boy casting The trio kicked off their chat with plenty of behind-the-scenes talk from Good Boy—Bo Gum's second big project this year. The K-drama follows a group of athletes-turned-rookie cops. The three shared laughs, threw compliments around, and somewhere in between, Bo Gum casually mentioned he'd just finished watching Friendly Rivalry. He praised Hyeri for her performance, saying, 'It was so impressive yet surprising at the same time.' But instead of looking flattered, the Reply 1988 star pouted and playfully reminded him how When Life Gives You Tangerines stole the spotlight. 'We joined Netflix a bit late, and by then, Tangerines was already number one,' she said. 'But honestly, it's one of the standout works in Oppa's filmography. Everyone's just going to call you Gwan Sik now.' In response, Bo Gum didn't downplay the success and instead thanked her for remembering the character. 'I'm grateful and honoured to have such a project in my filmography. Thank you for remembering me as Gwan-sik. Being remembered as a character is precious and meaningful for an actor.' He added, 'I hoped the story would warm the world, and I'm glad it resonated well.' Bo Gum and Hyeri go way back to their breakout roles as Choi Taek and Go Deok Sun in the 2015 hit Reply 1988. The duo's off-screen friendship has stayed solid since, and fans got a sweet throwback recently when they showed up together at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards—posing for a few couple shots that instantly reignited the nostalgia. Hyeri later took to Instagram, writing, 'It was such a valuable and honoured moment just to be nominated for the Baeksang Arts Daesang! I will continue to work hard in acting and repay you with an even better version of myself. Thank you so, so much!!!!' Also read: Good Boy: Park Bo Gum says he'd 'love to do an Indian musical', talks Muhammad Ali as he gears to pack a punch in upcoming K-drama In the later part of the conversation, Bo Gum didn't forget to pull Hyeri's leg and joked about the bump in her hair, which kept rising. He burst into laughter and suddenly called the producer to fix Hyeri's hair. 'I was looking at you and I thought you were wearing headphones.' While she got her hair fixed, the actor found a hairpin and offered, 'I'll fix your hair if it rises again.' To which his Good Boy co-star Kim So Hyun added, 'He's really good with hair.' Then Bo Gum revealed he has a certificate in hairdressing, which he earned while serving in the military. 'I got it in the military. I was a barber.' Hyeri curiously asked, 'Do you have to take an exam?' Bo Gum replied, 'You have to take an exam. You have to know how to handle hot irons and also know how to cut hair.'
Pink Villa
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Will Hyeri replace Park Shin Hye in Chair Time? Know about her potential next project after Friendly Rivalry
Actress Lee Hyeri may soon return to television screens with a new romantic drama. On May 20, her agency Sublime revealed that she is currently reviewing an offer to appear in the upcoming series Chair Time. The statement stirred excitement among fans eager for her comeback. According to Sublime, Chair Time is one of several projects that has been presented to Hyeri. In a brief response to media outlet Daily Sports, the agency clarified, 'It is one of the works that she is reviewing after receiving an offer to appear in it.' Chair Time is expected to be a sentimental romance with a strong emotional arc. The story follows Lee In Young, a seasoned and highly regarded general manager who has built a reputation for professionalism and perfectionism in her field. Despite her success, years of career pressures and personal sacrifices leave her disillusioned and emotionally drained. The drama picks up at a turning point in her life, when her confidence wavers and her inner convictions begin to falter. In a twist of fate, she meets Jo Chi Soo, a free-spirited and eccentric dentist whose worldview is the polar opposite of her own. As the two develop an unlikely bond, they help each other overcome past traumas, rediscover their self-worth, and explore what it means to truly connect. The series is expected to weave themes of healing, companionship, and the slow rebuilding of one's purpose through human relationships. Earlier, Park Shin Hye was reported to be in talks for the drama's lead. However, it seems the negotiations didn't go favorably, which opened the door for Hyeri. Fans have been especially eager to see Hyeri take on new roles following her last appearance in Friendly Rivalry. Ever since rumors began circulating about her potential return, Hyeri's fans have taken to online forums and social media, expressing their hopes for her comeback. Many have voiced excitement over the premise of Chair Time. They say it could be a refreshing project that showcases a more introspective side of the actress. However, as of now, no official decision has been made regarding her involvement. The discussions are ongoing and further updates will be shared once things are confirmed. For now, fans will have to wait and see whether Hyeri will step into the shoes of Lee In Young.
South China Morning Post
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Netflix K-drama Friendly Rivalry review: Lee Hye-ri in edgy high school mystery thriller
3.5/5 stars Advertisement Lead cast: Lee Hye-ri, Chung Su-bin, Kang Hye-won, Oh Woo-ri The high school thriller has long been a popular genre in Korean media and it is no surprise why. Febrile teenage emotions mixed with the pressure cooker environment of Korean education result in tales of brutal competition and explosive drama. The new teenage thriller Friendly Rivalry understands this appeal all too well and escalates it by pitting leading characters against each other who are torn between self-interest and empathy. They do good things, some later revealed to be for the wrong reasons, and they also knowingly do bad things, either because they feel they have to or to help someone else. The drama comes from the fact that these characters constantly yo-yo in opposition. Occasionally they briefly bounce in unison, before breaking apart again.
Korea Herald
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Lee Hye-ri returns for buzzworthy role in 'Friendly Rivalry'
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 as well as 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+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 a strange 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 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 firstly released a kiss scene between Lee and Jung on YouTube -- a choice that director Kim Tae-hee states is rooted in authenticity rather than provocation. "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 ambiguous, 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.
