LG Uplus’ content studio, STUDIO X+U, is set to debut its first project in 2025.
Created by STUDIO X+U and produced in collaboration with Ylab Flex, this high-teen mystery thriller explores the intense and precarious relationships among teenage girls in a survival competition that is more grueling than college entrance exams.
The series is an adaptation of the webtoon Friendly Rivalry (LT) by writer Song Chae-yoon and illustrator Shim Jae-young, produced by Ylab.
On July 23, STUDIO X+U announced the main cast: Lee Hyeri, Jung Soo Bin, Kang Hye Won, and Oh Woo Ri. These popular actors will bring to life the complex dynamics of students where support and suspicion intertwine.
Friendly Rivalry delves into the cutthroat world of Chaehwa Girls’ High, a prestigious institution where only the top 1% of students get to experience the pressure cooker of academic excellence. But beneath the veneer of perfect grades and ambitious students lie a web of complex friendships, simmering resentments, and competition more intense than any college entrance exam.
Lee Hyeri, making her drama comeback after three years, will play Yoo Je-i, a brilliant student who consistently ranks in the top 0.1% at Chaehwa Girls’ High. Her character is perfect in looks, grades, and family background, showcasing a new side of the actress.
Jung Soo-bin takes on the role of Woo Seul-gi, a transfer student who catches Yoo Je-i’s special attention. Known for her roles in Chief Detective, Juvenile Justice, and Trolley, Jung recently charmed audiences in Chief Detective 1958. In her new series, Woo Seul-gi is an orphan focused on excelling academically to survive at Chaehwa Girls’ High, contrasting with Jung’s previous characters.
Kang Hye Won, recognized for her performance in Boyhood will portray Joo Ye-ri, the school’s gossip queen. Obsessed with appearances and luxury, Joo Ye-ri’s reaction to rumors and flyers adds to the unfolding drama at Chaehwa Girls’ High.
Oh Woo Ri, acclaimed for her roles in independent films and dramas like Welcome to Samdal-ri, will play Choi Kyung, who struggles with being perpetually second to Yoo Je-i. Her portrayal of Choi Kyung’s complex will add depth to the storyline.
STUDIO X+U’s CCO, Lee Deok-jae, expressed the studio’s goal to provide viewers with unique content experiences through specialized mid-form fast, concise, and entertaining dramas.
Friendly Rivalry featuring an exciting cast, will premiere on U+ Mobile TV in Korea in the first half of 2025, with global streaming plans yet to be determined.
