The upcoming drama 'Friendly Rivalry,' starring actress and singer Lee Hyeri, is generating significant buzz ahead of its release. In the drama, Lee Hyeri and co-star Chung Soo Bin flawlessly execute a “bathtub kiss scene.”
On February 7, the trailer for 'Friendly Rivalry,' produced by STUDIO X+U, was released. The trailer includes a scene where Yoo Jae (played by Lee Hyeri) and Woo Seul Gi (played by Jung Soobin) share a bubble bath and a kiss.
Lee Hyeri portrays Yoo Jae, the top student at Chae Hwa Girls’ High School, who excels in both academics and appearance while coming from an affluent background. For unknown reasons, she becomes obsessed with a new transfer student. Chung Soobin plays Woo Seul Gi, the new student who grows close to Yoo Jae after transferring to Chae Hwa High.
The released footage begins with Woo Seul Gi enjoying a bubble bath. Yoo Jae then enters the dimly lit bathroom, removes her robe, and joins her in the tub. Woo Seul Gi is visibly startled by Yoo Jae’s unexpected bold move.
Yoo Jae asks, “You’ve never done this before, have you?” her voice tinged with mystery, causing Woo Seul Gi to freeze. Yoo Jae then smiles playfully and clarifies, “I mean taking a bath with a friend.” However, Woo Seul Gi seems even more flustered, as if she had misinterpreted the question.
With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Yoo Jae playfully dabs foam onto Woo Seul Gi’s nose, saying, “You look even cuter when you’re wet.” Blushing, Woo Seul Gi hurriedly responds, “It must be the hot water… I feel warm, that’s all.” Yoo Jae, pushing further, teasingly asks, “You weren’t thinking anything weird, were you?” as she gently caresses Woo Seul Gi’s lips with her fingers.
Yoo Jae then slowly moves closer and kisses Woo Seul Gi. The intense background music amplifies the tension, drawing viewers into the characters’ emotional journeys.
'Friendly Rivalry' is a high-teen thriller set in Chae Hwa Girls’ High School, an elite institution attended by Korea’s top 1% of students. The drama boldly explores the raw desires of teenage girls and has received a restricted rating (R-19) due to its mature content.
At the drama’s press conference on February 6, Lee Hyeri addressed the same-sex kiss scene, saying, “When I read the script, the emotional flow was natural and entirely understandable. So I had no concerns about performing it. I felt that the scene was essential in explaining the relationship between the two characters.”
Chung Soo Bin also commented, “This drama feels like something never seen before in Korea. The script breaks away from conventional drama formulas.”
Director Kim Tae Hee revealed, “I accepted the offer almost immediately. What drew me in was that none of the characters are purely good, and it’s a story filled with strong female characters. I avoided adding provocative scenes just for the sake of it and instead focused on making each character’s actions feel justified.”
Meanwhile, 'Friendly Rivalry' is set to premiere on February 10 via U+tv and U+Mobile TV.
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