Hyeri Impresses with Unconventional Role in 'Friendly Rivalry'
Mar 06, 2025
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In the STUDIO X+U drama 「Goodwill Competition」 (played by Kim Tae-hee Min Ye-ji, directed by Kim Tae-hee), Lee Hye-ri played the role of Yu-Jay, a top 0.1% high school student who is perfect in family, grades, and appearance, maximizing the charm of the character with tight and detailed acting and showing a new face that has never been seen before.
In the last episode, which was released on the 6th, Yu-J (Lee Hye-ri) implemented a long-awaited plan after becoming the only perfect student in the country. Jay, who succeeded in taking revenge on his father, who had controlled him from birth to the present, finally found true freedom.
In 'Goodwill Competition', Lee Hye-ri (played by Yu-J) played a mysterious but sharp character in the opposite way to her previous characters. Lee Hye-ri seems kind to everyone, but in the moment to achieve her purpose, she intensified the tension of the play by explicitly expressing the backside of Yu-J, who darkens and reveals madness.
In addition, Lee Hye-ri formed a subtle chemistry with her counterpart, Jung Soo-bin (played by Woo Seul-ki), while delicately portraying the complex emotional lines of Yu-J who do not reveal her inner feelings. Accordingly, viewers continue to give favorable comments, saying, `I can't imagine a UJ other than Lee Hye-ri.'
Expectations are more focused on Lee Hye-ri's subsequent move, which succeeded in expanding the acting spectrum through an unconventional transformation.
- 'Goodwill Competition' has been released. How do you feel?
▶It feels like only yesterday when the first episode was released, but time flies. Whenever each episode was released, I watched the audience's reactions and enjoyed 'goodwill competition'. I was so happy that you enjoyed watching it.
- Unlike the characters he has played so far as the Yu-J of 'Good Competition', he has made an unconventional transformation into a character with a sharp and cool appearance. What kind of person was Yu-J, interpreted by actress Lee Hye-ri (outer surface + inner surface), and what points did she focus on and act.
▶The person I think of as Yu-J was a very lonely person. They try not to show their emotions, and in some ways, it seems difficult to empathize with others' feelings. I think that's where Jay's mystery and coolness come out, and I felt good because the viewers recognized the part I expressed.
Also, Jay was kind enough to be perfect, and he was supposed to be popular, so his appearance was very important.
- He showed a subtle relationship with actor Jung Soo-bin, his counterpart. I wonder what you paid attention to for Jay and Seulgi's subtle emotional line and how you worked with actor Soobin.
▶J's attitude toward Seulgi gradually changes as the play progresses, and I wanted to express the process well, so I thought a lot. The first purpose of approaching Seulgi was to catch his father's weakness, but I thought Seulgi would be the first friend to show his sincerity to Jay, who has lived in competition all his life. Then, naturally "I want to protect this friend, who pretends to be strong, but is very soft."I think that's what I thought. I think Seulgi J's chemistry was completed because actor Soobin trusted and relied on me a lot.
- In addition to touching actor Jung Soo-bin, there were many unconventional scenes such as smoking scenes, clubs, and kiss scenes. If you have any interesting episodes related to it.
▶At the time of filming, I didn't think it was shocking because I was acting a part of the scenario, and I wore a pink wig in the club scene in the beginning, and it was amazing because the wig looked better than I thought. And it was amazing that Jay's room's bathroom was a set for just one scene.
- I heard that there are many scenes where actor Lee Hye-ri's ideas and ad-libs were created in the scene, but if there is a scene that I remember the most.
▶Actually, there weren't that many ad-libs, and I mostly tried to express the things in the script well. If there is a scene that is memorable among them, there is a scene where Jay confesses his inner feelings while talking about Cain and Abel when Seulgi comes after seeing his sister's death. That scene in the original script was Jay collapsing in front of Seulgi because of Jenna's death. But I'm showing the director for the first time that Jay is collapsing, and I hope the reason isn't Jenna." I said. So, Jay talked about his inner feelings calmly for the first time and turned it into a scene with Seulgi comforting him, so I was glad that many viewers liked it.
- If there's a best scene or line that Lee Hye-ri picked.
▶My personal favorite scene is when Jay says to Seulgi in the last episode, "'The medicine I gave you during the midterms, it was actually a vitamin.'" I like it because it's a scene where Jay thinks of Seulgi. The most memorable line is "So why did you touch mine carelessly without even noticing it.It's because I thought the most about how to make it look worse during filming.
- I got so many nicknames in this piece. My favorite nicknames are Prince, Guilty (guilty man UJ), Jacob, and Benz woman.
▶I really didn't think you would give me this many nicknames, but I think I got the most nicknames I've ever played. I like the guilty the most. It's a perfect and fatal nickname for Jay.
- Jay's attitude toward Seulgi and his attitude toward friends, including Joo Ye-ri (Kang Hye-won) and Choi Kyung (Oh Woo-ri), added to the fun of seeing the subtle difference between the atmosphere at the scene and the chemistry with other actors.
▶In fact, Jay in the play has no regret or interest in anyone other than Seulgi. So I think Jay's indifferent and callous attitude, which seems kind to everyone but is implicitly revealed, was funny to the viewers. However, the friends around me were necessary to complete Jay's character, so their reactions were very important. Whenever I said the lines, Yeri (Kang Hye-won) and Kyung (Oh Woo-ri) reacted perfectly, so Jay looked more attractive. The two actors worked so hard and were good at it, so it was easy for me to focus on Jay's character.
- The ending of 'Goodwill Competition' ended with Jay leaving in search of freedom, do you think it's a happy ending.
▶Jay thought there was only one way to get out of the suffocating environment. I think it's a happy ending because I showed it at Jay's last minute. The viewers are also eating, but on the other hand, I think I might have been able to breathe. And I think it was JAY to let Seulgi know his existence only.
- Lastly, a word to the viewers who loved 'goodwill competition'
▶Thank you very much to all the viewers who have watched 'Goodwill Competition' so far. I had so much fun and I was so happy to play such a charming character that I wondered if I could meet a character like Jay again in my acting life. I'm so happy as an actor Lee Hye-ri because I feel like I've been loved more than I love Jay. In the future, I will not forget this heart and become an actor who acts more sincerely. The 'goodwill competition' is over, but may it remain in your mind for a long time. Thank you!
lunamoon@sportschosun.com
