Actress Lee Hyeri has created a new life character with ‘Good Competition’.
In the STUDIO X+U drama ‘Good Competition’ (Planning: STUDIO X+U / Production: YLAB FLEX, STUDIO X+U / Directed by: Kim Tae-hee / Written by: Kim Tae-hee, Min Ye-ji), Lee Hyeri plays the role of Yoo Jae-yi, a perfect 0.1% high school student in terms of family background, grades, and appearance, maximizing the character's charm with detailed and intricate acting, showcasing a new face never seen before.
In the final episode released at midnight today (6th), Yoo Jae-yi (played by Lee Hyeri) executed a long-prepared plan after becoming the only perfect scorer in the national college entrance exam. After successfully taking revenge on her father, who had controlled her since birth, Jae-yi finally found true freedom.
In ‘Good Competition’, Lee Hyeri (as Yoo Jae-yi) portrayed a character with a mysterious yet sharp side, contrasting sharply with the characters she has played before. While appearing kind to everyone, she vividly expressed Jae-yi's darker side, revealing madness at moments when she aimed to achieve her goals, amplifying the tension of the drama.
Additionally, Lee Hyeri formed a subtle chemistry with her counterpart Jung Soo-bin (as Woo Seul-gi) while delicately portraying Jae-yi's complex emotional lines, fitting the girl thriller genre. As a result, viewers have praised her, saying, “It’s unimaginable that Yoo Jae-yi is not Lee Hyeri.”
With a bold transformation that successfully expanded her acting spectrum, expectations are high for Lee Hyeri's future endeavors.
Below is Lee Hyeri's Q&A shared through her agency.
Q. ‘Good Competition’ has been fully released; how do you feel about it?
It feels like just yesterday when the first episode was released, and time has really flown by. I enjoyed ‘Good Competition’ along with the viewers, paying attention to their reactions with each episode. I was so happy that you enjoyed it.
Q. You made a bold transformation into Yoo Jae-yi, a character with sharp and cold traits, unlike the characters you have played before. How did you interpret Yoo Jae-yi (both externally and internally), and what aspects did you focus on while acting?
I think Yoo Jae-yi is a very lonely character. She tries not to show her emotions and seems to have difficulty empathizing with others in some ways. I believe that her mystery and coldness come from that, and I was glad that viewers recognized the parts I expressed.
Also, since Jae-yi had to be almost perfect and very popular, I thought a lot about her external appearance as well.
Q. You gained attention for the subtle relationship with your counterpart Jung Soo-bin. What did you pay attention to for the subtle emotional lines between Jae-yi and Seul-gi, and how did you coordinate with Soo-bin?
Jae-yi's attitude towards Seul-gi gradually changes to sincerity as the drama progresses, and I thought a lot about how to express that process well. Initially, Jae-yi approached Seul-gi to find her father's weakness, but I felt that Seul-gi would be the first friend to show genuine feelings to Jae-yi, who has lived in competition her whole life. Naturally, I think I started to feel, “I want to protect this friend who pretends to be strong but is very fragile.”
On set, Soo-bin trusted and relied on me a lot, which helped complete the chemistry between Seul-gi and Jae-yi.
Q. Besides the skinship with Jung Soo-bin, there were many bold scenes such as smoking, clubbing, and kissing. Do you have any interesting episodes related to that?
At the time of filming, I didn't think it was shocking since I was just acting out a part of the script. In the early club scene, I wore a pink wig, and I was surprised that it suited me better than I expected. Also, I was amazed that the bathroom in Jae-yi's room was a set made for just one scene.
Q. I heard that many scenes were created from your ideas and ad-libs. Is there a scene that stands out to you?
Actually, there weren't that many ad-libs, and I mostly tried to express what was in the script well.
However, one memorable scene is when Jae-yi confesses her inner feelings while talking about Cain and Abel after seeing her sister's death when Seul-gi comes to visit. Originally, that scene in the script was about Jae-yi breaking down in front of Seul-gi because of Jenna's death. But I told the director, “I don't want the reason for Jae-yi breaking down to be Jenna.” So, it was changed to a scene where Jae-yi calmly shares her inner feelings for the first time, and Seul-gi comforts her, which I think many viewers liked.
Q. If you had to pick your best scene or line from the drama?
A scene I personally like is when Jae-yi says to Seul-gi, “The pill I gave you during the midterm exam was actually a vitamin.” I like this scene because it contains Jae-yi's feelings for Seul-gi.
A memorable line for me is, “Then why did you recklessly touch my stuff without realizing it?” This was the scene I thought the most about how to make it look worse while filming.
Q. You gained many nicknames from this work, such as Prince, Yoo Jae-yi (Guilty Human Yoo Jae-yi), Jae-i-cop, Benz Girl, etc. Which nickname do you like the most?
I honestly didn't think I would get so many nicknames, but I think this is the character I've played that has the most nicknames. I like Yoo Jae-yi the most. It's a nickname that perfectly fits Jae-yi and is deadly.
Q. Jae-yi's attitude towards Seul-gi and her friends, including Joo Ye-ri (played by Kang Hye-won) and Choi Kyung (played by Oh Woo-ri), was subtly different, adding to the fun of watching. What was the atmosphere on set and how was the chemistry with the other actors?
In fact, Jae-yi has no lingering feelings or interest in anyone other than Seul-gi. So, while she appears kind to everyone, I think the viewers found it interesting to see Jae-yi's indifferent and cold attitude that subtly reveals itself.
However, the friends around her were essential for completing Jae-yi's character, so their reactions were very important. Every time I delivered my lines, Ye-ri (played by Kang Hye-won) and Kyung (played by Oh Woo-ri) reacted perfectly, making Jae-yi appear more attractive. Both actors worked hard and were very talented, which made it easier for me to focus on the Jae-yi character.
Q. The ending of ‘Good Competition’ concluded with Jae-yi finding freedom. Do you think it’s a happy ending?
I think Jae-yi believed there was only one way to escape the suffocating environment. Since that was shown in Jae-yi's final moment, I think it is a happy ending. I believe viewers felt a mix of emotions, but on the other hand, they might have felt relieved. Also, I think it was very Jae-yi-like to only reveal her existence to Seul-gi.
Q. Lastly, please say a word to the viewers who loved ‘Good Competition’.
I sincerely thank all the viewers who have watched ‘Good Competition’ until now. I had so much fun, joy, and happiness playing such a charming character like Jae-yi, and I wonder if I will ever meet a character like her again in my acting life.
I feel like I received more love than I loved Jae-yi, and I am very happy as Lee Hyeri, the actress. I will not forget this feeling and will strive to be a more dedicated actor. Although ‘Good Competition’ has ended, I hope it stays in your hearts for a long time. Thank you!
