By Honorary Reporter Volga Serin Suleymanoglu from Turkiye (Turkey)

Song Chae-yun is the creator of "Friendly Rivalry," a webtoon turned K-drama about a small-town girl who enters one of Seoul's most prestigious high schools. She competes and later befriends the school's top student.

As one of the most globally discussed K-dramas set in high school, Song discusses her work in an email interview conducted between Feb. 26 and March 16.

Webtoon poster (left) for "Friendly Rivalry" and that for the K-drama adaptation (Song Chae-yun and YLAB)

Describe your background and how you started in webtoons.
When I was a child, I was very quiet and shy. My parents were both busy with work, so we didn't have much time together as a family. When I was 13, my parents sent my sister and me to New Zealand for study, where I surprisingly became more outgoing. After returning to Korea, I was scouted as a model and later transitioned into acting at age 20.

After 11 years in the entertainment industry, I felt exhausted and turned to writing as a way to heal. This led me to create my first movie script, which I shared with Youn In-wan, the founder of (cartoon company) YLAB. He liked my work and invited me to join his company, where I began creating web novels and eventually webtoons.

What inspired "Friendly Rivalry" and how did you develop its characters?The idea came while watching the popular drama "Sky Castle" (2018), which depicts ambitious parents pushing their children academically. Having graduated from high school in Seoul's (rich) Gangnam District, I wanted to create a student-focused version of this competitive environment.

I researched extensively, interviewing teachers and graduates from top schools. For the characters, I wanted to create complete opposites: a country girl and a school queen, united only by their view of friendship and love. I drew from my own experiences and added psychological depth to avoid cliches, particularly with Seulgi's complex character.

How was the webtoon-to-drama adaptation process and what was the response?
Having the webtoon adapted was a dream come true. I trusted the drama team's vision, and they did an incredible job, especially with key scenes like the bath scene. The casting was perfect, and attending the script reading as the author rather than an actor was particularly meaningful.

The global response has been overwhelming, with fans worldwide embracing both the webtoon and drama. Many have sent direct messages and emails expressing their love for the story and even requesting a second season.

Any final message to yoru fans?
I'm excited to announce the release of the K-drama's original soundtrack "Don't Touch Mine," whose lyrics I wrote. Thank you for all your support, and please look forward to my upcoming projects.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.