Is Friendly Rivalry An Adaptation?

So there I was, watching Friendly Rivalry, clutching my blanket like it was about to save me from all the tension, when it hit me—was this drama born from a webtoon? Because, come on, that elite school drama, the mind games, the stares that last just a second too long? That elite school setting, those high-stakes mind games, and the tension so thick you could cut it with a ruler?

It screams webtoon energy. You bet it was!

Friendly Rivalry comes straight from a webtoon of the same name, and honestly, that makes so much sense. But hold on before you sprint to binge-read it—because this adaptation takes things to a whole new level.

Is Friendly Rivalry Really Based on a Webtoon?

The webtoon introduces us to the ruthless halls of Chaehwa Girls’ High, where friendships are just well-disguised power plays, secrets are currency, and survival isn’t about grades—it’s about strategy.

And here’s something non-Korean viewers might not realize: this level of competition isn’t just fictional drama—it reflects South Korea’s real-life, high-pressure academic culture. With university entrance exams acting as life-altering events, elite schools like Chaehwa don’t just educate students.

They shape their entire futures. One mistake, one betrayal, or one lost opportunity can mean losing everything.

The K-drama takes this already compelling story and dials up the psychological warfare, making every glance and whispered conversation feel like a ticking time bomb.

The K-drama takes this already compelling story and dials up the psychological warfare, making every glance and whispered conversation feel like a ticking time bomb.

Drama vs. Webtoon—How Much Did They Change?

This is the part where I got up from my couch and started pacing like I was the one trapped in Chaehwa High’s power struggles—because things got serious. Friendly Rivalry doesn’t just copy-paste the webtoon into a live-action format—it elevates it.

Sure, it keeps the core ingredients—academic pressure, power struggles, and that dangerously addictive will-they-won’t-they dynamic—but it also cranks up the intensity with deeper character arcs and more psychological warfare.

The drama expands on character backstories, giving us deeper insights into their motivations and past traumas.

It also leans into Korean cultural nuances, like the concept of jeong—a deep, emotional connection that can blur the lines between loyalty and obsession. This makes Seul-gi and Je-yi’s dynamic even more intense, as their rivalry isn’t just about power, but an almost unshakable emotional tie that keeps pulling them back together.

Woo Seul-gi’s journey as a transfer student from an orphanage feels even more layered, while Yoo Je-yi’s enigmatic personality gets more screen time, making her even more unpredictable.

And I just need to say—those dramatic pauses? I felt them deep in my soul.

Why does one glance stretch on for ten whole seconds? Is this a showdown or an Olympic staring contest?

What takes a few panels in the webtoon to develop is drawn out in the drama, with extra tension, lingering stares, and enough dramatic pauses to make your heart pound.

What takes a few panels in the webtoon to develop is drawn out in the drama, with extra tension, lingering stares, and enough dramatic pauses to make your heart pound.

Webtoon First or Drama First? Which One Wins?

If you love going into a drama completely blind, you don’t need to read the webtoon beforehand. The series stands strong on its own, offering enough intrigue to keep you hooked from episode one.

But, if you’re the type who loves knowing the “original” before seeing how it’s reimagined, then diving into the webtoon could be a fun way to compare and spot differences. Just be prepared—some scenes in the drama hit harder with the added emotional depth and visual storytelling.

Also, the way the drama captures Korean social hierarchy and school politics makes everything feel even more intense.

Respect for seniority (sunbae-hoobae dynamics) and the silent power struggles between students add another layer that international audiences might not immediately pick up on—but once you do, it makes the drama even juicier.

The Verdict—Does Friendly Rivalry Nail the Adaptation?

No question about it. Friendly Rivalry didn’t just adapt its webtoon—it grabbed the source material, turned the drama dial to max, and left me questioning whether high school is secretly just a survival game.

The performances? Fire.

The writing? Razor-sharp.

The tension? So thick, I felt like I needed a butter knife just to get through some of those scenes.

So, I need to know—have you been obsessing over the webtoon for ages, or are you diving headfirst into Friendly Rivalry for the first time through the drama? Are the changes making you live for the adaptation, or do you wish they had stuck closer to the original?

Let’s discuss in the comments! And don’t forget to subscribe for the latest K-drama scoops, deep dives, and all the binge-worthy recommendations you didn’t know you needed!