How to Buy a Friend

How to Buy a Friend (Korean: 계약우정; RR: Gyeyakwoojung) is a South Korean television drama series that aired on KBS2 in 2020. The series is based on the webcomic of the same name by author Kwon Laad, which was first published in 2018 via the Daum Webtoon platform.

Plot

The story follows Park Chan-Hong (Lee Sin-Young), an ordinary high school student with a talent for writing who faces significant academic pressure from his parents. His life changes when he encounters Heo Don-Hyeok (Shin Seung-Ho), a classmate who is disinterested in academics and works to support himself. After Don-Hyeok saves Chan-Hong from a school bully, he asks to borrow money to cover his rent. Chan-Hong lends him the funds intended for his private tutoring, leading the two students to form an unexpected bond.

Cast

Actor Lee Sin-Young — Lee Sin-Young as Park Chan-Hong.

Actor Shin Seung-Ho — Shin Seung-Ho as Heo Don-Hyeok.

Actress Kim So-Hye — Kim So-Hye as Eom Se-Yoon.

Lee Sin-Young as Park Chan-Hong
Shin Seung-Ho as Heo Don-Hyeok
Kim So-Hye as Eom Se-Yoon
Oh Hee-Joon as Oh Kyung-Pyo
Min Do-Hee as Choi Mi-Ra
Cho Yi-Hyun as Shin Seo-Jung

Production

The series was directed by Yoo Young-Eun with a screenplay by Kim Joo-Man. The first script reading took place in January 2020 at the KBS Annex Broadcasting Station in Yeouido, South Korea. The show aired from April 6 to April 14, 2020, in the Monday and Tuesday 22:00 time slot on KBS2.

Actor Oh Hee-Joon — Oh Hee-Joon as Oh Kyung-Pyo.

Actress Min Do-Hee — Min Do-Hee as Choi Mi-Ra.

Actress Cho Yi-Hyun — Cho Yi-Hyun as Shin Seo-Jung.

Actor Kim Won-Hae — Kim Won-Hae as Park Choong-Jae.

Actress Baek Ji-Won — Baek Ji-Won as Oh Jung-Hee.

Actress Jang Hye-Jin — Jang Hye-Jin as Jo Pyeong-Sub.

Actor Kim Do-Wan — Kim Do-Wan as Kwak Sang-Pil.

Actor Kim In-Kwon — Kim In-Kwon as Woo Tae-Jung.

Actress Kim So-Ra — Kim So-Ra as Choi Jung-Won.

Actor Lee Jung-Hyun — Lee Jung-Hyun as Kim Dae-Yong.

Actor Yoo Yeo-Woon — Yoo Yeo-Woon as An Sung-Do.

Awards

At the 2020 KBS Drama Awards, Lee Sin-Young received the award for Special Short Drama Actor for his performance in the series.