( A Kdrama review)
About : Korean Drama
Year : 2018
Episodes : 16
Distributor : JTBC
Type of Entertainment : TV show
Rating : 4.8/5
Genre : Romance
Where to watch : Netflix
Cast : Im Soo-hyang, Cha Eun-woo, Jo Woo-ri, Kwak Dong-yeon
What is it about:
My ID is Gangnam beauty is a 16 episode, 2018 Korean drama,that was distributed by JTBC network. It is about Im Soo-hyang playing a role of a young girl Kang Mi-rae, who undergoes plastic surgery, after her schooling because she is tired of being bullied for not looking pretty. Her college starts off pretty exciting as her college mates treat her special because she is good looking. However, things take a different twist once they find out about her plastic surgery. How she handles people’s judgements with a little help from her very attractive class mate Cha Eun-woo (played as Do Kyung-seok) makes this an alluring watch!
The Story Brief:
The story is set during Kang Mi-rae ( Im Soo-hyang) freshman years in college, post her plastic surgery.
Her classmate, is Do Kyung-seok (Cha Eun-woo); the college heart-throb. He also was incidentally in her class during her middle school. Do Kyung -seok is a bit of loner; a person of few words owing to the fact that his parents were seperated during his school days.
Kang Mi-rae is bullied and humiliated throughout her school days because she is very unattractive. She gets bullied to the extent that she decides to undergo a surgery just to be able to lead a “normal” life like any other youth of her age.
Do Kyung -seok though very good looking, does not pay too much importance to physical looks and likes Kang Mi-rae for her kind nature. Kang Mi-rae on the other hand, struggles to accept her new popular self. Things get tougher for Kang Mi-rae when she is called plastic beauty found in Gangnam when her college mates find out about her plastic surgery.
Jo Woo-ri as Hyun Soo-ah is the second lead and the college beauty. She acts as Kang Mi-rae’s friend but pulls her down and shames her for plastic surgery at every opportunity. She also goes to any extent of spoiling others’ chances at being happy just to stay in the limelite.The second male lead is Kwak Dong-yeon as Yeon Woo-young. He is the college senior and a teaching assistant. He finds Kang Mi-rae pretty and falls for her. Interestingly, he is also Do Kynug-seok’s room mate.
The Setting :
This Korean series is set in a lush green and beautiful college campus. You will feel nostalgic looking at the class rooms, labs and canteen. The youthful supporting cast adds flavour to the drama.
Review :
My ID is Gangnam Beauty Korean drama Series will any-day be one of the top contenders in the list of best Korean drama romantic genre. The chemistry between the timid Kang Mi-rae and the self assured Do Kyung-seok sets the pace for the series. No guesses on this one… the chemistry is on from the very first episide. The chemistry is subtle and gets you curious and waiting to see how these two will eventually end up together. Also, one of the reasons you will most likely binge watch this series.
It is a fresh prespective on how different people perceive physical looks. Do Kyung-seok, though very good looking himself, likes Kang Mi-rae only for her nature and does not care about her looks ( past and current). Kang Mi-rae, on the other hand continues to feel inferior because she has done a surgery.
There are a lot of, “college couples”. It is cute to watch college kids having first crushes & proposals and then rejected or accepted. Interestingly not all couples end up as enemies post rejection or break up. With no melodrama; its a breezy watch.
Fun fact :
The My ID is Gangnam Beauty Korean drama Series is based on the popular webtoon of the same name. This is Cha Eun woo’s first leaing role in a TV series. He is a member of the K-pop boy band Astro; Also named by Billboard as one of the best new K-pop groups of the year 2016.
Watch out for :
I could never get tired of watching the college crowd attire. The “Tops” worn by the girls are interesting.
I personally loved the clothes of Cha Eun- Woo. They were simple, smart and totally chic. ( No wonder he is a pop idol!)
The peppy OST is tuneful. My personal favourites areSomething and D-Day and Always You. Enjoy Cha Eun’s voice as he sings Rainbow Falling.
Listen to the OST on Spotify
Dont miss : Episodes 7, 8, 15 and 16
What’s refreshing :
The ackward and shy chemistry between the leads after they decide to date. Its epitome of cuteness.
The evolution of Kang Mi-rae as a person through the series.
The relationship of Kang Mi-rae with her parents. It is very endearing and reflects how parents would do anything to see their childern happy.
The climax episodes, how the fellow college members including Kang Mi-rae and Do Kynug-seok react to Hyun Soo-ah’s situation.
Passion Quotient : 4/5
Thumbs Up :
Nice storyline; that highlights how society values good looking people.
With almost no melodrama; it is an easy “breezy watch”.
Thumbs Down :
Do Kynug-seok patching up with his mother was too quick. They could have alloted some more time and story line for the same.
Again, the flashback explaining Hyun Soo-ah’s attitude was abrupt.
My Verdict :
I would highly recommend this Korean series. It is a total stress buster and will make you re-live your college days.
