"Zhong Ji Yi Ban" In A Nutshell
3 Reasons Why You Should Watch My ID Is Gangnam Beauty
My ID Is Gangnam Beauty is one of the dramas that stuck out to me very much especially since I am a student and whether it be South Korea or even anywhere your appearance is really a big thing people look out for; and if you don't look average in a way that certain people look at it as "Below-Average looking" and "Above-Average" you are bound to be looked at by the people who either call you "Unattractive" or are just jealous of you. I would say this drama would be very trendy towards teens because of the type of vibes it carries mainly from the music with a lot of K-pop songs and enjoyable cliches that teens tend to like. Just to give people a little refresh on the cast and the synopsis below I wrote a little summary.
Warning Contains MINOR spoilers
My ID Is Gangnam Beauty
Synopsis
Adapted from a popular webtoon, this drama tells of Kang Mi Rae(Played by Im Soo Hyang), a girl once bullied for her looks. As a result, she became insecure, cautious around people and withdrawn. However, Mi Rae decides she wants a fresh start away from bullying and gets plastic surgery to transform her face. When she begins university, she meets Do Kyung Suk (Played by Cha Eun Woo) from their middle school days, who sees people for what they are on the inside and not the outside; he then becomes attracted to Kang Mi Rae.
As Mi Rae begins to get teased once more and labeled "Gangnam Plastic Monster", the cold, aloof but kind inside Kyung Suk, becomes the one person that stands up for her and in the process, Mi Rae begins to recover her lost confidence and discovers that true beauty is not on the outside.
Cast
In my own personal opinion, I have to say the cast was well thought out in a unique way.
"Stars Im Soo Hyang and Cha Eun Woo are doing their best to bring Kee Maeng Kee's precious webcomic to life, and she is very overjoyed. Like many ASTRO fans, Kee thinks Eun Woo is gorgeous. "I asked the staff continuously to cast an undeniably handsome actor for Kyung Suk, and I was happy it came true. When I watched the teaser, it seemed like Cha Eun Woo's Do Kyung Suk was even more attractive than my Do Kyung Suk," she said.
Fans of the webcomic were 100% supportive of Im Soo Hyang playing their beloved leading lady. Kee Maeng Kee is elated with Im headlining the series as well! "I am thankful that she said yes to the offer, even though the role of a plastic beauty can be burdensome. When I saw her facial expressions in the lecture hall, she was literally M Rae. I loved the scene so much that it is currently my profile picture," (Source: Dramafever)
Im Soo Hyang As Kang Mi Rae
Im Soo Hyang plays the role of Kang Mi Rae an introverted young girl that is a freshman at her university. She had been outcasted because of her ‘ugliness’, and so she undergoes plastic surgery in hopes of being accepted by this cruel society that keeps tormenting her. Only later to be labeled as "Gangnam Beauty"
Cha Eun Woo As Do Kyung Suk
Cha Eun Woo plays the role of Do Kyung Suk a handsome and arrogant-straight forward young man that attracts any young lady that comes his way. He also is a freshman at the university, he likes sports and alcohol and is rather unshallow than the others freshmen. He acts cold towards others especially women because he was wounded in the past and now has a mentality that "Pretty Women are wicked".
Jo Woo Ri as Hyeon Soo Ah
Jo Woo Ri plays the role of Hyeon Soo Ah the pretty popular girl everyone wants to be around and is often hated by the other freshmen ladies. She has a One-sided crush on Do Kyung Suk. She has an innocent upfront but in the inside, she is completely someone else who will go at all costs to get what she wants.
Kwak Dong Yeon as Yeon Woo Young
Kwak Dong Yeon plays the role of Yeon Woo Yeong a sweet and caring student in the Chemistry department. He comes from a poor family background and he later starts to grow a love for Kang Mi Rae. He is Roommates with Do Kyung Suk.
3 Reasons, Why You Should Watch of My ID, Is Gangnam Beauty
In my opinion, I have to say these three aspects that are indeed enjoyable yet creative aspects really stuck out to me while I was watching this drama. I have to say they are really out of the box kind-of aspects that really bring out the uniqueness of this drama.
1. The RomCom
(if the video link doesn't work click here: My ID Is Gangnam Beauty)
This drama is a bit hard to explain because it is a romance-based drama and the comedy kind of stands out on its own and is not really so focused on but it still all syncs altogether. Which is why it is so interesting to watch. One fan quoted " the irony of her dancing to "New Face" is laughable" which it indeed is just the fact that the term "Gangnam Beauty" is a title that represents someone that has gone under the knife it was quite funny yet witty for them to use the song "New Face" by Psy. Here is another clip that will fill you up with happiness.
(if the video link doesn't work click here: My ID Is Gangnam Beauty)
So cringy yet cute is the kind of vibe that sort of flows and is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of this drama and its comedy, romance and overall concept. It's just this sort of vibe that makes you want to keep watching more and more and it tackles tough topics but in a light way that introduces comedy to it which is something I have not really seen much in kdramas.
2. Kang Mi Rae's Younger Self
I noticed that a lot of the audience and fans of My ID is Gangnam Beauty have been wondering why the face of the younger version of Kang Mi Rae during the flashbacks of her high school period was often covered up and left unrevealed and so I did some research and digging and found out that Mi Rae younger self-was often outcasted due to her"ugly" and unattractive appearance and so the producers of this drama decided that it would be best that they do not create a certain standard on what it means for a person to be "ugly" and unattractive to avoid controversies that may be likely to happen. It was a creative yet respectable idea to come up with.
Kang Mi Rae's younger self can often be seen from a close-up view of her facial features like above or a back view like the picture on the left, from a far distance like the following and also in special cases her appearance is often blurred like the picture on the right.
3. The Tough Topics It Tackles
From tackling plastic surgery to bullying then society and also youth which can also be known as coming of age in drama categories. But I am only going to briefly talk about the bullying aspect of My ID Is Gangnam Beauty.
Bullying Amongst This Society
I would definitely not say that this only happens in Korea but it is a big and controversial matter in South Korea and I am not going to talk much about how it is widely controversial in South Korea but rather more on the bullying Kang Mi Rae encountered because I will be leaving links below, so please check them out. Anyways, Kang was not always as "ugly" as others would say back in her preschool and elementary days rather she was what you would call "fat" or "overweight" in South Korea.
Often given the nickname 'Pig Kang' by her
fellow classmates
And later in her Middle school years given the
Nicknames 'Kang Hulk' and 'Goo Ra'
as in 'gross'
Thinking she had finally escaped the cruelness of this
world and had turned over a new leaf she tries
her best to enjoy her college life to the
fullest only later to be labeled as
"Gangnam Plastic Monster"
That's it for my article on 3 Reasons Why You Should My ID Is Gangnam Beauty hope you enjoyed it if you didn't leave some constructive criticism or any areas I may need to improve in down below and check out one of the hottest kdramas of the year...
My ID Is Gangnam Beauty
And if you haven't already then face Kang Mi Rae's
awkward yet cute Aegyo to teach you a lesson
(When you finally decide to watch My ID Is Gangnam Beauty)
See how happy she is!
South Korea Bullying Study Links:
Bullying Case: South Korea teenagers bullied to death
Another Bullying Case: South Korean Teen Is Brutally Beaten (view at one's own risk but not for people easily weak-hearted for their are possibilities of traumatization)
Bullying Amongst Students: South Korea's school bullying has deadly consequences
Bullying Case: Intern Bullied At Workplace
Announcement
"If you or any friend of yours has ever been bullied or is currently being bullied please talk to a professional or close friend about it. It won't hurt you to say one word as much as it would to keep it inside of you. You are a precious individual to a lot of people no matter what others say. You are a great and inspirational person don't ever let others define you. You own the key to your life. Although I don't know how hard you are struggling inside or how hurt you are mentally and physically I just hope you can find joy in this life like I did with kdramas. I hope you can grow as a person mentally and physically. And just know there is always someone looking out for you on your deepest and saddest days and at your hard and dark times. It's never too late to turn a leaf around no matter how old it may look. Just know you haven't reached your limit in life, that you are meant to be a great person. Don't let others fool you into thinking you're worthless you're greater than what money can ever buy. Just LOVE YOURSELF"
- From a person that suffered from depression
