My ID is Gangnam Beauty (2018)

Meh - One time watch

"My ID is a Gangnam Beauty" is a thought-provoking and relatable Korean drama that delves into society's obsession with beauty and the impact it has on an individual's self-esteem and identity. With its compelling characters, nuanced exploration of beauty standards, and messages of self-acceptance, this series strikes a chord with viewers.

The drama follows the story of Kang Mi-rae (Im Soo-hyang), a young woman who undergoes plastic surgery after facing relentless bullying due to her appearance. Starting college as a "Gangnam beauty," she faces a new set of challenges as she navigates relationships, friendship, and her own perception of beauty. Through her journey, the drama raises questions about societal pressures, the importance of inner beauty, and the significance of self-love.

Im Soo-hyang delivers a standout performance as Kang Mi-rae, capturing the internal struggles and insecurities of her character with authenticity. Her portrayal effectively conveys the emotional turmoil faced by individuals who grapple with societal expectations and personal perceptions of beauty. Cha Eun-woo impresses as the charismatic and kind-hearted Do Kyung-seok, whose own journey towards self-discovery adds depth and complexity to the narrative. The chemistry between the two leads is palpable, making their on-screen relationship engaging and heartwarming.

The drama addresses the concept of beauty in a multifaceted manner, exploring both the external and internal aspects. It delves into the damaging effects of beauty standards and the pressures to conform, while also emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and embracing one's individuality. The writing sensitively handles the complexities of self-esteem and body image, offering valuable lessons on self-worth and personal growth.

In addition to the central characters, "My ID is a Gangnam Beauty" features a diverse ensemble cast that contributes to the overall narrative. The friendships that develop between the characters, particularly Mi-rae's relationships with Woo Young (Kwak Dong-yeon) and Hyun Soo-a (Jo Woo-ri), add layers of depth and exploration of different perspectives on beauty and acceptance.

Visually, the drama is aesthetically pleasing, with its polished production values and stylish presentation. The vibrant and youthful cinematography, along with the fashionable wardrobe choices, adds to the overall appeal of the series. The attention to detail in capturing the university setting and the portrayal of college life further immerses the viewers into the story.

While "My ID is a Gangnam Beauty" is generally well-received, it does have a few minor shortcomings. The pacing could feel slow at times, and certain plot developments may seem predictable. Some characters could have been further developed to provide a more well-rounded exploration of their perspectives. However, these minor flaws do not detract significantly from the overall viewing experience.

In conclusion, "My ID is a Gangnam Beauty" is a compelling Korean drama that explores the complexities of beauty, identity, and self-acceptance in a relatable and thought-provoking manner. With its strong performances, relevant themes, and engaging storyline, it offers a valuable reflection on societal pressures and the importance of embracing one's true self. If you're seeking a drama that combines romance, coming-of-age elements, and social commentary, "My ID is a Gangnam Beauty" is definitely worth a watch.

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Seriously I love this drama

I love this not because cha eunwoo is my fav actor actually the story'was soo good I won't say it's a moral story it is definitely not it would have been if she had not done surgery but it's okay because of that plot we got the main story I literally love her both mom and dad and about their love story it was kinda slow but as u know patience is appreciated so it does have a pretty ending I love the way kyung sok was protective about mi rae there are some incidents in the drama and it's quite heart fluttering 💞💓🌚and I would say the story of her beat friend and ta was kinda unsatisfying but overall it's a good drama cast are literally good ❣️❤️ you'll love them don't mind the girl I mean she'll learn over the end so have patience and the end is very good and sweet 😊☺️ don't skip or it'll be confusing

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For binge watching on a cozy day

This show was pretty great. I atleast was able to finish it, recently I start k-drama's and they are good in the beginning but in the middle and towards the end they drag, so I get bored and drop it, but not this one. I loved the development of all the characters except the senior guys. They could have had more character development for them. I also did not give it a 9 or 10 because it felt like the same stories that you usually see from k-dramas. If I came across this in my earlier k-drama watching journey then it would have probably been one of my top dramas but now I've seen better stories so my critique has to be a little more detailed.

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Surprisingly I enjoy the show

Honestly, this drama is already long enough in my list for watch..
But, I don't really interest about the bully stuff.. because it will be annoy me and make me upset to someone who's get bully that can't defence herself..
I think the reason I still have this drama in my list, because the male lead is really pretty.. He has the unique face that I can remember for a long time.. not really my type, but still he can make me melted with his smile..

The funny is.. I want to spend my quota internet (because it will be expired in 2 days and I still have a lot)
I search drama from netflix and found this Gangnam..so why don't try for the 1st episode?
Surprisingly I enjoy the drama and this drama make me want to go back in my past..
I like female character.. she try her best to adapt in her new situation.. and not easily intimidated with other people.. I know she think a lot what people say or thinking, but she try to ignore for her happy life..
Maybe that because she has a lovely parents and best friend who always be her side..

Actually I thought the antagonist will be very annoying and make every people do all what she want.. but the writers don't mess the story like that.. I love it.. because in this world no one people is very very very very bad.. or no one people is very good good good... thats not realistic at all..

And talk about Cha eun wo, the handsome male lead.. Some people will be say he is actor with a bad acting.. her face is really flat in this drama.. but so far I know.. in the webtoon, his character has a less expression and very has a flat face.. so I think cha eunwo did a good job.. I don't know about his other drama, but he's really cute in this drama.. I love it..

so if you still has a doubt for watching this drama, please go for it..watch it and you will enjoy the show ^^

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BEST DRAMA IN KDRAMA HISTORY

I AM NOT JUDGING THIS DRAMA BASED ON 2-3 DRAMAS I HAVE WATCHED .AFTER WATCHING ALMOST 200 DRAMAS I HAVE CAME TO THIS RESULT THAT THIS WAS THE BEST ONE SO FAR AND I HAVEN'T FOUND YET ANNOTHER DRAMA COMPARED TO THIS ONE.
A realistic story to which anyone can relate it shows the real situation in life and a couple who truly love each other regardless of who and what they are.😊 The slow love story of Kang Mi rae and Kyung Seok touched my heart.They were so good

A realistic story to which anyone can relate
it shows the real situation in life and a couple who truly love each other regardless of who and what they are.😊
The slow love story of Kang Mi rae and Kyung Seok touched my heart.They were so good .
Plot of this drama is breath of fresh air for me... extremely amazing. The way they give us message that inner beauty is most important than outer beauty... is beyond amazing. I liked that all the pairs did not show up together at the end..

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I'm just going to get straight to it. I think this is a really good drama. If I ever have a friend who wants to start to watch K-dramas I'd probably suggest this one first. Okay the story itself seems easy to follow, a girl who felt self-conscious got plastic surgery and is now dealing with life with a new face. No! There is so much more to it. I think you really have to empathize with Mi Rae as a character. Not loving how you look and people treating who differently purely based on your appearance is an awful feeling. Throughout the drama we can see where her feelings are rooted from, we can see that how society is so obsessed with beauty, we can also see how little appearances mean to the entirety of a person in this drama.

Cast-
Mi Rae- Im Soo Hyang, I don't really think I have the right to comment on this part because I have a huge bias. Im Soo Hyang is my favorite actress. I have watched everything she has been in. So I think that she did a splendid job acting as Mi Rae. Her expressions, her ambiance, her charisma everything was spot on! I don't think her age has anything to do with the role because she was able to act like a college student.

Do Kyung Suk- So I actually learned about Cha eun woo from this drama, I must say he is really handsome. His acting career just started and I think he has really good potential. I don't want to judge too harshly, I know his character is standoffish, I just think he didn't always portray the coldness in the right way or the right time. However, these things come with times and I am not a professional critic or anything. It's just my opinion. He is really good, but there is room for improvement.

Soo Ah- I'm so surprised I haven't seen Jo Woo Ri in many leading roles before. She is honestly a hidden gem. She couldn't have portrayed her character better. Huge props to her for that.

Woo Young- Kwak Dong Yeon did a good job with his role. I thought he was quite a funny character sometimes. His acting is consistent, I wish sometimes he'd show more emotion, but he had some memorable parts so overall good.

The rest of the cast was also really good. I like Kyung Suk's mother a lot, she was such a great actress. His sister and Dad were both good as well. The same goes with the actors and actresses in Mi Rae's family. Also, I love the actress playing Mi Rae's best friend, she was honestly one of my favorite people in the cast. I wish I got to see more romance with her and Woo Young.

Romance- I think I should definitely mention this. Please do not watch this hoping to see a lot of romance. There is a decent amount of it. It's just that it is a bit slow. I think this was good for the drama however, I don't think too much romance would have been good. This is definitely not a huge romantic drama, but it has some cute scenes in there

Changes- The only this I would change is giving Mi Rae a bit more time to shine. In the first episode when she was dancing, honestly she really did shine. She did get to show off her perfume skills here and there and social skills, etc... However, I really think they could have given her more time in the spotlight.

I would definitely rewatch this and I highly suggest others to give this drama a try.

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Anytime I find myself relating to the main character(s) of a drama on a personal, emotional, often private level, I know I'm going to end up loving a show, and this time was no exception. I was Very emotionally invested in Mi Rae's story, because I related to her Very deeply. I wanted to see her overcome her insecurities and give herself permission to live a fulfilling life, and it was so rewarding watching her open up and let others in.

What I probably enjoyed most about this drama is how subtly it dealt with it's subject matter. All throughout were these tiny moments and messages that compounded on top of each other. The story was never pushy or loud or obnoxious. It never tried to shout it's message from a rooftop. It didn't go for cliché or for 'Woman power'. It chose instead to weave a simple message into the everyday things characters said and did and felt about themselves. It created a message meant to be felt, not necessarily spoken out loud, which is where any true, genuine truth should be held and understood.

This drama is not without flaws though.

The entire finale was truthfully a letdown. While I liked a lot of how everything played out, it felt very rushed and out of order. Mi Rae and Kyung Seok get the happy ending together they deserve, but it felt a bit like the writers trying to create that 'perfect romantic ending' rather than just letting the characters be themselves. Soo Ah receives what I consider a fitting, and hopeful, redemption story that I wish could have started to unfold a little sooner as it would have helped the audience relate to her a lot better.. And I'm soooooo salty about how all of our side couples were sort of dropped by the writers at the end, because I wanted their happy endings, and we didn’t get them!!!

Ultimately, I was waiting for the drama to tie together all of the little, subtle messages it had been sending throughout the story, and that didn't happen. The focus on creating that 'perfect romantic ending' and trying to give Soo Ah an affective redemption arc took away from what was really the overall message of the drama. Beauty is subjective, and it's objectively in all of us.

(And for anyone wanting to know, yes. Cha Eun Woo is probably not the best actor, but I think his acting style worked fairly well for the character, and I didn't find it particularly distracting while watching.)

Despite my disappointment with the finale, this is still one of my favorite dramas that I've watched this year and definitely on my list of favorite dramas I've ever watched. It treats it’s characters and subject matter with thoughtful kindness, and that goes a long way in overcoming any other mistakes a drama might make. I highly recommend giving this drama a chance.

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The plot takes an interesting take on plastic surgery from what I saw. Usually dramas have the surgery and when people find out they're only shock for a moment then its pushed aside. But for this drama, I guess its quite realistic in terms of how people view plastic surgery. There's a stigma where people both look down on it but also look up upon it. If you have the means then why not right? It also touches how despite trying to be a better version of yourself, there will still be people who don't like you. However, I did wish there was a bit more back story on the other characters cause it felt like I was trying to fill in the gaps regarding their background. They seemed a bit too filler.

As for the cast, I've seen some people saying Soohyang is too old for the role but that's exactly the point. She was suppose to look old for her age group due to the results of the procedure. It was suppose to make people question her presence. It was quite a good move to cast a mature looking person if anything. For the acting however, I wasn't sure if it was intentional for her to be quite awkward but still a bit bearable. Cha Eun Woo's acting was average (maybe just for this drama?) and having Kwak Dongyeon as his teacher was quite funny given that both of them are the same age in real life.

Nonetheless, it's still bearable to watch but whether I will rewatch it is a different question.

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My id is Gangnam beauty is a kind of drama which will give you butterflies in your stomach. Both the lead characters are really sweet especially the male lead. It's great to watch the whole first love, first relationship vibes.
It's a little bit slow paced but trust me it's worth the wait. Many people will say that both the leads are too slow but I guess that's the main ingredient which makes this drama so special. Even the second lead was very good. He's actually one of my fav actors. I watched him in love in the moonlight and since then I just love him. Even he was great here.
The story was really well executed. Till the end it didn't let go off the storyline like many other dramas do.
I personally thought that the last episode was kind of rushed I wanted to see more of their relationship growing but nevertheless I enjoyed the drama very much.

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Earnest feminism

This drama tries hard to address issues of feminism, including judging females by their appearance, females striving for rewarding careers and families, males treating females as inferior, and the effects of gossip and social media on the portrayal of females. Most of this is done through small, natural conversations and exchanges in a realistic way. It's one of the first shows I've seen that's a true slice of life. Not everything is tied up with a bow at the end, which adds to the realism. I also appreciate the multiple antagonists and how the main one was realistic and three dimensional. It was refreshing to see about the same number of females and males on the cast, which speaks to the actual value they hold on screen.

I felt it could have gone a bit further with its message of equality and acceptance. For instance, there is variation in the personalities and appearance of the female characters, but they mostly dressed the same except for one. And the males that treated the women with disrespect didn't all get what they deserved. Also, a strong message in the second half of the show that says most people are more concerned with their own insecurities over criticizing you, is overshadowed by the fact that no matter where KS goes, people loudly comment about how handsome he is. It's excessive.

Furthermore, the males are still differentiated based upon appearance, so the 'good guys' are conventionally good looking while the two worst 'bad guys' aren't. I also feel the ups and downs could perhaps have been depicted with more dynamic energy so that the pace could stay more exciting. One strength and also weakness of the show is around how obvious the "lessons" are in this show. But at the same time, this innocent earnestness fits the feel of the show, but also makes it pretty predictable and a bit simplistic.

Finally, I wanted to explore the stories of the supporting cast further and their relationships and histories. Min Do Hee who plays Mi Rae's best friend, didn't get the screen time she deserved. She is a fantastic and interesting character that wasn't written the way she should have been. And the other female supporting cast members should have had more of a story about not dressing in the expected feminine ways or not being stick thin. It could easily have been 20 episodes.

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Beauty's only skin deep!

I started this K-drama right after watching True Beauty. While True Beauty was more of a light/fun drama, My ID went deeper into the emotional trauma of a girl bullied because she's not deemed attractive enough and taking it to the next level and making a permanent change to her facial features.

I was really unfamiliar with the popularity of plastic surgery in Korea. I knew that some people would get the surgery for double eyelids, but I didn't know they would reshape their face, change their nose and mouth. And how this type of plastic surgery face is called a "Gangnam Beauty".
I would have been as clueless as Mi Rae's parents if I heard someone using the name "Gangnam Beauty" to describe someone.

In a way, I felt that Mi Rae went from one form of ugly to another with her new plastic surgery face. That is just my personal opinion, but for me, what shined for her character was just how kind and thoughtful she was. I honestly, felt that after all she went through in the show with the school goddess hating her, etc... that she was able to reassess what it meant to be a beautiful person and realizing she was as beautiful as Soo Ah!

The character of Soo Ah proved that beauty is truly only skin-deep. Despite her angelic appearance, she was tormented inside, self-hating and insecure, cruel and manipulative. And while Mi Rae had scars and insecurities from her past, she was learning to overcome them and growing stronger throughout the series. She was learning that she deserved to be happy and loved and found that with a guy who fell in love with her for her beautiful spirit.

And I also ended up feeling satisfied with Soo Ah's ending. She had a reverse transformation from Mi Rae's. She realized the ugliness she had inside herself was something that kept her from being happy and creating meaningful relationships. I felt her bulimia was the perfect physical manifestation of her personality. How someone so perfect and sweet on the outside was just filled with bile and acid on the inside. She broke through that superficial exterior when she cut her hair off at the end and seemed to be taking time to focus on loving herself and not depending on the praise and affections of others.

All in all, this K drama was entertaining. I didn't get bored and I enjoyed the message.

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