With 151M+ Hours Streamed, This K-Drama Turned a Hit Webtoon Into a Global Phenomenon

They say beauty comes from within, but for high school student Lim Ju-Kyung (Moon Ga-young), it is her appearance that determines how the world treats her. Based on the wildly successful South Korean webtoon by Yaongyi, True Beauty explores the power and pressure of makeup in a society notoriously obsessed with appearances. Like shows such as Nip/Tuck and films like The Substance, the series examines the consequences of rigid beauty standards and the damage they inflict on those who fail to meet them. However, True Beauty takes a more grounded and relatable approach, setting its story based on students who are instantly praised or judged by their peers based on their looks — a concept that may feel universal, but is particularly unsettling in South Korea.

What is 'True Beauty' About?

True Beauty introduces its main character, Ju-kyung, an ordinary high school student who has been mocked for her appearance for as long as she can remember. From judgmental relatives to cruel classmates, people regularly point out her "disproportionate" facial features. Thankfully, her parents and siblings are kind and supportive, giving her a sense of comfort at home. School, however, is a different story. Ju-kyung is relentlessly bullied for her acne, thick eyebrows, and general awkwardness. The harassment eventually escalates into a humiliating prank that pushes Ju-kyung to the brink of suicide. She is only saved when a stranger stops her from jumping off a building.

After her father is scammed, Ju-kyung and her family are forced to move, and she has to transfer to a new school — an unexpected fresh start she eagerly welcomes. Determined not to repeat the past, Ju-kyung throws herself into learning makeup through online tutorials. With time and practice, she becomes impressively skilled, using contour, blush, and a full makeup routine to transform herself into a "goddess." Makeup becomes her armor, helping her hide her real face and protect herself from more cruelty. At her new school, Ju-kyung quickly becomes popular, but she lives in constant fear that her secret will be exposed. Things get messier when she finds herself stuck in a love triangle between Lee Su-ho (Cha Eun-woo), the quiet student who saved Ju-kyung when she was going to kill herself, and Han Seo-jun (Hwang In-youp), the school's resident bad boy.

'True Beauty' Exposes South Korea's Rigid Beauty Standards

Although South Korea is a major force in global pop culture, like any country, it is not without its problems. Everyday life in South Korea is heavily influenced by strict beauty standards, constantly reinforced through celebrities in commercials, music videos, and television shows. This image-focused culture seeps into real life, where appearance often determines how people are treated. Looking conventionally attractive is widely believed to open doors, especially in the job market. One of the most common results of this pressure is the high number of Korean women who undergo cosmetic surgery, sometimes as early as their late teens or early twenties, often during the summer break between graduating high school and starting their first year of college.

Considering that South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates among OECD countries, with youth suicide being a serious concern, it is sadly not surprising that Ju-kyung nearly takes her own life after enduring constant bullying. The cruelty peaks when she is publicly humiliated — having a bucket of water dumped on her in a school bathroom, and videos of her falling to the ground spread online. On the surface, the idea of using makeup to hide one's true identity may seem superficial. Society tells us to "be ourselves" and insists that appearances should not matter. But when someone like Ju-kyung is mercilessly mocked and degraded, makeup becomes more than vanity — it becomes protection. Sometimes, for a teenage girl, survival itself means getting through another day on her own terms.

The Inside Matters Just as Much as the Outside in 'True Beauty'

Image via tvN

There is no denying that Ju-kyung's bullies are conventionally attractive. Still, the rottenness of their personalities quickly overshadows their looks. In contrast, when Ju-kyung transforms into her "beautiful" self, she never abuses her new identity. Instead, she treats everyone with kindness, befriending anyone willing to befriend her in return. When she sees other students being bullied — whether by classmates at her new school or by her former tormentors — she refuses to stand on the sidelines. Armed with her newfound confidence and social power, Ju-kyung pushes back against the bullies, making sure no one else has to endure what she once did. She even goes a step further by offering makeovers, not to drastically change their faces, but to help their outward appearance reflect the goodness already within them.

When it comes to Ju-kyun's love triangle with Su-ho and Seo-jun — both of whom are just as conventionally attractive per Korean beauty standards — the story reinforces the idea that looks are not what truly matter to them. Neither of the two is immediately swept away by Ju-kyung's made-up appearance. In fact, they initially find her personality a bit strange. Over time, however, they grow to care for her not because of how she looks, but because of her kindness and the way she treats others. In the end, there is nothing wrong with using makeup or dressing up to feel more presentable. But who you are on the inside should matter just as much as what you show on the outside. True beauty, after all, shines from within and without.

Release Date 2020 - 2021-00-00