My ID is Gangnam Beauty (Image credit – JTBC)
“My ID is Gangnam Beauty” was released on July 27, 2018, and is based on a webtoon of the same name published by Naver in 2016. The drama centers around the life of a college student who undergoes cosmetic surgery to escape bullying.
However, her decision backfires and her peers mock her for her unnatural appearance. The series has garnered praise for its portrayal of issues affecting Korean society, particularly its commentary on superficial beauty standards and appearance-based discrimination. On the occasion of its sixth anniversary, let’s explore these themes raised by “My ID is Gangnam Beauty.”
My ID is the conspiracy of Gangnam Beauty
Kang Mi-rae (Lim Soo-hyang) has always been self-conscious about her appearance, which has led her to undergo plastic surgery. On her first day of college, Mi-rae meets Do Kyung-seok (Cha Eun-woo), a handsome boy from elementary school. Kyung-seok immediately notices Mi-rae and begins to realize that his feelings for her go beyond superficial attraction.
My ID is Gangnam Beauty’s social theme: What is Gangnam Beauty?
Both the webtoon and TV series titles allude to the Korean term “Gangnam Mi-in” (Gangnam Beauty), a derogatory term in South Korea to describe someone who is attractive but appears to have had multiple plastic surgeries to achieve their looks. The term refers to a superficial beauty that is often the result of extensive cosmetic surgery.
The story revolves around lead actress Kang Mi Rae, who decides to undergo plastic surgery after years of being bullied for her appearance. Her “rebirth” initially seems successful, but as her college life progresses, her plans begin to fall apart.
The pressure of maintaining the image of a “pretty girl” begins to take its toll on her, and people who see through her plastic surgery ridicule her, calling her the “Gangnam Plastic Surgery Monster.” As she struggles to regain her self-esteem, she reunites with Do Kyung-seok, a former middle school classmate of hers.
What appears at first glance to be a simple coming-of-age story unfolds into a deep, well-crafted story about the challenges women face on a daily basis, highlighting a widespread yet often ignored issue of body shaming and derogatory comments about appearance that are disguised as harmless jokes.
The series tackles these issues with nuance, avoiding a preachy or bombastic tone. Throughout the series, Mi-rae, who is constantly under scrutiny even from those closest to her, gradually learns to understand and stand up for herself.
Commentary on the real world through K-dramas
Kang Mi-rae deeply embodies the conflict of playing the female lead who struggles with societal pressure to conform to certain beauty standards in order to be happy, leading her to withdraw into her shell, avoiding social interactions and friendships to protect herself from further hurt.
Despite being a victim of bullying, Mi-rae is not entirely innocent when it comes to judging others based on their appearances. Though she is kind, she has an instinct to be quick to judge people’s appearances, a tendency that has influenced her own experiences of judgment over the years. The story’s realistic portrayal of these issues, coupled with authentic, flawed characters, creates a compelling story that draws the viewer into its world.
In the drama, Kang Mi-rae meets Hyun Soo-ah, the most popular girl in the chemistry department and renowned for her extraordinary natural beauty. The story highlights how Mi-rae’s colleagues quickly stereotype her and Soo-ah based on their appearances. As a “Gangnam Beauty,” Mi-rae faces the assumption that she is promiscuous and shallow, while Soo-ah, who is renowned for her natural beauty, is thought to be kind and destined to be with handsome and wealthy men.
These seemingly innocuous stereotypes create an underlying rivalry between the two characters, revealing that their competition goes far beyond mere appearances and into deeper, more complex issues.
As the truth unfolds, it becomes clear that Soo-ah, who appears perfect on the outside, is struggling with major internal conflicts. Without giving too much away, it’s safe to say that Soo-ah envies Mi-rae because Mi-rae’s surgically-obtained beauty is seen as “unfair” competition compared to a natural beauty like Soo-ah’s.
Ironically, Mi-rae proves to be a kinder, more caring person despite the massive changes she has undergone outwardly, but her lack of confidence remains a major issue, highlighting that even with dramatic surgical transformations, internal self-esteem issues can remain and require significant healing.
Mi Rae breaks out of her shell and finds herself and true love
By the end of the series, both women find their own way through it. The show emphasizes that prejudices are learned, not innate. Thankfully, Mi-rae’s two suitors, Do Kyung-seok and chemistry assistant Yeon Woo-young (Kwak Do-yeon), help her see things objectively. They encourage her to drop the habit of rating people’s appearances and embrace herself, even if she has a “plastic” look.
The series highlights how prejudice based on appearance is widespread and persistent, especially in childhood. Mi-rae’s experiences of being judged for her appearance caused her to miss out on many childhood experiences, which lasted for a long time. When she was finally accepted and treated kindly during freshman orientation, she was filled with happiness because it was a new and meaningful experience for her.
And as for Soo-Ah, she’s spent her whole life being praised for her natural beauty, which has become her only strength and the reason she’s loved, so it’s easy to see why she sees Mi-Rae through a different lens.
By the end of the drama, it becomes clear that for neither Mi-rae nor Soo-a, beauty, real or artificial, did not solve their problems or bring them true happiness: both sought beauty and achieved it, but in the end it was their inner self that became the focus, and their outer appearances receded into the background.
A key highlight is Mi Rae developing a healthy relationship with Kyung Seok. The drama emphasizes that nurturing one’s mental health and self-esteem are important aspects before making a life-changing decision. Ultimately, Mi Rae comes to understand that to become a complete person, she needs to work on her inner self and that she needs to learn to love herself completely before she can truly love others.
It was moving to see Do Kyung-suk and Kang Mi-rae fall in love based on who they really are, and Mi-rae’s journey to gain confidence and find happiness through self-acceptance has brought a sense of healing to viewers.
She finds true love in Kyung-seok, who appreciates Mi-rae’s inner character and charm despite her own outer beauty, and their relationship has a heartwarming and satisfying conclusion that highlights that true connection and love come from understanding and appreciating each other’s inner qualities.
