True Beauty: Complete Cast Guide, Watch Details, and Top 3 Similar K-Dramas

The popular K-drama True Beauty captured audiences with its story about looks, secrets, and self-acceptance. If you are looking for where to watch it, who stars in it, or what to watch next, here is everything you need to know.

The series is based on a viral South Korean webtoon. It follows a high school student who masters makeup to change her life at a new school, only to get caught in a complicated love triangle. The show first aired on Korean television in late 2020 and quickly became a global hit on streaming platforms.

Main Cast and Characters

The heart of True Beauty is its central love triangle, brought to life by three main actors.

• Moon Ga-young plays Lim Ju-kyung. Ju-kyung is relentlessly bullied at her old school for her appearance. When she transfers, she uses expert makeup skills to create a new, beautiful identity. She loves horror comics and heavy metal music. Her biggest fear is someone seeing her real face without makeup.
• Cha Eun-woo plays Lee Su-ho. Su-ho is the cold, handsome top student at Saebom High School. A family tragedy made him closed-off. He shares Ju-kyung’s love for comics and is the first to discover her secret. He is former best friends with Han Seo-jun.
• Hwang In-youp plays Han Seo-jun. Seo-jun is a popular student with a tough exterior but a kind heart. He was a former idol trainee and is protective of his mother and sister. He becomes rivals with Su-ho and develops feelings for Ju-kyung.

Supporting Cast and Story Details

The story extends beyond the main trio, featuring family and friends who add depth and subplots.

Ju-kyung’s family includes her parents, Hong Hyun-sook (Jang Hye-jin) and Lim Jae-pil (Park Ho-san), who own a beauty shop. Her older sister Lim Hee-kyung (Im Se-mi) is admired for her beauty and smarts. Her younger brother is Lim Ju-young (Kim Min-gi).

At Saebom High School, Ju-kyung befriends Kang Su-jin (Park Yoo-na), who faces pressure from her strict father. Her other close friend is Choi Soo-ah (Kang Min-ah). The homeroom teacher is Han Joon-woo (Oh Eui-shik), who develops a relationship with Hee-kyung.

A key supporting character is Han Go-woon (Yeo Joo-ha), Seo-jun’s younger sister who is also bullied, leading Ju-kyung to help her.

The plot revolves around Ju-kyung hiding her bare face while navigating school life and her feelings for Su-ho and Seo-jun. Her secret is constantly at risk of exposure, especially by her former bullies.

The series was developed by Studio Dragon and directed by Kim Sang-hyeop, with writing by Lee Si-eun based on the original webtoon by artist Yaongyi.

Where to Watch True Beauty

True Beauty is widely available on major streaming services around the world. This makes it easy for international viewers to watch.

• Netflix: The series is available on Netflix in many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India. All 16 episodes are there with subtitles in multiple languages.
• Viki: The drama is also on Rakuten Viki. This platform is known for having a wide variety of Asian content and often provides subtitles in many languages through its community.
• Other Platforms: Depending on your region, it might also be on services like Amazon Prime Video or Viu. A Japanese live-action movie adaptation, “True Beauty: The Movie,” is available on HBO Max.

The series originally aired on the Korean cable channel tvN from December 9, 2020, to February 4, 2021. New episodes came out every Wednesday and Thursday.

3 Similar K-Dramas to Watch Next

If you enjoyed the themes of True Beauty, here are three highly recommended K-dramas that explore similar ideas about beauty, identity, and romance.

My ID Is Gangnam Beauty

This drama is often considered the closest relative to True Beauty. It stars Cha Eun-woo in another leading role. The story follows Kang Mi-rae (Im Soo-hyang), who gets plastic surgery before university to escape a lifetime of bullying about her looks. The series directly tackles South Korea’s beauty standards and the pressure to conform. Like True Beauty, it questions whether changing your appearance leads to true happiness and acceptance.

Extraordinary You

For fans who liked the webtoon connection and school setting of True Beauty, this is a perfect match. The main character, Eun Dan-oh (Kim Hye-yoon), discovers she is actually a character in a comic book. She decides to rebel against the author’s plans and change her destined storyline. The drama is fun, inventive, and features cameos from True Beauty actors like Lee Jae-wook and Kim Hye-yoon herself. It shares themes of taking control of your own identity.

The Beauty Inside

This drama explores the concept of true beauty from a unique, magical perspective. Top actress Han Se-gye (Seo Hyun-jin) has a secret: she transforms into a different person for one week every month. She meets Seo Do-jae (Lee Min-ki), an airline executive who has face blindness. The story is about looking beyond physical appearance to find the person inside. It is a more mature romance but centers on the same core idea that real beauty is not skin deep.

Also Read: True Beauty Cast and Characters: Your Complete Guide to the tvN K-Drama

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