Revenge spurs romance in Birth of a Beauty

53 October 29, 2014November 3, 2014

by javabeans

I hadn’t realized that makeover rom-com Birth of a Beauty was a revenge story (albeit a super-lighthearted one), but that’s a detail I can see working for the premise. It’s not a revenge drama per se (in that I don’t expect the whole show to follow the heroine’s vengeance path), but that’ll provide us with the inciting incident — the teaser describes the heroine’s “last-ditch choice” as one made from the edge of a precipice.

In the three teasers below, the ajumma heroine (initially played by Ha Jae-sook of Protect the Boss and Pasta) survives an accident that leaves her hurt in both body and spirit, and goes knocking on the door of Joo Sang-wook. He’s a plastic surgeon, and she begs him to make her pretty — and a full-body makeover later, she turns into Han Ye-seul. She retains her coarse ajumma ways, however, making her “a tough man on the inside, a top beauty on the outside.” That could be fun.

The heroine’s decision has something to do with Jung Kyeo-woon, whom she sees with another woman, Wang Ji-hye — a cheater, perhaps? The cause of her accident? In any case, Joo Sang-wook trains Han Ye-seul to act the part once she looks it, and a cute romance blossoms between them while the revenge, I presume, will probably go sideways.

I like this point because people need drastic reasons for undergoing such drastic changes, and I think I prefer the hurt-betrayed-revenge angle over the alternatives; I’d have no problem with a heroine who opted to have surgery just because she wanted it, but this gives her extra motivation and plot direction once she’s gotten the new face. Plus, dramaland already has a pretty rich history of facelift-driven revenge stories (and that’s a fact that cracks me up), so this feels like a fun twist on the genre. (At this point, enacting a revenge plot using a new face is so old hat that it’s almost necessarily a joke, having been parodied so much.)

I’m disappointed that Han Ye-seul isn’t playing her “before” character, though I suppose ultimately it works with the storyline since she’s supposed to look unrecognizable after her transformation. Kim Ah-joong did look pretty different when she played her ugly-duckling version in 200 Pound Beauty, but that required a ton of prosthetics and makeup and perhaps a drama doesn’t have the time for that?

Birth of a Beauty will be a weekend drama on SBS, following the slot recently vacated by Endless Love, and premieres on November 1. It’s slated to run for 20 episodes.

Via Wow TV

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1 Plus 9

October 29, 2014 at 6:32 AM

Weekend overload of dramas and I like it ?

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2 HS

October 29, 2014 at 7:16 AM

Dayum she's gorgeous

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ujsid

October 29, 2014 at 7:18 PM

IKR! she is freakin gorgeous! :O makes all of us other women feel like a frog :'(

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3 May

October 29, 2014 at 7:19 AM

I'm excited about this one!

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fat_crayon

October 29, 2014 at 8:13 AM

That makes the two of us!

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Pipit

October 30, 2014 at 6:18 PM

Three!

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4 samsooki

October 29, 2014 at 7:23 AM

The ethical (for lack of a better word) ambiguities aside, this could be really fun.

I will just go "LALALALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU" when people start talking about whether there are underlying messages, whether those messages are positive or destructive, what impact it could have on young people, what it says about society or culture in general, etc.

I'm just in it for the pretty faces, the tears, the angst and the acting and the OST!

There, I'm shallow and escapist! Yet I admit nothing!

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miley

October 29, 2014 at 11:50 AM

me too! i'm a big time Joo Sang Wook fan and i'm very excited to watch him in the small tube once again after Sly and Single wooohooo!!!!!

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Gidget

October 29, 2014 at 7:50 PM

Can I join your “LALALALALALA I CAN’T HEAR YOU” club too?

This looks pretty and fluffy... just what I'm in the mood for.

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YY

October 29, 2014 at 11:31 PM

Yeah, me too! First drama to interest me since forever.

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Pipit

October 30, 2014 at 6:20 PM

YY! YY!
This must be awesome drama is even able to bring you back!
Love it even more than before!

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YY

October 30, 2014 at 11:44 PM

Hi Pipit! Love you!!

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Pipit

October 30, 2014 at 10:11 PM

I love this 'LALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU' mantra. Joining the club if you don't mind.

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5 fab

October 29, 2014 at 7:35 AM

This better be FUNNY! Otherwise it's just a dumb premise.

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6 KDaddict

October 29, 2014 at 7:45 AM

I'd like to find that plastic surgeon who can turn Ha Jae Sook into Han Ye Seul. I don't think any of us would mind looking like HYS.

A guy who betrays you isn't worth the effort or the trouble for you to seek revenge is what I believe. You shake him off, do what you want to do, and if that makes him stew, that's just a bonus. To hell w him.

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idiosyncreant

October 29, 2014 at 12:11 PM

I kinda like the meta involved in a too-gorgeous actress playing a post-surgery beauty. Just putting that out there...

And hey, if dramas always lived out our own ideals of humanity we'd have a lot less humanity in them... also, Han Ye-Seul does SO WELL playing the pettier, uglier emotions in a funny way. (Oh, Fantasy Couple/Couple or Trouble. Why did you end with such a whimper? Was there an embargo on skinship that year?)

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Because of Reasons

October 30, 2014 at 6:33 AM

And hey, if dramas always lived out our own ideals of humanity we’d have a lot less humanity in them…

Yes, this.

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7 Placebo

October 29, 2014 at 7:46 AM

*quickly does a Wang Ji-Hye fanboy somersault*

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8 museofmanymasks

October 29, 2014 at 7:46 AM

haha The Revenge of My Fair Lady. I'll probably have to turn my brain off but I think I'll at least try it. That first still of Joo Sang Wook brought all my Ten withdrawal symptoms back. Sigh.

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panda

October 29, 2014 at 9:49 AM

We want TEN3!

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fgb4877

October 29, 2014 at 2:07 PM

TEN3!?. Teenage Eunuchs Neutered 3???. Seriously, TEN3 is an acronym for wich series?.

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Javabeans

October 29, 2014 at 4:48 PM

Lol, TEN is the name of the series (not an acronym). It sometimes also goes by Special Affairs Team TEN.

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fgb4877

November 2, 2014 at 2:03 PM

Thank you Javabeans, and by the way I love your website. At least in my country we are not used to so many acronyms and I am sometimes really lost in the comments section. Thanks again!.

9 KDaddict

October 29, 2014 at 7:48 AM

Can I ask a Qn:
Who is this actress in the new header, who's wearing all these lovely roses around her hair? Is that Han Ji Min? I might be face-blind. Change the lighting and make-up, and I don't recognise them.

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Rachel

October 29, 2014 at 9:01 AM

The headers are randomized so I don't see the same header as you.

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a_diva

October 29, 2014 at 2:01 PM

There's a master headers list that you can find in the FAQ section. Here's the link:

http://www.dramabeans.com/about/headers/

I scrolled through quickly and didn't see anyone with roses around their hair. Perhaps you saw the header with Lee Yoon-ji? She didn't have roses around her hair but there were flowers around her. Anyway, check out the master list!

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Javabeans

October 29, 2014 at 4:50 PM

Yes, sorry, I'm horribly behind on updating that list! I want to give everyone credit who submitted the lovely headers but aghhhh I'm just really really behind on that master list. The header i think KDaddict is referring to is Han Ji-min, yes.

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KDaddict

October 29, 2014 at 6:09 PM

Thanks, @javabeans.
It's really nice seeing new headers. They get more beautiful and sophisticated all the time. Compliments to the artists. Photos taken in studio shots can be hard to id sometimes. I often bang my head w anxiety. Thanks for answering.

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KDaddict

October 29, 2014 at 6:03 PM

Thanks, @a_diva,
I'm aware of the master headers list, but half the headers are not on it.

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10 yayaya

October 29, 2014 at 8:11 AM

not liking the plot but the CASTS!!! How could I ignore them?
Please dramagods, make it gooooood.

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11 hellochloe

October 29, 2014 at 8:15 AM

you're the bringer of good news, jb :)

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12 kanz

October 29, 2014 at 8:18 AM

OMG Jung Kyu Woon!! *swoon

He looks really hot in that suit! He must be the antagonist right? Since it's a revenge against him.

Hmm, it's only 20 eps, now I'm tempted to watch it.

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13 Bex

October 29, 2014 at 8:50 AM

Omgggg yessss I didn't know there was reveng in this too! I really hope this drama lives up to my expectations now!

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14 Sharon

October 29, 2014 at 9:28 AM

It's maybe just me, but Han Ye Seul looks so skinny especially in that red dress. And longer hair makes her looks aging. I prefer to see her in shorter hair.

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fab

October 29, 2014 at 3:53 PM

It's not you the woman is just too skinny, fits the role I guess...

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15 panda

October 29, 2014 at 9:50 AM

Joo Sang-Wook is so bloody HOT

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16 Abbie

October 29, 2014 at 10:27 AM

This looks fun and cute! I love Joo Sang-wook in rom-com and I can't wait to see him in this. I'm also glad Han ye-seul is making a drama comeback. Good to see her again. Looking forward to this so much!

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17 ys

October 29, 2014 at 10:29 AM

Although Ha Jaesook and Wang Jihye won't be onscreen together here, I'm reminded about how much I loved the two of them in Protect the Boss.

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18 kris

October 29, 2014 at 10:54 AM

Not Han Ye Seul fan. But I like Joo Sang Wook acting... He good.

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19 Meong.

October 29, 2014 at 11:41 AM

Wow the red dress is so so pretty *u*
Han Yeseul is pretty too! Not really my type of drama but it actually looks nice.

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20 miley

October 29, 2014 at 11:53 AM

Betcha by golly Wow! Can't wait to watch this lol. I'm a big time Joo Sang Wook fan after watching him in Sly and Single.Love his timing in comedy.

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21 vanillasalt

October 29, 2014 at 1:25 PM

I really like Wang Ji Hye, but i kinda wish she'd stop being type casted as the bitch ex girlfriend/second lead.

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22 Quiet Thought

October 29, 2014 at 2:55 PM

She's puurrrrrty. And she appears to have kept her muscles and attitude from Spy-Myung-Weol. Good for her.

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23 Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan

October 29, 2014 at 4:12 PM

Darn, I like Wang Ji-hye but she's going to be the antagonist cheater cheater pumpkin-eater again? Sigh.

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24 tapiocapearl

October 29, 2014 at 4:16 PM

Joo Sang-wook in another rom-com? Yes!

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25 Winke

October 29, 2014 at 9:22 PM

I love Han Ye Seul and happy she's coming back to the drama after hot mess Spy Myung Wol. I'm one of Spy Myung Wol fan actually. I love her acting and chemistry with Eric. They both showing profesionalism till the very end. When Eric back again to the drama land last months successfully, I kinda hope HYS would do the same and thanks she did. However, I kinda worried with the storyline she choose in this drama. HYS's role as the lady who got plastic surgery for revenge would be burden for her. In korean eyes, she's known as one of those who got something done before. And they use of 'fat lady' just make this even worse. I'm really worried if netizen again bashing her. Anyway, good luck for her.

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26 canxi

October 29, 2014 at 10:03 PM

She looks so cute! And here for her and Joo Sang Wook and their romantic antics, lol.

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27 agentsawse

October 29, 2014 at 11:26 PM

This reminds me of Substitute Princess with Chris Wu and Guo Shu Yao. Albeit, Chris' character was "forced" into the situation and it was supposed to be temporary.

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28 kdramafan

October 30, 2014 at 3:35 AM

Mmm. Thanks for the heads up JB.

Having a completely different looking actress for the pre-surgery shooting takes away any sense of transformation in the main character for me. So much so I feel nothing for the main actress.

Surely it would not have been that hard to put her in a fat suit etc? It just takes time and effort.

It makes me wonder whether her contract states she can't be made to look fat.

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29 parny

October 30, 2014 at 3:44 AM

The nude stiletto are insane! How does she walk in them?! ?
but YAY! Joo Sang Wook in a rom com! ?
Han Ye Sol fighting! I've only seen her in Penny pincher romance but think she is a good actress.