She Was Pretty

She Was Pretty () is a 2015 South Korean television series starring Hwang Jung-eum, Park Seo-joon, Go Joon-hee and Choi Si-won.^{[1][2][unreliable source?][3]} It aired on MBC from September 16 to November 11, 2015, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 22:00 (KST).^[4][5]

The series was both a hit domestically, with a peak rating of 18.4% and internationally, especially in China.^{[6][7][8][9][10]}

Synopsis

A romantic comedy, based on a true story, about two past acquaintances who meet again after they've gone through a reversal of fortunes and appearances, set against the backdrop of a fashion magazine's publishing office.

Kim Hye-jin (Hwang Jung-eum) was a beautiful girl from a rich family as a child. After her family's publishing company went bankrupt, she experienced hardships and grew into freckles and curly hair, losing the perfect features she has when she was young. Ji Sung-joon (Park Seo-joon) was an unattractive boy with low self-esteem, but grows up to be a handsome and successful editor.

The two meet again as adults, but Sung-joon didn't recognize Hye-jin. Ashamed to meet her first love and ruin his perception of her, Hye-jin asks her attractive best friend, Ha-ri (Go Joon-hee), to appear in her place. Things, however, soon get complicated as Hye-jin was assigned to work at The Most magazine publishing office where Sung-joon is the deputy chief editor. He openly mistreats and belittles her for her clumsy nature, not knowing that she was his real childhood friend. Ha-ri also continues to meet Sung-joon, and soon develops feelings for him. On the other hand, Hye-jin finds a good friend in her workplace, Shin-hyuk (Choi Si-won), who falls in love with her.

As Sung-joon gets to know Hye-jin better, he realizes there is more to the clumsy freckle-faced girl than he initially thought and it strikes him how much she reminds him of his childhood friend.

Cast

Main

• Hwang Jung-eum as Kim Hye-jin / Jackson^{[11][12][unreliable source?][13][14][15]}
  • Jung Da-bin as young Hye-jin

An intern in the administration section before being appointed as junior editor. She used to be a beautiful, wealthy, and smart girl, but lost everything. Embarrassed at her failures in life, she asked her best friend Ha-ri, to meet with her first love Sung-joon, using her name. She thought that would be the end of her fate with Sung-joon, but turns out it's only the beginning of her nightmare, as he then becomes her boss. Despite the misfortunes, she still strives to do her best.

• Park Seo-joon as Ji Sung-joon
  • Yang Han-yeol as young Sung-joon

The youngest deputy chief editor in Korea. Stubborn and arrogant but also brilliant in his work. Unlike Hye-jin, he was unattractive and shy but grows up to become handsome and successful. Immediately after returning to Korea, he contacted his first love, Hye-jin. He ends up falling for her even when he didn't recognize that she was his childhood friend and first love.

• Go Joon-hee as Min Ha-ri
  • Lee Ja-in as young Ha-ri

A hotelier. She is Hye-jin's best friend and roommate. A beautiful and stylish woman with good personality. While continuing to pretend to be Hye-jin, she ends up falling for Sung-joon. Fearing that her relationship with her best friend might be compromised, she tries several times to tell him the truth only to fail in the end and having Sung-joon find out first.

• Choi Si-won as Kim Shin-hyuk^[16][17][18] / Ten / David Joseph

A senior Feature editor. He is generally a free-spirited, fair, and straightforward man but with mysterious identity (later found out to be the Korean writer, Ten). He is Hye-jin's direct supervisor at work, and they developed a close relationship. He ends up falling for her even before her beauty transformation. He finds out about her relationship with Sung-joon one day when she was drunk.

Supporting

Hye-jin's family

• Park Choong-sun as Kim Jong-seob, Hye-jin's father who is currently running a small printing house.
• Lee Il-hwa as Han Jung-hye, Hye-jin's mother who also treats Ha-ri like her own daughter too.
• Jung Da-bin as Kim Hye-rin, Hye-jin's younger sister who often prefers Ha-ri as her own sister instead of Hye-jin.

Ha-ri's family

• Yoon Yoo-sun as Cha Hye-jung, Ha-ri's birth mother and Jung-hye's friend.
• Lee Byung-joon as Min Yong-gil, Ha-ri's father
• Seo Jeong-yeon as Na Ji-seon, Ha-ri's stepmother

People in The Most

• Hwang Seok-jeong as Kim Ra-ra

The chief editor who is very fashionable and later found out that she is the chairman's younger sister. She speaks English, Korean, Italian, French and Spanish.

• Shin Dong-mi as Cha Joo-young

Head of the Editing team and director of the Fashion team who is so dedicated to her work. She speaks on behalf of Hye-jin during her initial days and later becomes the deputy chief editor.

• Ahn Se-ha as Kim Poong-ho

A lazy and untidy Feature director who orders his junior coworkers around. It is revealed later that he is the Jinsung Magazine CEO's son and eventually becomes the Vice President.

• Shin Hye-sun as Han Seol

An assistant of the Beauty team who finds out about the fact that the chairman's son is one of her co-workers and sets out to become his love interest. She then dates Joon-woo and eventually falls for his friendly charms.

• Park Yu-hwan as Kim Joon-woo^[19]

A cute and kind assistant of the Fashion team who had feelings for Han Seol from the day when she mistakes him as the chairman's son and reciprocates his feelings. He always respects his co-workers and it is later revealed that his parent is the owner of a laundry place.

• Kang Soo-jin as Joo Ah-reum

The editor of the Beauty team who is getting married.

• Cha Jung-won as Jung Sun-min
• Bae Min-jung as Park Yi-kyung
• Kim Jung-heon as Se-hoon
• Im Ji-hyun as Lee Eun-young

People in Jinsung Magazine

• Kim Ha-kyoon as Boo Joong-man

Head of the Management team who encourages Hye-jin when she gets transfer to the editing team.

• Jo Chang-geun as Kwang-hee, an employee of the Management team.
• Jin Hye-won as Lee Seul-bi, an employee of the Management team.

Special appearances

• Im Kang-sung as Ha-ri's date
• Kim Sung-oh as the man at pub (ep. 3)
• Hwang Seok-jeong as the ajumma in the restaurant on (ep. 7)
• Kim Je-dong as The Most 20th Anniversary's party MC (ep. 9)
• Lee Joon-gi as the guest for The Most 20th Anniversary (ep. 9)
• Seo In-guk as the guest for The Most 20th Anniversary (ep. 9)
• Uee as the guest for The Most 20th Anniversary (ep. 9)
• Park Hyung-sik as the guest for The Most 20th Anniversary (ep. 9)
• Lee Sang-hoon as interviewee for Editor Kim (ep. 11)
• Kim Bo-min as Ji Yeon-woo, Sung-joon and Hye-jin's daughter (ep. 16)

Production

The first script reading was held on August 10, 2015.^{[20][unreliable source?]}

The drama reunited Hwang Jung-eum with Park Seo-joon, who previously starred together in Kill Me, Heal Me;^[21] and Hwang Jung-eum with Go Joon-hee, who previously starred together in Listen to My Heart.^{[22][unreliable source?]}

Original soundtrack

Ratings

Awards and nominations

Remake

• A Turkish remake of the drama, titled Seviyor Sevmiyor was aired in 2016 on ATV (Turkey).
• A Chinese remake of the drama, titled Pretty Li Hui Zhen started airing on Hunan TV in 2017.^[29]
• A Vietnamese remake of the drama, titled Mối Tình Đầu Của Tôi (My First Love) started airing on VTV3 in 2019.^[30]
• A Japanese remake of the drama, titled Kanojo wa Kirei Datta (lit. She Was Pretty) was aired in 2021 on Fuji TV.
• A Thai remake of the drama, titled รักวุ่นวายยัยตัวป่วน (Me Always You) was aired in 2021 on Channel 3 (Thailand).
• A Malaysian remake of the drama, which is also titled She Was Pretty [ms] started streaming in 2022 on Viu.
• A Mexican remake of the drama, titled Cuando fui bonita (When I Was Pretty) is set to air in 2026 on Canal 5.^[31]

References

1. ^ "Hwang Jung-eum, Park Seo-joon to star in She Was Pretty". The Korea Times. July 30, 2015. Archived July 30, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
2. ^ "Hwang Jung Eum, Park Seo Joon, Choi Siwon, and Go Joon Hee Confirmed for New Drama!". Soompi. July 30, 2015. Archived August 1, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
3. ^ Lee, Yousun (October 5, 2015). "She Was Pretty reveals behind cuts of Hwang Jung-eum and Park Seo-joon". Asia Today. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
4. ^ Lee, Ji-young (August 26, 2015). "She Was Pretty Releases First Teaser of Hwang Jung Eum and Park Seo Joon". enewsWorld. Archived October 5, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
5. ^ Doo, Rumy (September 14, 2015). "She Was Pretty boasts 'perfect casting,' says director". K-Pop Herald. Archived March 28, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
6. ^ "Viewers find 'She Was Pretty' attractive". The Korea Times. October 2015. Archived November 16, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
7. ^ "She Was Pretty gains popularity in China". The Korea Times. September 21, 2015. Archived September 23, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
8. ^ "She Was Pretty Stars Relish Success as Show Ends". The Chosun Ilbo. November 13, 2015. Archived November 15, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
9. ^ "Hwang Jeong-eum's star soars in China". The Korea Times. October 13, 2015. Archived November 16, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
10. ^ "Choi Si-won' star soars on Twitter". The Korea Times. October 27, 2015. Archived July 29, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
11. ^ "Hwang confirmed for new MBC drama". Korea JoongAng Daily. July 30, 2015. Archived October 7, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
12. ^ "Rambunctious Hwang Jung Eum Steals Spotlight in New She Was Pretty Poster". Soompi. September 11, 2015. Archived July 31, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
13. ^ "Hwang Jung-eum Wows Audiences in Dowdy Role". The Chosun Ilbo. October 24, 2015. Archived November 27, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
14. ^ Lee, Ji Young (November 12, 2015). "Hwang Jung Eum Shares Final Thoughts on She Was Pretty". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on December 19, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
15. ^ Park, Sojung (November 12, 2015). "Actress Hwang Jeong-eum solidifies reign with Pretty Woman". Yonhap. Archived March 5, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
16. ^ "Super Junior star to lead new drama". Korea JoongAng Daily. July 27, 2015. Archived July 30, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
17. ^ "Singer leaves the idol image behind in latest TV role". Korea JoongAng Daily. November 16, 2015. Archived July 29, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
18. ^ "Choi Si-won shines in 'She was Pretty'". Kpop Herald. November 5, 2015. Archived July 29, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
19. ^ Ahn, Woorim (July 30, 2015). "Park Yuhwan To Appear In She Was Pretty". BNTNews. Archived from the original on August 12, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
20. ^ "Hwang Jung Eum, Choi Siwon, Park Seo Joon, and Go Joon Hee Participate in First Script Reading for New Drama". Soompi. August 10, 2015. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
21. ^ Ahn, Woorim (December 5, 2014). "Leading Roles Of Drama Kill Me, Heal Me Are Confirmed". BNTNews. Archived March 30, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
22. ^ "Did you know that Ko Joon Hee and Hwang Jung Eum are best friends?". Korea.com. January 18, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2015.^{[dead link]}
23. ^ "TNMS Daily Ratings" (in Korean). TNMS Ratings. Archived January 17, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
24. ^ "Nielsen Korea" (in Korean). AGB Nielsen Media Research. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
25. ^ Jeon, Su-mi (October 1, 2015). "She Was Pretty Surpasses 10 Percent in Viewer Ratings with Episode 5". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
26. ^ "Angry drama fans complain as She Was Pretty skips Wednesday this week". Hancinema. October 14, 2015. Archived March 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
27. ^ Kwon, Ji-youn (October 20, 2015). "Viewers choose 'She Was Pretty' over baseball playoffs". The Korea Times. Archived October 23, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
28. ^ TVING is permanently not to release the internet ratings of the programs from three main TV channels of South Korea since November 10, 2015.
29. ^ "'She Was Pretty' remade in China". Kpop Herald. March 15, 2016. Archived July 29, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
30. ^ "Remake boom of K-dramas is a testament to their brilliant storytelling". The Korea Times. June 3, 2021. Archived June 4, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
31. ^ Torres Negreira, Juan José (25 May 2026e). "TelevisaUnivision adapta el K-drama 'She Was Pretty' de MBC para México" (in Spanish). Cveintiuno. Retrieved 29 May 2026.

External links

• She Was Pretty official MBC website (in Korean)
• She Was Pretty at MBC Global Media
• She Was Pretty at IMDb