True Beauty (2020) Review: Makeup, Masks and Crushes

Is True Beauty worth watching?

Yes. True Beauty is a cheerful, easy-to-love high school rom-com with a winning cast and one of the most talked-about love triangles in recent K-drama. Moon Ga-young’s comic energy and the chemistry between the three leads make it a pleasure to binge. The reservation is that a premise about shame, makeup and self-image deserves sharper treatment than this featherlight series is willing to give it.

What is True Beauty about?

Lim Ju-gyeong (Moon Ga-young) is bullied at school over her looks. Teaching herself makeup from online tutorials, she transforms her appearance and transfers to a new school, where she is instantly hailed as a beauty. The catch is that she lives in constant fear of anyone seeing her bare face. Lee Su-ho (Cha Eun-woo), an aloof, popular classmate, discovers her secret and keeps it, while Han Seo-jun (Hwang In-youp), the school’s supposed troublemaker, keeps crossing her path. Park Yoo-na co-stars as a new friend of Ju-gyeong.

True Beauty is adapted from a popular webtoon and written by Lee Si-eun. It is a Korean-language series from South Korea, streaming internationally on Viki among other services. This review covers the complete show: a single season of 16 episodes, broadcast from late 2020 into 2021, and the story is finished.

A romantic comedy that runs on charm

The series is at its best when it leans into comedy. Moon Ga-young is a gifted physical comedian, and her panic whenever rain, sweat or an unexpected encounter threatens to expose her bare face provides some of the show’s funniest moments. The script uses the makeup premise mainly as a source of farce and near-misses, and those scenes have a sitcom energy that keeps the episodes moving.

It is also a handsomely produced show. The school scenes are bright and stylised in a way that suits the webtoon origins, and the soundtrack and visual gags give it the feel of a teen romance done with real polish. For viewers looking for comfort viewing, that tone is exactly the point.

A love triangle that divided fans

The romance hinges on two very different boys. Cha Eun-woo plays Su-ho as reserved and wounded, a quiet presence who slowly opens up, and his calm restraint makes a good foil for Moon’s exuberance. Hwang In-youp’s Seo-jun is the livelier figure, all rebellious swagger and unexpected kindness, and he walks off with many of his scenes. The balance between the two became one of the show’s biggest talking points, and viewers invested in the rival boy may find the storytelling does not always serve him well.

The friendships are just as enjoyable. The group scenes between Ju-gyeong, Su-ho, Seo-jun and their classmates give the show a warm, ensemble feel, and the supporting cast adds plenty of comic colour, including Ju-gyeong’s own family at home.

Where the premise needed more bite

For a story about beauty standards, True Beauty is surprisingly reluctant to dig into its subject. Ju-gyeong’s fear of being seen without makeup is treated mostly as a comic device, and the show’s gestures towards self-acceptance feel quick and tidy rather than earned. Later episodes also lean on familiar K-drama complications, including family conflicts, misunderstandings and a stretch that feels padded, which slows the momentum built in the first half.

Who should watch True Beauty?

It is ideal for fans of high school romance, lighthearted K-dramas and love triangles, and for younger viewers new to Korean television. Sixteen episodes make it a comfortable binge. Content is mild, with school bullying, some emotional themes around self-image and family conflict, and occasional fights, suitable for teenagers.

If it charms you, try these next:

• Our Beloved Summer, a gentler romance that also begins with a school-age relationship and grows up with its characters.
• Fight for My Way, for another warm, funny K-drama about young people who feel underestimated.

The verdict

True Beauty is a bright, funny and genuinely enjoyable teen romance, powered by an appealing cast and a memorable love triangle. Its handling of beauty standards is shallower than its premise deserves, but as a comfort watch it delivers exactly what fans of the genre are looking for.

Rating: 4/5