#TrueBeauty
Overview
#TrueBeauty celebrated tvN’s romantic comedy (December 2020 - February 2021) based on the popular Webtoon by Yaongyi. Starring Moon Ga-young and ASTRO’s Cha Eun-woo, the show explored beauty standards, self-acceptance, and first love through the story of Im Joo-kyung, a girl who transforms herself with makeup.
Webtoon Adaptation Success
The original Webtoon had 4+ billion views on NAVER, making it one of the most-read series globally. The drama adaptation achieved a 5.0% peak rating and trended worldwide on Netflix, introducing the story to non-webtoon readers and sparking discussions about Korean beauty culture.
Beauty Standards Conversation
True Beauty addressed South Korea’s intense beauty standards and makeup culture, depicting Joo-kyung’s journey from bullied to popular through cosmetic transformation. While criticized for reinforcing appearance-based hierarchies, the show’s ultimate message of self-acceptance resonated with young viewers.
The hashtag surged during:
- Weekly episode releases (Dec 9, 2020 - Feb 4, 2021)
- Cha Eun-woo’s visuals trending (#ChaEunWooVisual)
- Makeup tutorials inspired by Joo-kyung
- Love triangle debates (Team Suho vs Team Seojun)
- OST chart success (“Love So Fine” by Cha Eun-woo)
Global Reach
True Beauty became one of 2021’s most-watched K-dramas on Netflix and Viki, with particularly strong viewership in Southeast Asia and Latin America. The show’s school romance and relatable insecurities appealed to international teen audiences.