I’ve started off the year with a K-drama month and decided to write a review for the latest one I watched. You’re Beautiful is one of the most famous K-dramas of 2009 and personally I was very impressed as well. It’s still only the third K-drama I’ve watched (after Boys over Flowers and Full House) and although I love all three of them, I can safely say this one will hold a special place in my heart.

Storyline

You’re Beautiful tells the story of a fictitious Korean boyband called A.N.JELL. They are quite likely the most popular group among young people in South Korea, and are slowly making a name for themselves in other countries as well. Initially A.N.JELL consists of drummer Jeremy, bassist Kang Shin Woo and vocalist/leader Hwang Tae Kyung.

The drama begins as a fourth member called Go Mi Nam is chosen to join A.N.JELL. Due to a flopped surgery, Mi Nam is unable to join and his twin sister Mi Nyu, who is planning to become a nun, is asked to stand in for her brother until he is able to return.

Initially reluctant, Mi Nyu eventually agrees to the identity switch in the hopes of finding her mother, whom she has never known, through becoming famous and attracting attention. However, since Mi Nyu’s personality seems to clash with lead singer Tae Kyung’s, things don’t work out too well. The task of keeping her true identity hidden from the rest of the band – who are not informed of the situation and therefore think she’s a boy – also proves to be more difficult than she had thought. And what part does model and actress Yoo He Yi, praised by the whole country as “Korea’s national fairy”, play in all of this?

Verdict

It’s probably becoming obvious that I like to review dramas I loved, as this one is no exception. I had an amazing time watching You’re Beautiful. It makes you laugh and cry, and drags you into the storyline completely. Mi Nyu and Tae Kyung got into so many hilarious arguments that I didn’t believe they could ever work it out. As generally happens in dramas, though, the situation slowly changes.

If I had to complain about something, it would be that I thought the love triangle that forms later on in the story starts to drag a bit after awhile. I don’t know how objective this is since I’m still more used to the 9-to-12-episodes J-drama recipe than the longer Korean ones, though.

All in all, it was refreshing to see a drama that follows the life of a popular band behind-the-scenes. Even though the band doesn’t exist in real life, you start to feel very close to them because you know what they’re like when the cameras are turned off. It’s an uncommon, but very successful setting for a drama. Highly recommended even to people who haven’t watched any K-drama before!