She Was Pretty

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.

• Hwang Jung-eum as Kim Hye-jin / Jackson{{cite web|title=Hwang confirmed for new MBC drama|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=3007267|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|access-date=July 31, 2015|date=July 30, 2015}}{{cite web|title=Rambunctious Hwang Jung Eum Steals Spotlight in New She Was Pretty Poster|url=http://www.soompi.com/2015/09/11/rambunctious-hwang-jung-eum-steals-spotlight-in-new-she-was-pretty-poster/|website=Soompi|accessdate=September 11, 2015|date=September 11, 2015}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=January 2025}}{{cite web|title=Hwang Jung-eum Wows Audiences in Dowdy Role|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/10/24/2015102400569.html|website=The Chosun Ilbo|accessdate=October 24, 2015|date=October 24, 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Ji Young|title=Hwang Jung Eum Shares Final Thoughts on She Was Pretty|url=http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/99758/hwang-jung-eum-shares-final-thoughts-on-she-was-pretty|website=enewsWorld|accessdate=November 14, 2015|date=November 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219192500/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/99758/hwang-jung-eum-shares-final-thoughts-on-she-was-pretty|archive-date=December 19, 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last1=Park|first1=Sojung|title=Actress Hwang Jeong-eum solidifies reign with Pretty Woman|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2015/11/12/0200000000AEN20151112010400315.html|website=Yonhap|accessdate=November 14, 2015|date=November 12, 2015}}
• 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{{cite web|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3007106|title=Super Junior star to lead new drama|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=July 27, 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3011612|title=Singer leaves the idol image behind in latest TV role|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=November 16, 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201511051526424239557_2|title=Choi Si-won shines in 'She was Pretty'|website=Kpop Herald}} / 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.

• 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.

• 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

• 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{{cite web|last1=Ahn|first1=Woorim|title=Park Yuhwan To Appear In She Was Pretty|url=http://www.bntnews.co.uk/app/news.php?nid=24168|website=BNTNews|accessdate=July 30, 2015|date=July 30, 2015}}

: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

• 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.

• 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)
• {{ill|Lee Sang-hoon (comedian)|lt=Lee Sang-hoon|ko|이상훈 (희극인)}} as interviewee for Editor Kim (ep. 11)
• Kim Bo-min as Ji Yeon-woo, Sung-joon and Hye-jin's daughter (ep. 16)

The first script reading was held on August 10, 2015.{{cite web|title=Hwang Jung Eum, Choi Siwon, Park Seo Joon, and Go Joon Hee Participate in First Script Reading for New Drama|url=http://www.soompi.com/2015/08/10/hwang-jung-eum-choi-siwon-park-seo-joon-and-go-joon-hee-participate-in-first-script-reading-for-new-drama/|website=Soompi|accessdate=August 10, 2015|date=August 10, 2015}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=January 2025}}

The drama reunited Hwang Jung-eum with Park Seo-joon, who previously starred together in Kill Me, Heal Me;{{cite web|last=Ahn|first=Woorim|title=Leading Roles Of Drama Kill Me, Heal Me Are Confirmed |url=http://www.bntnews.co.uk/app/news.php?nid=15672|website=BNTNews|accessdate=July 30, 2015|date=December 5, 2014}} and Hwang Jung-eum with Go Joon-hee, who previously starred together in Can You Hear My Heart.{{cite web|title=Did you know that Ko Joon Hee and Hwang Jung Eum are best friends?|url=http://en.korea.com/blog/enter/tv/did-you-know-that-ko-joon-hee-and-hwang-jung-eum-are-best-friends/|website=Korea.com|accessdate=July 30, 2015|date=January 18, 2012}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox album

| name = She was Pretty OST

| type = Soundtrack

| artist = Various artists

| cover =

| alt =

| released =

| recorded = 2015

| genre = Soundtrack

| length =

| language = {{hlist|Korean|English}}

| label = Loen Entertainment
Bon Factory

| producer =

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2015|11|23}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = Thumping

| note1 = 쿵쿵쿵

| extra1 = Kim Min-seung

| length1 = 3:25

| title2 = Thumping

| note2 = Inst.

| length2 = 3:25

| total_length = 6:50

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2015|09|24}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = Sometimes

| note1 = 가끔

| extra1 = Zia

| length1 = 3:56

| title2 = Sometimes

| note2 = Inst.

| length2 = 3:56

| total_length = 7:32

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2015|09|30}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = One More Step

| note1 = 한 걸음 더

| extra1 = Yoo Ki-hyun(Monsta X)

| length1 = 3:25

| title2 = One More Step

| note2 = Inst.

| length2 = 3:25

| total_length = 6:50

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2015|10|14}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = You don't know me

| note1 = 모르나봐

| extra1 = So-yu (Sistar) & Brother Su

| length1 = 4:18

| title2 = You don't know me

| note2 = Inst.

| length2 = 4:18

| total_length = 4:36

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2015|10|22}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = You're the only one

| note1 = 너뿐이야

| extra1 = Choi Si-won

| length1 = 4:12

| title2 = You're the only one

| note2 = Inst.

| length2 = 4:12

| total_length = 8:24

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2015|11|06}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = Long Way

| note1 = 먼 길

| extra1 = Park Seo-joon

| length1 = 3:41

| title2 = Long Way

| note2 = Inst.

| length2 = 3:41

| total_length = 7:42

}}

{{track listing

| extra_column= Artist

| headline = Disc 2:

| title1 = She was Pretty (Opening Theme)

| note1 =

| extra1 = Various Artists

| length1 = 2:44

| title2 = A Reporter

| note2 =

| extra2 = Various Artists

| length2 = 1:33

| title3 = A Heart that cannot be

| note3 =

| extra3 = Various Artists

| length3 = 2:28

| title4 = Come on

| note4 =

| extra4 = Various Artists

| length4 = 2:17

| title5 = Find hidden puzzles

| note5 =

| extra5 = Various Artists

| length5 = 3:51

| title6 = Found my Umbrella

| note6 =

| extra6 = Various Artists

| length6 = 2:59

| title7 = Her Identity

| note7 =

| extra7 = Various Artists

| length7 = 1:57

| title8 = Hole Socky

| note8 =

| extra8 = Various Artists

| length8 = 3:41

| title9 = I missed you

| note9 =

| extra9 = Various Artists

| length9 = 3:46

| title10 = It's not normal

| note10 =

| extra10 = Various Artists

| length10 = 2:32

| title11 = It tends to embarrass

| note11 =

| extra11 = Various Artists

| length11 = 2:04

| title12 = Let's Start

| note12 =

| extra12 = Various Artists

| length12 = 1:28

| title13 = My Lost Request

| note13 =

| extra13 = Various Artists

| length13 = 2:33

| title14 = Memories of first love

| note14 =

| extra14 = Various Artists

| length14 = 2:47

| title15 = My favourite person now

| note15 =

| extra15 = Various Artists

| length15 = 2:51

| title16 = My Sister

| note16 =

| extra16 = Various Artists

| length16 = 2:14

| title17 = Onion's Love

| note17 =

| extra17 = Various Artists

| length17 = 3:05

| title18 = Our Story

| note18 =

| extra18 = Various Artists

| length18 = 2:20

| title19 = Restlessness

| note19 =

| extra19 = Various Artists

| length19 = 1:46

| title20 = The Most

| note20 =

| extra20 = Various Artists

| length20 = 1:49

| title21 = Unknown feelings

| note21 =

| extra21 = Various Artists

| length21 = 2:45

| title22 = UnPoco UnPoco

| note22 =

| extra22 = Various Artists

| length22 = 1:44

| title23 = Violet Memory

| note23 =

| extra23 = Various Artists

| length23 = 1:45

| title24 = Wakeup

| note24 =

| extra24 = Various Artists

| length24 = 1:59

| title25 = Who,is it you?

| note25 =

| extra25 = Various Artists

| length25 = 2:13

| title26 = You cannot get it

| note26 =

| extra26 = Various Artists

| length26 = 2:03

| title27 = You can cry

| note27 =

| extra27 = Various Artists

| length27 = 3:12

}}

• 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.{{cite web|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201603151714007273146_2&ACE_SEARCH=1|title='She Was Pretty' remade in China|website=Kpop Herald}}
• A Vietnamese remake of the drama, titled Mối Tình Đầu Của Tôi (My First Love) started airing on VTV3 in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2021/06/398_309849.html|title=Remake boom of K-dramas is a testament to their brilliant storytelling|date=June 3, 2021 |publisher=The Korea Times}}
• 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.

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/drama/she/ She Was Pretty official MBC website] {{in lang|ko}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150927094846/http://content.mbc.co.kr/program/drama/2666668_64285.html She Was Pretty] at MBC Global Media
• {{IMDb title|id=tt5045900}}
• {{hancinema drama|She_Was_Beautiful|She Was Pretty}}

Category:Korean-language television shows

Category:2015 South Korean television series debuts

Category:2015 South Korean television series endings

Category:MBC TV television dramas

Category:South Korean romantic comedy television series

Category:South Korean workplace television series

Category:South Korean television series remade in other languages

Category:Television series by Bon Factory Worldwide