Metro Best K-Drama Awards: Memorable Beauty Transformations in K-Dramas of 2020
These transformations show character growth and story development with every change in hair color, upgrade in makeup, and more.
In case you didn't know, we at Metro.Style are currently celebrating the best of the best in K-dramas for the year 2020. While it has been quite a surreal year for all of us, we are testament to the fact that K-drama quite literally saved us from boredom while sheltering in place, and has blessed us with a myriad of stories, characters, style statements, wanderlust, and beauty inspiration throughout every scene we've devoured.
Part of any memorable drama is the moment of transformation, a change in appearance or demeanor, that takes the storyline to the next level. Among the many K-dramas we've obsessed over this year, there have been quite a few notable transformations in appearance that we can't keep off our minds, as they helped show us character growth, and story development with every change in hair color, upgrade in styling, and more. Scroll through the gallery below to refresh your memory! Warning: there might be spoilers in here, so enter at your own risk!
Gallery
Gallery
Crash Landing on You
(1/2) Captain Ri, played by Hyun Bin, was a dashing soldier based in North Korea. He falls in love with Se-ri, a lady mogul based in Seoul, South Korea, and by a twist of fate, events lead him to head down south for the woman he loves.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Crash Landing on You
(2/2) The story progresses with Captain Ri getting a South Korean makeover, complete with slicked back hair, sleek suits, and a quiet confidence to match.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Crash Landing on You
(1/2) The said woman Captain Ri unexpectedly falls for is none other than Se-ri, played by Son Ye-jin, a self-made mogul who finds herself in North Korea, and because of her need to blend in, adapts the simple life—all the way down to her looks.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Crash Landing on You
(2/2) As the plot progresses, Se-ri is able to return back home to Seoul, South Korea, and in turn gets the makeover back to what she usually looked like prior to North Korean braids and a bare face. Glamorous, sleek, and beautiful like the boss lady she is!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Itaewon Class
(1/2) Yo Ji-seo, played by Kim Da-mi, was a rebel by her own terms. As a young lady, she was quite known in the digital world as an influencer, and because she loved making her voice heard, she also sported a rather risky 'do—a dip-dyed bob!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Itaewon Class
(2/2) By the end of the series, Ji-seo matures, and so does her look. As a girl boss in DanBam, where she leads the company alongside Park Saeroyi played by Park Seo-joon, Kim Da-mi looks chic in blunt bangs and wavy locks.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Itaewon Class
(1/2) Lee Joo-young plays Ma Hyeon-yi, the chef at DanBam Bistro, who is a tomboy in appearance, but is actually a transgender woman. In the show, it is shown how she has had difficulty in coming out, but at the same time she is also emphasized as an invaluable part of the DanBam team.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Itaewon Class
(2/2) In one of the most memorable scenes in the show, Ma Hyeon-yi dons a long black wig in the club, and this shows the audience that on her days off, she blossoms into a beautiful woman unashamed of who she truly is. In the succeeding episodes, Hyeon-yi is able to share her true identity, and embraces her natural looks, making her glow up all the more than when she wore a wig.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
The King: Eternal Monarch
(1/2) While not necessarily a transformation, Woo Do-hwan wows the audience in his ability to play two polarizing roles in this show about a parallel universe, first off as Jo Eun-sup, a goofy, sometimes clumsy police officer complete with curly hair who exists in the Republic of Korea.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
The King: Eternal Monarch
(2/2) In the parallel universe of the Kingdom of Corea, Captain Jo Young exists, also played by Woo Do-hwan, and in this world, he is a stern-looking man, with sleek hair, and an undeniably handsome face to boot.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
It's Okay to Not Be Okay
(1/2) Seo Ye-ji plays Ko Mun-yeong, the dark, mysterious childrens' book writer who has an Anti-Social Disorder. Her powerful fashion statements are paired with equally chic makeup and hairstyles, as in this scene, where she dons severely straight, long locks that matches her voluminous dress. Her outrageous style symbolizes for her need to hide behind a persona, and keep away from the rest of the world.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
It's Okay to Not Be Okay
(2/2) As the story unfolds, Ko Mun-yeong eventually lets her guard down, and opens up to other people, most especially to Moon Gang-tae played by Kim Soo-hyun, the person partly responsible for helping her heal. She decides to get a drastic hair chop, symbolizing her letting go of fears, and entering a new chapter in life.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
It's Okay to Not Be Okay
(1/2) Kim Soo-hyun does a fantastic job at playing Moon Gang-tae, 1/2 of the Moon brothers that makes IOTNBO a masterpiece. As a caregiver, he looks rather plain, but still undeniably attractive with his boy-next-door charm and bowl-cut hair.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
It's Okay to Not Be Okay
(2/2) In one of the pivotal scenes in the latter episodes, we are blessed with Kim Soo-hyun's signature red carpet look, slicked back hair, a well-fitted suit, and that megawatt smile that reminds us why he is one of the brightest stars in the Hallyu world today.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Was It Love?
(1/2) Kim Da-som plays Joo Ah-rin, an actress who had a rather unpredictable past. She was the awkward college student who had a crush on her senior, but was not confident with her looks, making her resort to countless plastic surgeries once she became an actress.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Was It Love?
(2/2) She blossoms into a superstar actress, now with a more refined look, helping her gain confidence and the courage to pursue her first love.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Flower of Evil
(1/2) Lee Joon-gi dons trendy bleached hair in the scenes of the past in the hit thriller Flower of Evil. This was shown to establish his past as a young man.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Flower of Evil
(2/2) We love a good glow up due to darker hair, and this evolution is no exception! The present day Baek Hee-sung looks equal parts a bad boy, and equal parts a handsome lead we can't get enough of!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Start Up
(1/2) How can we forget Nam Joo-hyuk in his starring role as Nam Do-san in our current K-drama obsession Start Up? He starts off as a geeky tech genius, with frizzy, curly hair and a dorky smile, but finishes off strong in signature Nam Joo-hyuk style.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Start Up
(2/2) How can you not fall for his charm? Nam Do-san, as the plot unfolds, is able to find his confidence in himself, as he builds Samsan Tech with the love of his life Seo Dal-mi, played by Bae Suzy. He transforms into a confident young man, who is definitely easy on the eye.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Top Stories
Metro Beauty Picks Of The Week
BEAUTYMar 14, 2023