My ID is Gangnam Beauty (2018)
Title: My ID is Gangnam Beauty
Hangul: 내 아이디는 강남미인
Writer: Choi Soo-young
Director: Choi Sung-bum
Network: jTBC
Episodes: 16
My ID Is Gangnam Beauty is an adaptation of the webtoon My ID Is Gangnam Beauty by Gi Maeng-gi.
My ID is Gangnam Beauty Cast and Characters
Im Soo-hyang as Kang Mi-rae
Cha Eun-woo as Kyung-seok
Jo Woo-ri as Hyun Soo-ah
Kwak Dong-yeon as Yeon Woo-young
Park Joo-mi as Na Hye-sung
Park Sung-geun as Do Sang-won
Kim Ji-min as Do Kyung-hee
Woo Hyun as Kang Tae-shik
Kim Sun-hwa as Na Eun-shin
Min Do-hee as Oh Hyun-jung
Park Yoo-na as Yoo Eun
My ID is Gangnam Beauty Ending Explained
Does My ID is Gangnam Beauty Have a Happy Ending?
Yes. My ID is Gangnam Beauty ends with Mi-rae and Kyung-seok happily together and Mi-rae having found strength and confidence in herself. After a terrifying experience with a stalker, Soo-ah leaves school and chops off her hair for a fresh start. Our favourite sunbae, Woo-young, sadly remains single.
What Happened to Kang Mi-rae?
My ID is Gangnam Beauty ends with Mi-rae overcoming her insecurities and standing up for herself. She learns to embrace her true self. She no longer lets her life be dictated by other people’s perceptions of her.
Mi-rae steps in to help a traumatized Soo-ah, who is furious and humiliated that Mi-rae is coming to her aid. She lashes out at Mi-rae, insulting her for having plastic surgery for the millionth time. Mi-rae is Completely Over It and finally screams back that she hates Soo-ah right back.
Mi-rae declares that she will no longer judge people by their appearance and instead focus her time and energy on what makes her happy. She is letting go of her toxic mindset once and for all. Growth!
Despite Soo-ah’s harsh words, Mi-rae stays at the hospital and falls asleep at her bedside holding her hand.
In the new school year, Mi-rae gets a job tutoring and is bombarded with questions about her plastic surgery from her student.
My ID is Gangnam Beauty ends with a happy Mi-rae that continues to grow in confidence and self-acceptance, no longer judging people based on their looks.
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What Happened to Do Kyung-seok?
Do Kyung-seok’s journey in the final episodes of My ID is Gangnam Beauty centers mostly on his deepening relationship with Mi-rae.
While staying the night at Mi-rae’s, Kyung-seok introduces himself to Mi-rae’s parents via video call and they’re both stunned by how gorgeous he is. Mi-rae’s dad puts the fear of God into him by making him believe there’s CCTV in their apartment monitoring his every move.
Kyung-seok is worried about getting their approval but Mi-rae reassures him that her parents like him. Sadly, we don’t see Kyung-seok meet his future in-laws in person.
Despite his dislike of Soo-ah, Kyung-seok immediately springs into action when he hears that she is in danger. He helps take down the stalker with Mi-rae and Eun, ensuring Soo-ah’s safety.
In the new school year, Kyung-seok gets a job at a high-end restaurant, where he continues to attract attention due to his good looks. But he is 1000% committed to Mi-rae, even wearing a name tag that states “I have a girlfriend” to deter his admirers.
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Do Mi-rae and Kyung-seok End Up Together?
Yes, Mi-rae and Kyung-seok end up together.
My ID is Gangnam Beauty ends with Mi-rae and Kyung-seok in matching hoodies holding hands and being playfully teased by their friends who have dubbed them DoRae couple.
Initially, Mi-rae rejects Kyung-seok despite having feelings for him because of the public scrutiny that would come from dating the most handsome and popular boy on campus.
Mi-rae and Kyung-seok start dating in episode 13 during their internship. But Mi-rae’s insecurities prompt the couple to hide their relationship from their classmates.
Mi-rae and Kyung-seok go public with their relationship during a lab when the instructor teases them about making a couple’s perfume. And the two finally share their first kiss at the end of episode 15 in Mi-rae’s apartment.
The new school year begins with Mi-rae and Kyung-seok getting a lot of attention as a couple. Their classmates are supportive and tease the couple about their relationship.
Mi-rae surprises Kyung-seok with a birthday celebration. She loudly sings “happy birthday” to Kyung-seok at the restaurant and for once Kyung Seok is the one looking a little self-conscious.
Afterward, Kyung-seok confesses to Mi-rae that he never really considered getting married before because of his parents. But here in the romantic mountain setting Kyung-seok envisions himself proposing (!) a couple of years down the road.
What Happened to Soo-ah?
Soo-ah’s perfect image crumbles as her classmates wake up about her manipulative ways and when a stalker begins to post creepy photos of her online. Soo-ah becomes increasingly paranoid constantly hearing the sound of a camera clicking.
The campus is swirling with rumours and gossip about Soo-ah. Everyone turns their back on Soo-ah even her sidekick Ji-hyo who joins the others in gossiping about Soo-ah behind her back. Ouch.
Despite her fear and distress over the photos, Soo-ah refuses to report the incident. She fears the gossip and judgment that might follow will grow worse if she speaks up.
More photos and threatening tweets about Soo-ah appear online culminating in a confrontation with her stalker in her neighbourhood. The stalker attacks her and throws a liquid substance she believes to be acid in her face.
Mi-rae arrives and attempts to help Soo-ah, reassuring her that the liquid substance thrown at her is just water.
Soo-ah remains distraught and says she wants to kill herself, grabbing a piece of broken glass and holding it over her neck. Mi-rae prevents Soo-ah from hurting herself but Soo-ah continues to lash out and insult Mi-rae.
Soo-ah is taken to the hospital where Mi-rae stays by her side overnight.
After Soo-ah leaves the hospital, she meets with a counselor to discuss her future plans. Soo-ah expresses vulnerability, confessing she wants someone to look after her but has no one to lean on.
After meeting with the counselor, Soo-ah realizes she has Yoo Eun there for support. Eun stays by her side and encourages Soo-ah to rekindle her friendship with Mi-rae.
Following the stalker incident, Soo-ah does not return for the new school year. She takes a leave of absence from school and cuts her hair. She has also started wearing perfume.
She visits Kyung-seok at his workplace to tell him that she has never liked him, the first time the two have an honest and real conversation.
Soo-ah does not talk with Mi-rae but anonymously gifts Mi-rae a bottle of her favourite perfume.
What is Soo-ah’s Backstory?
Episode 15 of My ID is Gangnam Beauty reveals Soo-ah’s obsession with appearances stems from her childhood.
The drama flashes back to Soo-ah’s middle school days. Soo-ah was abandoned/neglected by her parents. She would go to school dirty and was bullied by the other children for being ugly.
One day, Soo-ah is reunited with her mother who bathes and takes care of her for a short time. Soo-ah goes to school with a fresh and clean appearance which impresses her classmates. The bullying stops and Soo-ah is complimented for her looks by her classmates.
Who Is Soo-ah’s Stalker?
The stalker posting creep shots of Soo-ah on the internet is revealed to be Dong-won, a random guy from the chemistry department.
After stalking Soo-ah and posting her photos online, he posts threatening messages to her online with plans to visit her house.
He confronts Soo-ah in her neighbourhood, demanding an apology for leading him on. Dong-won is delusional, convinced that Soo-ah liked him just because she smiled at him and believes she named a cat after him.
However, his plans are thwarted by the intervention of Kyung-seok, Mi-rae, and Eun. Dong-won is taken down by Kyung-seok’s Flying High Kick.
Dong-won is expelled from school and faces a police investigation, thanks to Woo-young.
What Happened to Woo-young?
Woo-young plays a crucial role in the final episodes with Soo-ah’s stalker storyline.
He tries to remove the stalker’s photos from the internet and encourages Soo-ah to report the incident. When he learns about the stalker’s plan to visit Soo-ah’s house, he quickly makes a police report, concerned for Soo-ah’s safety.
He tells Kyung-seok and Mi-rae about the threats against Soo-ah, allowing them to catch the stalker and bring Soo-ah to the hospital.
Who Does Woo-young End Up With?
Woo-young confesses to Mi-rae but is rejected and remains single at the end of My ID is Gangnam Beauty.
Woo-young’s colleague tries to set him up with a girl who expressed interest in him but he declines. Woo Young still wants to fall in love at first sight.
Woo-young has drinks with Hyun-jung (Mi-rae’s bestie) who has a crush on him and the two discuss who Woo-young will date in the future. But Woo-young doesn’t know.
What Happened to Hyung-jung?
Hyung-jung’s quest for a boyfriend remains unsuccessful as she ends the drama single. She has drinks with Woo-young and it’s obvious she still has feelings for him.
If something romantic were to happen with Woo-young, it’s clear that it would be a slow-burn development.
What Happened to Won-ho?
Soo-ah’s #1 fan sees her true colours when she lashes out at him for taking photos of her, mistakenly believing him to be the stalker posting creep shots of her online. Won-ho tells Soo-ah he no longer likes her and even says Kyung-seok is lucky to be dating Mi-rae instead of her.
Despite his harsh words to Soo-ah, Won-ho brings up the photos of Soo-ah posted online to Woo-young, prompting him to investigate the issue which ultimately helps keep Soo-ah safe from harm.
During the new school year, Won-ho sees a girl with short hair on campus who looks like Soo-ah. Although he told Soo-ah he no longer liked her, it appears that Won-ho still has feelings for her. Or at the very least, he misses her.
What Happened to Kyung-seok’s Parents?
Kyung-seok’s dad unsuccessfully attempts to reconcile with his ex-wife, CEO Na Hye-sung.
He tells her he has only loved two women in his life: 26-year-old Hye-sung and 46-year-old Hye-sung.
Thankfully CEO Na cooly rejects him, telling him she’s actually 47 years old.
To add insult to injury, Trash Dad’s former assistant is now thriving after being fired by him. He now works for a Congressman.
What Happened to Woo Jin and Jung Boon?
Kyung-seok’s only friend Woo-jin closes his bar and contemplates his future. He discusses his plans with Jung-boon who suggests that Woo-jin work for his father again.
Woo-jin takes her to his father’s workplace…which turns out to be a church. His father is a pastor.
Woo-jin and Jung-boon end the series as friends with no hints of a romantic future.
What Happened to Tae-hee and Tae-yong?
Tae-yong and Tae-hee talk and he tells her he can’t stop thinking about her. He asks her for another chance and wants to get back together.
Tae-hee declines, saying she hasn’t been thinking about him at all. She’s moved on!
Thank goodness.
What Happened to Eun?
Eun plays a pivotal role in helping Soo-ah during her crisis. While most of the school turns against Soo-ah and gossips, Eun remains empathetic and kind, looking out for her.
Eun accompanies Mi-rae and Kyung-seok to Soo-ah’s house to save her from the stalker. After Soo-ah’s appointment with the school counselor, Eun is by her side to support her.
Eun is a friend to both Mi-rae and Soo-ah and even encourages both girls to mend their friendship.
What Happened to Chan-woo?
Sleazy senior Chan-woo is last seen eavesdropping on his classmate trying to set Woo Young up with a girl.
When Woo-young declines, Chan-woo asks his classmate to introduce the girl to him instead.
But the classmate declines.
My ID is Gangnam Beauty Ending Review
My ID is Gangnam Beauty‘s ending is a good one and I found myself satisfied with how things turned out with every character and relationship.
I loved watching Mi-rae slowly gain confidence throughout the course of the drama. It was wonderful watching Mi-rae confidently walk with Kyung-seok in matching hoodies or loudly singing Happy Birthday to him in public without being self-conscious.
Soo-ah was a formidable antagonist for 99% of My ID is Gangnam Beauty and I’m glad the drama didn’t sweep her behavior under the rug. I wasn’t pleased with how much time was spent on her (I wanted more of our DoRae couple!) but I was happy to see she faced consequences for her manipulative behaviour. I love that Mi-rae got to tell Soo-ah tells her she hates her right back. And I’m glad we didn’t have to sit through a forced reconciliation with the two being best friends in the end.
My ID is Gangnam Beauty‘s ending isn’t a fairy tale ending with everyone being best friends and forced couples getting together without any build-up. Outside of Mi-rae and Kyung-seok, none of the potential couples had enough build-up and development for me to really root for them. But I was hoping Woo-young would find love because he’s an angel who deserves love.
What did you think of My ID is Gangnam Beauty?
