15+ KDrama Similar to She Was Pretty You Should Checkout in 2020
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The K-Drama She Was Pretty captivated audiences with its heartfelt story of lost love that finds a way back, resonating with viewers around the world. While the series explores a classic K-Drama trope, it brings a fresh, enchanting twist that keeps you watching, episode after episode. The allure of She Was Pretty lies in its relatable characters, emotional depth, and moments of humor and tenderness.
But with just 16 episodes, the magic comes to an end all too soon. So, if you’re left wanting more, we’ve put together a list of 15+ K-Dramas similar to She Was Pretty that will fill the void. These shows bring you all the romance, comedy, and feel-good moments you loved in She Was Pretty. Check out the list below, and if you enjoy it, don’t forget to share it with your fellow K-Drama fans!
15+ K-Dramas Similar to She Was Pretty
22. My ID is Gangnam Beauty
Storyline: After years of bullying for her appearance, Kang Mi-Rae decides to undergo plastic surgery. Initially, her confidence seems restored, but when she joins university, the label of “pretty girl” comes with new challenges. She struggles with her self-esteem as peers call her a “Gangnam plastic surgery monster.” Along the way, she reconnects with her classmate Do Kyung-Seok, who knew her from school and sees her for who she truly is.
Similarity: This K-drama parallels She Was Pretty as both feature female leads grappling with changes in appearance and the journey toward self-acceptance. Both are Romantic Comedies that offer lessons about true beauty and finding one’s identity.
21. True Beauty
Storyline:True Beauty, based on a popular webtoon, follows Im Ju Kyung, a high school student who has faced teasing for her looks. Using makeup techniques she learns online, she transforms and gains popularity at her new school, where she’s seen as a “goddess.” However, she’s haunted by the fear that her true self will be discovered, especially after her former classmate Lee Su-Ho recognizes her.
Similarity: While True Beauty and She Was Pretty differ in approach—Ju Kyung learns to use makeup, whereas Hye-Jin becomes less outwardly attractive—both dramas highlight the idea that beauty is more than skin-deep. Both series also include love triangles and complex character dynamics that keep audiences invested.
20. Get Karl! Oh Soo-Jung
Storyline: This Rom-Com, inspired by a real-life story, centers on Oh Soo-Jung, a young woman who once captivated everyone. She dates Go Man-Soo, an Ivy League student, but breaks up with him after he fails an exam. Years later, Soo-Jung’s popularity fades, while Man-Soo returns as a successful golfer under the name Karl Go. He plans to make Soo-Jung see him in a new light, but old feelings resurface, complicating his plans.
Similarity:Get Karl! Oh Soo-Jung and She Was Pretty share a “lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers” storyline. In both, the main characters face reversals of fortune, leading to unexpected growth in their relationships.
19. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim
Storyline: One of the most popular K-dramas, this series follows Lee Young-Joon, the vice-chairman of a company, who is puzzled when his efficient secretary Kim Mi-So decides to resign after nine years. Determined to keep her, Young-Joon goes to great lengths to understand Mi-So’s motivations, and they begin to discover what connects them.
Similarity: Both What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim and She Was Pretty star Park Seo-Joon in roles where he plays a confident character within an office setting. Like She Was Pretty, this drama combines romantic comedy with workplace dynamics.
Storyline: A manager at a mobile company suffers a rare disorder that prevents him from recognizing people’s faces—except for his secretary, whom he previously fired. Realizing her importance in his life, he navigates this new reality with her by his side.
Similarity: Both The Secret Life of My Secretary and She Was Pretty feature office settings with romantic comedy elements, where a cold boss begins to rely on his kind-hearted subordinate. The female leads in both series undergo transformations that affect their relationships with the male leads.
17. More Than Friends
Storyline: Kyung Woo Yeon and Lee Soo have been friends for years, with unspoken romantic feelings for each other. Over a decade, they remain close, but circumstances repeatedly keep them from confessing their love.
Similarity: Like She Was Pretty, More Than Friends explores a past connection between the leads and the unresolved feelings that linger. In both dramas, supporting characters play a significant role in guiding the main pair toward acknowledging their emotions.
16. Birth of a Beauty
Storyline: Heir Han Tae Hee, suffering from heartbreak, decides to help Sa Geum Ran, an overweight woman, by transforming her into Sa Ra, an attractive woman with a new identity. Tae Hee’s initial goal is to win back his lost love, but he finds himself falling for Sa Ra in the process.
Similarity: Both Birth of a Beauty and She Was Pretty feature female leads who undergo physical transformations, shedding light on the importance of self-worth and resilience. Each series explores romance and character growth while tackling themes around identity and self-acceptance.
15. Queen of the Ring
Storyline: In a world obsessed with appearances, Mo Nan Hee, who has always felt unattractive, finds a magical ring that makes her appear as the most desirable girl to others. She soon catches the attention of Park Se Gun, the campus heartthrob known for his shallowness. Despite her new look, Nan Hee remains socially awkward and even a bit rough, which intrigues Se Gun. As he spends more time with her, he finds himself drawn to her authentic self rather than her appearance.
Similarity: This drama shares a heartwarming and transformative theme with She Was Pretty. Both dramas emphasize self-acceptance and show how the characters grow through love and friendship, making it a sweet and feel-good watch.
14. Our Times
Storyline: Lin Zhen Xin, mocked at work, finds solace in an old cassette tape that brings her back to memories of high school, where she was an ordinary girl with a crush on the popular boy, Ouyang Fei Fan. She receives a chain letter, which she passes on to several people, including Tai Yu, the school’s “bad boy.” Tai Yu uses this letter to make Zhen Xin his assistant. Their unusual friendship brings them closer and sets her on a journey of self-discovery.
Similarity:Our Times and She Was Pretty explore love stories rooted in past connections, where characters grow and change together. The nostalgic and heartfelt elements of both stories make them comparable.
13. Oh My Venus
Storyline: Kim Yeong Ho, a renowned trainer, returns to Korea after a scandal. Despite his wealth, he leads a disciplined life due to a past injury. Kang Joo Eun, once a school beauty, now works as a lawyer but struggles with her weight and health. Heartbroken after a breakup, she decides to take control of her life. Yeong Ho becomes her personal trainer, and as they work together, they not only improve their health but also heal each other’s emotional wounds.
Similarity: Like She Was Pretty, Oh My Venus follows a female lead who undergoes a transformation and reclaims her confidence. Both dramas portray women who regain their self-worth through resilience and support, drawing the male lead’s admiration and affection.
12. Falling for Innocence
Storyline: Kang Min-Ho is a ruthless businessman until he undergoes a heart transplant from the fiancé of one of his employees. Following the surgery, his personality shifts dramatically, and he finds himself drawn to the donor’s fiancée in unexpected ways. His character softens, and he discovers a newfound compassion and empathy, confusing those around him.
Similarity: This series, like She Was Pretty, presents a complex character who transforms from arrogant to kind, blending romance and comedy with emotional depth. Both dramas focus on character development and romantic growth, creating a refreshing viewing experience.
11. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
Storyline: Do Bong Soon, born with superhuman strength, has always tried to appear “normal.” She works as a bodyguard for a CEO while nursing a crush on her high school friend, who is now a detective. As she helps investigate a kidnapping case, she realizes her unique abilities are invaluable. Romance blooms between her and her boss, but complications arise as they deal with the thriller aspect of the story.
Similarity:Strong Woman Do Bong Soon and She Was Pretty feature a love triangle and an office romance. Both have independent female leads who discover their inner strength, and the romantic storyline includes a fun, enemies-to-lovers dynamic.
10. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo
Storyline: This coming-of-age drama follows Kim Bok-Joo, a weightlifter, and her friend Jung Joon-Hyung, a swimmer, as they navigate the highs and lows of athletic life and relationships. Despite facing heartbreaks and challenges, they support each other, developing a deep bond that eventually turns into love.
Similarity: Like She Was Pretty, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo showcases a love story rooted in bickering and friendship, with both leads coming from each other’s past. It’s a sweet exploration of young love and personal growth.
9. Marriage, Not Dating
Storyline: Gong Ki Tae, a wealthy plastic surgeon, is perfectly content with his single life. However, pressured by his family to marry, he brings Joo Jang Mi into his life, assuming his parents will disapprove of her and leave him alone. However, their plan takes unexpected turns as the two become closer in their fake relationship.
Similarity: Although their plots differ, Marriage, Not Dating shares a similar vibe with She Was Pretty. Both dramas are rom-coms where the male leads initially dismiss the female lead, only to be won over by their unique personalities. The contrasting social status and quirky chemistry between the leads make both dramas captivating and fun.
08. Witch’s Romance
Storyline: Ban Ji Yeon, a 39-year-old workaholic reporter, has given up on love after her fiancé vanished before their wedding. She meets Yoon Dong Ha, a young man carrying his own heartbreak, and despite their age gap, they find common ground in their past pain. Similarity: Park Seo Joon, who also stars in She Was Pretty, shines with a playful charm. The storyline follows an office romance with a boss-employee dynamic, paired with a similar fast pace and lighthearted humor.
07. The Undateables
Storyline: A love expert uninterested in romance meets a former athlete who, due to life’s practicalities, becomes a relationship counselor. Together, they explore the clash of romantic theories and real-life relationships. Similarity: Both dramas feature a bubbly female lead struggling with career challenges, bringing fresh character development through past wounds and unexpected connections.
Storyline: Talented baker Kim Sam Soon starts working at a new restaurant after a Christmas Eve breakup, sparking a love-hate relationship with her new boss, Jin Hun. Similarity: This rom-com features strong, unique characters and a feisty female lead who, like the one in She Was Pretty, has her own vulnerabilities and a yearning for love.
05. Go Ho’s Starry Night
Storyline: Go Ho, an ad contractor, finds her life turned upside down when her former love reappears as her new boss. Similarity: Similar to She Was Pretty, this series centers on office romance, with a quirky female lead and a classic mean-boss dynamic. It’s a breezy, binge-worthy show with a fresh charm.
04. Marry Him If You Dare
Storyline:Na Mi Rae meets her future self, who tries to prevent her from marrying news anchor Kim Shin, urging her to change her future in the world of broadcasting. Similarity: Like She Was Pretty, it features a relatable female lead facing ridicule and professional challenges, with a fierce male boss who gradually softens. Both dramas explore life’s second chances and romantic possibilities.
03. Oh My Ghost
Storyline: Timid Bong Sun works as an assistant chef but finds herself changing after a ghost possesses her, catching the eye of her arrogant boss, Sun Woo. Similarity: The classic dynamic of an arrogant boss and timid assistant, found in She Was Pretty, drives the plot. Their forced proximity creates hilarious situations that bring them closer.
02. Miss No Good
Storyline: Jiang Xiao Hua, a fashionably-challenged accessories store owner, seeks the help of stylist Tang Men after being teased by her childhood crush. Similarity: Both dramas center on transformation and appearance, as well as a love triangle with character growth and emotional connections, much like in She Was Pretty.
01. Lucky Romance
Storyline: Superstitious Bo Nee meets a man who only trusts science. Despite their opposing beliefs, they’re drawn together in a relationship that challenges both of their worldviews. Similarity:Lucky Romance echoes the charming quirks of She Was Pretty, especially with Hwang Jung Eum as the lovable female lead. The drama’s romantic tension and butterfly moments make it a compelling watch for fans.
Each of these KDramas brings its own twist on romance, character growth, and heartfelt humor, capturing the spirit of She Was Pretty in unique ways.
Dev King is a passionate fan of manga, manhwa, and webtoons, with a love for Korean, Japanese, and Chinese cartoons. Always exploring new worlds and stories, he finds joy in every unique style and plot twist.
