Friday Feature: Make Me Over!

Makeovers are a plot staple, showing up inevitably when a rich man falls for a poor woman, then decides she needs a new wardrobe. There are other kinds of makeovers, too, so let’s take this Friday to celebrate the K-drama transformations we enjoyed the most.

Rooftop Prince

This series actually featured not one but two makeovers for the time-travelling Crown Prince Lee Gak (Park Yoochun) and his companions. When they first land in present-day Seoul, their Joseon-era clothes are hidden away by Park Ha (Han Ji Min) and exchanged for colourful track suits and ponytails.
Later, when Lee Gak makes the dramatic decision to chop off his long hair, they transform again, from folically challenged goofballs to flower boys. – Only 만

First Shop of Coffee Prince

The fantastic thing about the relationship between Han Gyul (Gong Yoo) and Eun Chan (Yoon Eun Hye) is that it never occurs to him to try changing her tomboy appearance. Han Gyul is just so thrilled to be dating Eun Chan that he excitedly informs pedestrians they pass that Eun Chan is indeed a girl. However, after a stint in Italy to study, Eun Chan returns, having made herself over. I won’t ruin the surprise, but Han Gyul clearly approves.

Earlier in the series, Eun Chan had a short-lived makeover, courtesy of Han Gyul’s cousin, Han Sung (Lee Sun Kyun) for his girlfriend’s exhibition opening. The wig and outfit were not a good fit for Eun Chan since Han Gyul failed to recognize her, and she later removed the heels in favour of flip flops found in a garbage heap. – Junggugeo Kaenada 중국어 캐나다

The Heirs

The easiest makeover in drama history came courtesy of Young Do (Kim Woo Bin) in “The Heirs”. Known for his retro 1950s coif, Young Do swaggered his way through his elite high school, terrorizing classmates with lower social standing. When he inexplicably fell for the weepy Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye), he stopped putting his hair up, thus shedding 10 years in the process, and also becoming a kinder, gentler, more vulnerable and sensitive — okay, no, none of that happened. But, he did say he was sorry? – 만

Love Rain

Seo Joon (Jang Keun Suk) is a diva fashion photographer, which is supposed to explain his ridiculous personal style. Ha Na (Im Yoona) is a cheerful student with cute hair and outfit to match. The turning point was a makeover of sorts. Seo Joon is forced by a client to use Ha Na as a model, and thus, is exposed to Ha Na with her hair down, wearing ladylike dresses. Seo Joon trains his camera on Ha Na after she changes backs into her own eclectic clothing, and against his will, he is smitten. Their ensuing love improves both of them; Seo Joon tones down the flamboyance and Ha Na is all grown up. – 중국어 캐나다

City Hall

Having spent the first half of “City Hall” dressed like a granny from the 70s with a mop of unwashed frizz to match, Shin Mi Rae (Kim Sun Ah) suddenly shows up to her inauguration as mayor in episode 11 with a shiny new hairdo and a classy suit. From that point on, Mi Rae went to work in a series of feminine, business-like outfits, with her new coif only budging during a dramatic rainstorm. Sure, she spent much of the second half weeping, but look how good her hair looked! – 만

Prosecutor Princess

When Hye Ri (Kim So Yeon) flounces in on her first day of work as a public prosecutor, her conservative colleagues are scandalized by her outfit, including the glittery miniskirt. As a fellow female lawyer, Jung Sun (Choi Song Hyun) tries to advise her that a makeover is in order, but what Jung Sun doesn’t realize is that Hye Ri has already been made over. Hye Ri hides a painful past as an obese student, transformed into her current skinny physique after her mother locked her in a cell with nothing but exercise equipment, personal trainers for companions and salad for dinner.
With encouragement from Hye Ri, Jung Sun starts wearing light coloured jackets paired with skirts. Her colleagues approve, and the man she has pined after for years finally notices her. Hye Ri still wears her rich girl outfits, but keeps a dark suit at work so that she can change into the lawyer uniform when needed. – 중국어 캐나다

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Readers: Which K-drama makeover caught you by surprise?

Let us know which makeovers delighted or disgusted you in the Comments below.