K-Drama Review: Pretty Boy/Bel Ami/ 예쁜 남자

Hello! 

This time I'm going to review Korean Drama! 
It's my second (the 1st one is about BOF in Indonesia) review, but I'll do it a bit different. It's like a new section of my entry. Hope you guys enjoy it! :D 
I hope I can do it regularly because this kinda exciting and fun.

Drama General Info

Title: Pretty Boy/Bel Ami

Korean Title: 예쁜 남자

Station: KBS 2TV/ KBS WORLD 

Released Date: November 20, 2013 - January 9, 2014 (KBS 2TV) 

Number of Episodes: 16 Episodes

Schedule: Wednesday & Thursday at 21.55 (KST)

Director: Jung Junghwa

Writer: Chon Kyeyoung (comic); Yoo Younga

Key Players

Jang Geunseok as Dokgo Mate

The main character of this drama. His name is very unique, different from usual Korean name. He is a very pretty boy, the dream boy of Kim Botong (IU). He is an expert in making women fall in love with him over heels. A very childish man, yet he never give up. Might hate his hairstyle for a few episodes, but he was indeed pretty boy! 

 

IU (Lee Ji Eun) as Kim Botong

An unique girl, who falling in love with Dokgo Mate since she saw him. They've known each other from high school time. The daughter of a Galbi Jjim restaurant owner, Lee Malja. She was an unemployed girl, yet she wants to save money for buying Dokgo Mate a car. She would do anything for Dokgo Mate. Thumbs up for IU's unique acting and fashion! 

Lee Jangwoo as Choi David/ Choi

The man version of Kim Botong. Have an unique taste of fashion, likes, hobbies, almost everything. The illegitimate son of MG Group, who hates that company very much, but he works for MG Home Shopping. He collects dust all over Korea on his very old car! Has a very unique fashion, but it's not a fashionable, but a fashion disaster. Wear mostly black.

 Han Chaeyoung as Hong Yura

The daughter-in-law of MG Group, a mother of a girl named Sully, who received hate from her mother-in-law. She was kicked out from the house. This is the reason she wants to help Dokgo Mate to find his father, who was believed the MG Group's Director, Park Giseok. A very classy woman, a suitable character for Han Chaeyoung.  

  Kim Boyoung as Na Hongran, wife of Park Giseok

Problem making woman. She was an evil mother, mother-in-law, wife, and boss. She hold grudge and hatred to almost all people. She will do anything to stop people disturb her. She is the wife of Park Giseok, director of MG Group. But, MG Group itself was owned by her, from bloody war with her brothers. She has a son, who she leave, when she was young. This is the main mystery of the drama.  

Supporting Characters

Yang Migyeong as Kim Misook
She is Dokgo Mate's late mother. She took care of Dokgo Mate since he was a baby, but she is not the biological mother of Dokgo Mate. She is the key to open the mystery, but she died to some disease before Mate care about his father. 

Lee Miyoung as Lee Malja
Open a galbi-jjim restaurant. The mother of two children, Kim Botong & Kim Daesik. She is the friend of Kim Misook.

Hoon (U-kiss) as Kim Daesik 
Kim Botong's brother, who usually wears taekwondo's uniform. One kpop idol added to the list of acting-dols.

Dokgo Youngjae as Park Giseok
The director of MG Group, but he was not well, so he gave it to Park Moonsoo, his legal son. He holds the secret of the MG Group family tree. The rumor said that he has a lot of illegitimate children.

Kim Youngjae as Park Moonsoo
CEO of MG Group, the son of Park Giseok and the husband of Hong Yura. He has no power for everything because of his mother control's. He even can't protect his wife from separating from him.

Dokgo Mate's Women
Woman number 1: Son Yujin as Jaekhui
A very very rich woman, who owns almost every building in Korea. She works in property field and love Dokgo Mate VERY MUCH! She will do anything for Mate, even bought him an expensive car, to make Mate love her back and get married with her. She is a friend of Hong Yura. Mate has to learn how to appreciate money from her.
 
Woman number 2 : Kim Yewon as Fairy Electric
A fortune teller that use some kind of electric shock. It's a modern version of telling fortune. Jaekhui is one of her loyal customer. She has a connection with MG Group, especially Na Hongran. She can control someone's mind and heart. Mate has to learn how to control other's emotion from her.

Woman number 3 : Cha Hyunjoong as Kim Injung
An influential woman, she is the top insurance seller manager. She has a lot of connection throughout the Korea. From chef to top CEO. She is a lonely woman, because her husband were working outside Korea. She is very afraid of gossips. Mate has to learn about connection from her.

Woman number 4: Park Jiyoon as Myomi
A top hallyu wave star, but she was under threat of Kim Injung. She is awkwardly fashionable, she changes her hairstyle a lot, like Mate. She is the queen of timing, so Mate has to learn about timing from her.
Woman number 5 : Kim Bora as Lee Gwiji
A daughter of SS Group, the competitor of MG Group. She is a spoiled girl, who can get anything she wants! Even, when she wants Mate, her father would do anything for her to get him. She is a very annoying girl and no one wants to be friend with her. 

Woman number 6: Lee Sunkyung as Lee Kim
A prosecutor that investigate almost all activities of big companies in Korea. She was feared by all the CEOs, because she might open the company's secret to the light. Mate learned justice from her.

Woman number 7: Kim Minjoo as Yeo Mim
A skillful hacker. She is the one who made Lee Kim resigned from her position, because she was paid by Na Hongran to do so. She is a very scary woman. 

Synopsis
A story of an ambitious man who wants to have a lot of money by using his appearance. On the other side, there is a woman who liked him for 10 years. They have known each other, yet the man did not care about. This drama portrait the progress of this beautiful man, named Dokgo Mate to find money with his own and the mystery of his life! Also, the roller-coaster ride of Kim Botong's crush life for Dokgo Mate. 


Review
 
MARKETING

Marketing is one of the key role of one's production. It can be in form of advertisement (trailer and posters), variety shows (infotainment, appearance in some shows, etc), and others' recomendation. Frankly speaking, I know this drama because I watched Entertainment Weekly, when they interviewed the casts. I've always a big fan of IU and Lee Jangwoo, so I watched the interview and it the drama seems interesting from what the casts experienced during the shoots. Also, when I saw the clips of the trailer in KBS World, I said: this drama is very funmy! I have to watch it!! The trailer itself doesn't really WOW, but it sure gave the funny part of the drama. It was simple, yet it was attractive. Well, the main attraction of this drama, of course, Jang Geunsuk! He was indeed beautiful and it match with the tittle! If the characters doesn't suit the perception of people regarding the title, it would be disappointed. I'll post the video down below. 

CHARACTERS

The characters in this drama were match with the story line. But, they have too much supporting characters. The drama's problem was too complicated because there are so many supporting characters. For example, Dokgo Mate is dating woman 1, while dating this woman, there are some problems and conflicts with other characters. Then, they broke up, the another woman show up, and it continues. For the main characters, Dokgo Mate was acted by Jang Geunsuk very perfect, I may say. He can portray the definition of beautiful guy in comic characters into real life. He is the perfect cast! 

 
IU has proven her acting skills are various. She can act as a sincere girl, stupid girl, act like a bummer, etc. Now, she act as a funny-silly girl. She is very bright in this drama. 

Lee Jangwoo portray as a boy version of Kim Botong, he quite nailed it! He is funny and silly plus he was weird! He act pretty good. But, he is too careful with his actions, so sometimes it doesn't seem natural. He has the same characteristics with his last character, Oh Jaryong from Oh Jaryong is Coming. The difference was only in the appearance and the youthfullness. 

It's been a long time since Han Chaeyoung back in a lovey-dovey drama. The last time I saw her was in Boys Over Flower. Well, we can't really judge Han Chaeyoung's acting skills. She was indeed a real actress. The one that miss in this drama was she was not clear with her characteristic. Are she an antagonist or a protagonist. Till right now, I'm still confused.

The real antagonist, Kim Boyoung, was really awesome! She was indeed very antagonist!! Her character teach the viewer a lesson, greed and bad ambitions will brought you to despair and loneliness. 

FASHION
This drama was a high-fashion drama.  The casts' outfit was fashionable and looks perfect on the casts. Especially, Han Chaeyoung. I've always been a fan of her looks! She is INDEED PRETTY! Here, she show-off her fashionista side. She looks pretty in every episode. The coordinator has a good eye of fashion. So basically, there are the bad fashionistas and excellent fashionistas in this drama. Jang Geunsuk and Han Chaeyoung nailed the excellent fashionista. Everything they wear was good. Except, Jang Geunsuk's hairstyle at the beginning episodes. IU and Lee Jangwoo was not really a bad fashionistas, but their outfit was not a high-fashion style, yet an high-unique style. But, I really like the DIY Bags that IU use in the drama. Thumbs up for the idea! (Y) (but , I can't find the recap :( )

 

The Pros of the Drama

• The drama was an entertaining drama for my Wednesday and Thursday night.
• An addicting drama. I can't wait for the next episodes.
• The casts acts really good.
• The storyline was not cheesy, some of the scenes were happened in real life.
• Suitable for all age, but parents guiding are needed.
• I learned new Korean vocabularies. :D

The Cons of the Drama

• The supporting characters were too much.
• The ending was hang up. I want to see the happy life of Dokgo Mate and Kim Botong! AND Choi David with the mysterious girl!! 

From the drama "Pretty Man", I learn...

True love is not showing your affection towards someone you love, but stay by their side everytime. Even, when you can't be his/her's. Kim Botong love was a great role model for you out there who really love somebody. Also, it's better to say your true feelings, if someone love you, but you did not love them as a lover, but only as a friend. Gave he/she a signal, you don't want to be in a love relationship with them. 

Greed is not a good thing. It's okay to have "wanting something" feeling, but you should know your limit. It is a sin if you became greedy. Ambitious is a good thing, if you do it without shortcut. But, it became wrong if you find an easy path. It can hurt somebody else without you know. When, you hurt people around you, you might be lonely and it was a devastating thing ever, when you don't have anybody to care and love you anymore. 

OVERALL RATING: 95 out of 100

Thank you for reading my first review!

Hope it help and entertaining!

XOXO,

Jennifer

DISCLAIMER: the photos shown above were not owned by me. Credits to the owner of the photos. :)