This was actually Lee Min-Ki's first role since returning from military service. It is clear that he hasn't lost his touch, although it has to have helped to have Jung So-Min to work with.

"Stagnating" is a very polite way of describing drama here now. As an old sailor I could think of much more colorful descriptions, none of them suitable for publication.

She says she doesn't want to watch K-dramas because she'll have to read subtitles but she only ever watches English shows near midnight at zero volume and relies on subtitles T_____T I'm always peeking at the tv with a hurt look every time she does that hahaha

Lee Min-ki was in a dramedy with Chae Rim a while back - waaay back. It was Dalja's Spring and it made me like him so much.

I'm still slightly bitter.

Even as a Ye-Liner, I feel the writer treated Min-ho abominably.

I meant surrounded by very positive people regardless some toxic people still loiter around. But it wasn’t as suffocating as before in her middle/high school.

and when he walked over it.......it must have been the most painful feeling at that moment 😅 boy learning this hard way.

Loved that scene. His first glimpse of Mi-Rae's personal space. He quietly scanned her area.

@mayhemf he looked really curious. Hope next time he comes in, It will be because Mirae invited him over.

@mayhemf and @13infamyss
Did you notice that KY's mom also scanned MR's apartment after handing the bag to Hyun-Jung? I guess both the curiosity gene & the high tolerance gene were passed down to KS!

@kimbapnoona The mother and son are two peas in a pod!!
- both drink like a fish
- both have a way with words (loved how she used the same technique on KS, which he used on MR - "you didn't deny it either")
- both are fiercely independent
- both of them carry themselves in a cool/classy way.

@mayhemf @kimbapnoona really a great thing Kyungsuk inherited these traits of him from his mom. And I honestly don’t see any trace of his father in him which is awesome. I can’t honestly wait to see them hang out more often.

LMAOOOOO and the final blow to him was that one word... NEVER. 💔 😂 I love Mirae thinking out loud. How occupied must her brain been with Kyungsuk🤣

That one was pure gold. I love how the mom was so cool about offering to eat out. It’s like she’s still giving Kyungsuk that space, not forcing herself to her. But boi was so starving, he needed to take that offer now! 😂😂 if they only knew what he’s gone through the first few days of his move out...... “Life of a 20 year old” indeed 😂

Oh yeah, he needed food. Lots of it. Plus some Soju!!
Am glad he was hungry that he broke the awkwardness and volunteered to join them!

@mayhemf @kimbapnoona never had noodles and Soju tasted so good until that night for him. He’s been alcohol deprived 😂😂

Also I know we’ve mentioned this before, but I really like Mom and Mirae hanging out and finding that common interest. Mom did pick up Mirae at her place to hang with her, and not to see Kyungsuk. So she just told him they’d eat later cuz today was when she hangs with Mirae! You can tell how genuine she is with her friendship with Mirae.

@13infamyss I think she wanted to meet Mirae because she likes her, but also she wanted to know if Kyung-Seok was doing fine after moving out. She wanted to check on him via her. But she didn't think our boy will volunteer!!

I find it funny that KS is curious about every relationship - he even wanted to know whats the deal between his mother and MR!! He is such a newbie in 'people skills'

Exactly! He is obviously a warm person look how he has been taking care of his little sister. Sigh, I can already tell KS is ruining me for other k-drama male leads, “KS would never have fallen for evil 2nd female lead’s tricks...KS would have asked female lead directly if she likes the second male lead...”etc etc. :)

@sparky we are doomed!!

@sparky @mayhemf 😂 yep indeed doomed. We need more male leads who can see through people’s BS and call them out for it. Also now that I remember, I don’t think Kyungsuk has ever called Soo Ah with her name 🤔🤔 Nor has the name “Soo Ah” came out of his mouth. Well, He def has no reason to call her with her name, so let’s keep it that way.......

I agree with Mirae saying that his life is like a photoshoot - there are published version and not good version. But recently he starts showing his not good version LOL.

I also being like NO when he starts scrubbing the dishes😂😂

@13infamyss, @mayhemf, @therevels, @mintkiri, @sparky
I find it a really interesting that Writer-nim chose interior design showroom to be their place of work where they themselves are perhaps part of the display and looks of the merchandise would be what draw people into the room first.

In any case I don't know how this show just gives me such continuous dopamine shots....last week I was dreading all the scenes KS would have together with SA if they worked together, was happy in ep 9 to find out that they won't, and ep 10 I get all these OTP scenes because now THEY work together......lord save me!!! 😭

@13infamyss, @mayhemf, @therevels, @mintkiri, @sparky @kimbapnoona @chandler

Am not sure where the show is going with its opinion of 'beauty' standards.
If Kyunk-Seok and Mi-Rae got this job because of their looks, doesn't it defeat the purpose? In fact, I would have liked them reject Kyung-Seok or put him on probation. I wish the show focussed on showing that looks is one thing, but some jobs require more skills than looks. I wanted them to do a good job because they had the 'brains' - I mean, both are intelligent and study well and are probably suited for product sales. I wish the show had showed some 'real' world problems even people with good looks face. Or did I miss something there? Or may be we will get to it? If Soo-Ah joins the same store, but does a bad job due to lack of skills I will be satisfied ; )

@kimbapnoona yep, that is ironic part. And I think that's most likely why they got the job too despite the absurd schedule restrictions they've imposed on the manager. He knows these two are keepers.

It's amazing. I love their work setting. They look so adult in their uniforms. They go to work, have meal breaks, and get off work at the same time. I could not be happier as a shipper.

My top favourite (cuz once again all of them are my faves!) has got to be that scene where Kyungsuk said - I don't know about crying tears of joy, but I am happy I met you again - That was everything. Coming high from his reconciliation with his mom, he randomly blurted out about tears of joy. Last time, in their nice and quiet conversation (ep 8), he said thank you to her without really explaining what he was thanking her for. Now, he's gotten more explicit on what his thoughts are - she makes him happy.

SQUEEEEEEEE
I cry tears of joy reading all of your comments......this is not helping me to maintain my own image when I do this in public 🤣, @13infamyss!!

@mayhemf I think that's the point they're trying to get across. Even if you preach, people will still use their personal judgement on you. Take an example the LGBT community. They're much vocal now and we are welcoming more the idea of equality, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to the individual's perspective of it. Especially in Korea where looks get you somewhere. Kyungsuk got it way easier - he got the looks and the connections. If it weren't for Mirae's recommendation, he wouldn't have gotten the job. It's the norm of our society, not just in Korea too.

Looks and connections aside, they got the job at nobody's expense. Nobody got sacked in favour of them. In this day and age, you always just pick the lesser of the two evils.

I would like to see that too. Another thing that this drama could try send the message - that looks and connections may get you somewhere but hat's not everything. That Kyungsuk and Mirae are hard working kids and are dead serious in getting this job. That their co-workers who are judging them now will see past their beauty and look at them as serious employees. Welps, hopefully we can see that sometime too.

hehehehehe we're all in this together @kimbapnoona ship is sailing, and we're enjoying the great cruising with some cocktails and wines. I love our ship!

@13infamyss @kimbapnoona

" Especially in Korea where looks get you somewhere. "
May be i personally haven't see this in where i grew up or where i live. I understand importance of connections. Or May be because I am in technology field where brains trumps all. I didn't think you can get someplace because you are beautiful. Or may be am like Kyunk-SEok totally indifferent and have been oblivious all my life!!!!😱

"That their co-workers who are judging them now will see past their beauty and look at them as serious employees"
yes please. I need that. I need to believe there is sanity in this world.

So no preview this week, which is a good thing. Hope they don't cancel any shows due to the games.

@mayhemf god! I think I`ll lose it if any of the episodes are postponed next week end. No, they can't do this to us TT_______TT My ID is Gangnam Beauty airs at 11pm, so hopefully there's no more games being aired live around that time?

Ahhhh! @mayhemf this just clicked me now. Yes, Korea is really heavy on appearance. Their resumes require you attach your picture on it! I`m pretty sure we've seen those in other dramas.

@13infamyss ok, am losing it. Resume needs pictures? Wow!!

So the society sets a high beauty standard and when you go meet those standards you are judged.
Darn.

No wonder their skincare is so famous and I see so many actors with flawless skin. Even actors who are in their 40/50s!

@mayhemf Yes, here's the latest news I can find so far regarding Korea's job application system and the reality people face that might lead them to PS http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-south-korea-image-2017-story.html and I quote -"The group argued that appearance matters in the workplace"

It's disturbing and corrupted how much potential employers need to know about you and your personal background that are totally not related to work and skill before you even got hired. I guess I shouldn't say that when it's not the culture I grew accustomed too, but I can just imagine how unfairly the system is in the job application process.

My ID is Gangnam Beauty really aims to attack the "norm" in Korea, and sadly the reality they're living in is not an overnight fix.

sigh. That is so me right now. Constantly rewatching ep 9 until ep 10 subs are out 😭😭😭

I really wonder when he said Kyungsuk’s crushing on someone he actually meant Mirae????

The way I read the scene, it wasn’t to make MA jealous?? KS was reluctant to have lunch w SA but only did it because she begged him to make up for him saving the group after she lost the homework??? I was worried about the lunch scenes after the preview too, but we should have more faith cuz he pretty much called out SA on her manipulations the entire time.

Yes, to last part!! Those chapters in the webtoon dragged and I am glad she said no too.

@sparky oppps sorry, I meant to say the writing of the drama itself was making Kyungsuk and Soo Ah get together as a ploy to make Mirae jealous. Not that Kyungsuk will purposely do this to Mirae, cuz he def won't. But I was just saying it was the drama writer who's somehow steering Kyungsuk's character off a bit just so she/he can have a scene where Mirae catches them together. I just felt like that cafeteria scene was too forced and out of Kyungsuk's character.

Unlike the restaurant scene with Mirae and Woo young - That scene makes sense cuz they do look like 2 people who would go on a lunch together.

I think he refused the lunch offer couple of times and didn’t care for her. But looks like she kept following him and just sat down with him. He doesn’t usually stop anyone from doing. What they want. He ignores.
He never answered her questions. True to his character. Only time he spoke was to call out her inconsistent stories. He knows she is lying.
I think he toned down with her after the misunderstanding of the lost phone. And now that he is close to MiRae he doesn’t seem to bothered by her.
That’s how I saw that scene.
I think it ended up making him more jealous than her :)

@mayhemf thanks! I guess I could see it that way too. That he basically just doesn't care if he was being followed or not - it just happened that it was Soo Ah who followed him to eat at the cafeteria. Like how Ye Na ate with him in Ep 2. I was just sooooo bothered by it, but yeah if I looked at it that way, I think I can let that scene go.........

Oh, I thought he kinda knew from the time KS invited himself to his house warming party. And the way he walk to MR. and MR friend telling him about KS remembering her from middle school etc.

Thanks for the clarification. Makes sense.

LOVED the brush your tooth scene. He realizes that Sunbae is a much better person than he is, which is what makes him more jealous. He really is a worthy competitor.

In episode 10 I cannot be happier how this bromance is shaping up.....so petty (mostly on KS's part) and so caring (mostly WY) 😆
It is also great that KS can see now how much hyung is helping him in this new chapter of his life and I died seeing WY's annoyed look when KS smugly told him that he has good memories.

What I find refreshing is that they are both aware the they like the same girl but each is making effort in his own way to earn MR's affection. Our girl deserves to all the love in the world!

Oh how awesome was that sincere compliment from WY and the "so what?" comment which probably helped MR more than he realized!

@kimbapnoona
"so petty (mostly on KS's part) and so caring (mostly WY)"
No, I think our Sunbae was equally petty.
1) Calls out KS begging for a place to stay in front of MR
2) Points out his stamina etc in arm wrestling. Harps after he loses!
3) Asks him to wash blankets so he doesn't spend time with MR

these 2!!

"Oh how awesome was that sincere compliment from WY and the "so what?" comment which probably helped MR more than he realized!"
when was this?

HAHAHAHA you are absolutely right @mayhemf! I think I have not yet re-watched these past 2 episodes enough.....that and there are just so many delightful moments to remember and talk about them all!!

I was referring to MR and WY's ramen lunch when WY complimented her looks and she was embarrassed by it because she had plastic surgery. I believe WY just untied a little knot in MR's heart with that "so what" comment.

@kimbapnoona @mayhemf LMAO yes, I do agree that they're equally petty. It's amazing how Kyungsuk brought out the pettiness in Woo Young. I bet he's been trying to appear mature and all that cuz he's the sunbae and really life has made him that way too (too broke to be joking), but this dongsaeng tho. lol He's petty but caring - no wonder Kyungsuk is very comfortable with him and can joke around him. I can't deal with that fight over who's eating mom's food and who's washing the blankets. lol. Honestly mom has 5 year old sons.

and yes, that was good point @kimbapnoona. Although I`m not in total favour of Woo young having an interest in Mirae (cuz boi is gonna be hurtin so bad I don't want to see it), I kinda like the idea that they're making their own great efforts in impressing Mirae (darn, Kyungsuk cutting up meat suddenly popped in my brain while I was typing this, so here I am mentioning it!).

It looks like a healthy competition so far, so I`m gonna say for now, I'm liking what I`m seeing too - that Mirae is getting all sorts of love and attention from them.

I think... I honestly don't remember and perhaps I`m just making this up...lol.. but I think the difference between Kyungsuk and Woo Young is that Woo Young straight up tells Mirae that she's pretty through and through. She only gets to hear this from Woo Young. I don't think it's something she will hear from Kyungsuk cuz he never saw her that way. (though he did say she was cute and funny). He's said it before that he's not attracted to things like beauty. She's not pretty nor ugly in his eyes, she's just Mirae in his eyes. So this is where I think I`m making it up, lol, but I don't remember in the webtoon Kyungsuk ever said she's pretty. He blushes whenever he sees her, but he never said it out loud that she's pretty. I don't think. He's got his own reasons for not saying that and I think.... the drama will mention it too.

@13infamyss @kimbapnoona
I have a big problem with dramas where men tell women 'I like you because you are pretty' and then the girl gushes. If anyone told me they liked me because i was pretty I would be insulted!

So, in that way I look forward to Kyung-Seok's thoughts on why he likes her.

Woo-Young: Even though he told her she is pretty and that it did not matter that she went under the knife, you could see that for Mi-Rae it did not make her happy. She is still conflicted on how to react to being called pretty. I like that she suddenly did not jump into the beauty-wagon but still cares for her old self and doesn't want to hurt her old self.

Kyunk_seok seems to be naturally drawn to genuine people. Both Woo Young and MiRae are genuine people. They are not phony. They don't say things they don't mean, They don't do nice things expecting something in return. They don't manipulate people. They don't make other people uncomfortable just to meet their agendas. He definitely seems to be drawn towards this.
Probably why he liked our Berlin Hyung too. He was also a genuine person.
He has zero tolerance to hypocrisy! I love that about him.

@mayhemf
It also irks me to no end that in K-dramas when I hear men saying "I like you because you are pretty" but it seems to be so ingrained in the culture that we also often see women asking men if they think they are pretty as if it is the precursor stage of romance. But in this particular scene with WY I feel it is a meaningful comment to MR. WY's "so what" is prompting MR to accept her own choice and its consequences of getting plastic surgery and embrace the person she is now. And yes! This show ultimately is about MR's own inner struggles to accept who she is so I can understand fully why she is conflicted about what WY says.

@mayhemf @kimbapnoona I didn't have a problem with Woo Young in ep 10 when he said Mirae was pretty. I thought that was nice of him to try boost her confidence over her face. And that was the first time he actually said out loud his interest in her and that he finds her really pretty. But if I start hearing it ten million times (like he did in the webtoon), I`m gonna lose my wits end too. Hope that doesn't happen, but I thought about it - what would Woo Young be if he doesn't do this. His intentions for Mirae are genuine - it's just that he and Kyungsuk's perspectives differ and this is where they always clash.

@kimbapnoona @13infamyss
I felt a bit uneasy that he(Woo Young) had that conversation with Mirae.
I am very conflicted about this. Him being a teacher and directly teaching her a class.
I wish the show had him as a senior only and not TA.
The more I dwell on it the more it bothers me.

@mayhemf @kimbapnoona I am conflicted too at the fact that they added TA as a character description for Woo Young. I wanted to brush off this fact, and I was trying not to see it that he's hitting on a student, but I really don't want him, being a TA, to come back and bite Mirae. I don't want unnecessary conflict, like, Mirae is getting favours in the chem dept because the TA has hots for her. This did not happen in the webtoon, so let's not add this in the drama. I just hope whatever I`m dreading is baseless and never gonna happen. -_____-

For reals. Beautiful scene esp when his eyes were welling up. I will fight anyone who says this guy can’t act!

Yep! One of my favourites too. Was really moved when he called her mom. Can't wait to see she and Kyunghee reconcile too.

Also it's absolutely cute how she legit wants to follow her kid around lol. I get that she missed out on dropping him off and picking him up wherever he goes, but hahahahah I was just cracking when she kept offering to be the chaperone and son just wants to be alone with his girl. Mommy at its finest.

@13infamyss like mother like son. She is doing exactly what he does with MiRae. Follow around and make excuses to hang out :)

That was a beautiful reconciliation.
Again, mother did the right thing by coming and clarifying that she left them but not for a man.
Straight shooters!!
I think she made a mistake with the daughter. She should have met her with her brother. She is too young.
Am worried for her now. Where did she runaway to?

@mayhemf LMAO. Oh dear, now Kyungsuk you know the feeling. I can't get over the the look he sends his mom's way. Like - Stop offering! We're having lunch together and we're going home together. hahaha. And look at her showing up unannounced at the store and all giddy to catch them working together.

Haha same feeling here about the lack of preview!

I just love love how happy (and perhaps smitten) MR looks witnessing what a caring oppa KS is for his sister. No matter how much she comments on him looking like a pictorial, seeing KS's true kind self I believe is what will ultimately make her fall in love with him in the end.

When the scene of MR and SA came on, I was at first lamenting why the show couldn't just let us end with that sweet scene of our OTP, but I was so glad to see MR's final realization about SA and standing up for herself. It propelled the story forward and gives much needed weight to the week's episodes.

Cannot wait for this week's episodes and our conversations!

Siiiiiiigh :( :( :( :( I'm supposed to be getting ready for work now, but here I am browsing dramabeans looking for you guys! TT______TT

I wish I had Mirae and Kyungsuk's enthusiasm to go to work.......

@kimbapnoona
"No matter how much she comments on him looking like a pictorial, seeing KS's true kind self I believe is what will ultimately make her fall in love with him in the end."
cannot agree more. She clearly is seeing sides of him that no one is privy to. She saw how he worked on mending his relationship with his mother. She sees how caring he can be- with his sister (cutting up her meat) or getting her hangover pills. Also, how willing he is to learn new things and stand on his own feet.

@13infamyss @kimbapnoona I use my morning commute time for dramabeans chat!
And i totally copied Mi-Rae and used a face mask sheet last night in prep for work.. LOL

@kimbapnoona Yes on Mirae full-on elated watching Oppa-dongsaeng relationship unfold before her. Him cutting up/sharing food with her and her looking so unfazed by it - this is a usual thing for them. I think she looks much happier seeing this than the mom-son's reconciliation. It's a side of Kyungsuk that surprised Mirae, and it warmed her so much that he's so thoughtful when it comes to his sister. She's seen a lot of of couldn't-care-less side of Kyungsuk, and this "picturesque" looks so new and refreshing to her. She can't help but fall more... I feel her.

😂😂😂 Dramas change lives yo!
I somehow know if you get your own personal stalker teen on the bus you are perfectly able to handle it on your own, @mayhemf!

@mimu1234
This might be the very first time I love seeing a guy is cutting up the meat for someone.....because he is doing it for his little sister! The gesture is so sweet here, like how he probably took care of her growing up without their mom and most likely a pretty absent father.

I do not like Soo-Ah but also find her to be frustrating. She is obviously isolated and in trouble but has great natural beauty that she could be using to attract people and build all kinds of friendships- instead she is Losing Friends and Alienating People (my favorite Simon Pegg movie). If she needs to snatch a rich guy there are plenty there at that school. Instead she seems fixated on making everyone miserable. Which means that instead of building a future for herself she is self-destructing. As much as I dislike her she strikes me as more tragic than evil. My other frustration is the unworked love quadrangle- perhaps it is missing from the webtoon? But Mi Rae's friend Oh Hyun-Jung has a total crush on Woo-Young. If Woo-Young had a lick of sense he would realize that Hyun-Jung is absolutely adorable- and smart too. The story is clearly set up for that but so far, no dice. What gives here writers?

@kimbapnoona Exactly the same. Here I liked coz he was doing for his sister which seemed sweet as he was looking after her.
Some writers should learn. :D

@oldawyer I hate Soo-Ah, Her prettiness is with her nasty attitude. Can I say she's tragically evil? Manipulating each and every person according to her own needs.
I totally agree with you that she's self destructing. I don't feel she has anything except her prettiness. Not even her friend likes her for attitude.
Though I don't want a redemption for her but still she's just 20 and I don't want her to manipulate people through out her life.
I totally agree about the quadrangle atleast the writer should show that Woo-Young and Oh Hyun-jung (She's really adorable^^) are spending time. I don't want at the end for him to suddenly have a realization that he likes her. But, I'm liking Woo-Young's and Kyung-Seok's jealousy and showmanship. :D

@oldawyer @mimu1234 I would agree with Mimu on that she's tragically evil. I call Mirae and Kyungsuk's mom's background tragic. Ep 9 tested Kyungsuk's moral. Where he would stand at the lowest point in his life. He was desperate to make a living to the point of associating himself to that girl he couldn't stand, but when he found out that him landing a job would be at someone's expense, it was like he was splashed by water in the face. It wasn't technically a crime to steal someone's job (hey, we gotta do what we gotta do), but it felt morally wrong, both he and Soo Ah knew that, but it was only Kyungsuk who pointed that out. Soo Ah perhaps didn't see that as a big deal as she's been doing it all her life - raise herself above others by hurting them, intentionally or not. It's survival of the fittest for her. She doesn't give room for sympathy and it's most likely because that's the environment she grew up in. In what little we saw of her background, there's no nuclear family (yet) and there's only grandmother whom she seemed to detest, in her life. She has no true friends she can share her misery with. Even that girl who follows her around uni, she buids a wall between them. It's sad, but it's the path she chose as a result of whatever her background was.

At the last scene, when she stood at a higher step than Mirae, it was a deliberate move to show Mirae is beneath her and she stands above others

Another thing - Whenever Mirae and Kyungsuk are together, she was always from afar, observing. She didn't see up close their relationship until that scene in Ep 10. There was no room for her in that big, wide, open space that Mirae and Kyungsuk were in - she needed to get herself out of there. Mirae and Kyungsuk did not mean to alienate her, but that's just how it is when they're together. There's an invisible wall. When Mirae enters Kyungsuk's vision, she's all he sees and wants to grab her attention in any way he could. Mirae tried to get Soo Ah in too, but in the end her focus remained fixated on Kyungsuk. Soo Ah flipped and started questioning "Why? It's weird. Why?" It was a first. She hasn't seen a relationship like that so strong that she cannot penetrate. She needed to attack in another way to hit where it supposed to hurt. Tell Mirae what she honestly sees her as - a bug that she needs to crash.

Tagging @kimbapnoona and @mayhemf in case you want to pitch something in too!

RE - Woo Youn and Hyun Jung. I am not sure where the story is heading in regards to this two. Hyun Jung was not a character in the webtoon. I root for her happiness too and I enjoy how genuine her relationship is with Mirae. So hopefully we would get to see more of them. I mean I`m not really particular interested in them getting together. If they do, great, if not, that's okay too. I just want them both to be happy too even if Kyungsuk and Mirae are not involved.

High five, @katakwasabi !

It's the press-con scene, wasn't it? Or is there another funny adlib? I'd like to watch it if there's another one 😄

I thought Jung Kyung Ho has always been a serious and cool actor on and off screen, but he gave me so much surprise in Falling for Innocence. Everytime Min Ho had a dating scene with Soon Jung, I've always wondered if Jung Kyung Ho acted like that around Soo Young too 😆

@keiru I haven’t watched many of his BTS but from what I saw he seems like a big dork offscreen 😂 Because I saw him first in LoM I thought he was serious as Tae Joo in real life. I was honestly so surprised when I saw him cracking jokes and being silly when cameras stopped rolling 😄