ONA
Description
Lim Jugyeong is the central protagonist of the story True Beauty. She grew up being bullied and ostracized by her peers because her natural appearance did not meet the conventional beauty standards of her society. The relentless ridicule, along with a lack of support from her own family, led her to a breaking point where she considered ending her life. She was saved by a stranger, but she did not see his face clearly.
Determined to escape her past, Jugyeong transfers to a new high school after teaching herself makeup through online tutorials. Her skill is so effective that her transformation is dramatic, and she is immediately hailed as a goddess by her new classmates. At school, she maintains a carefully curated pretty girl image, which includes pretending to like different music and eating very little in public. At home, she reverts to her natural, geeky self, enjoying comic books, fried chicken, and rock music. This double life causes her constant anxiety, as she fears her bare face will be discovered.
Personality wise, Jugyeong is initially very insecure, gullible, and easily influenced by others due to her sheltered upbringing and the trauma of past bullying. She believes that romance is only possible if a partner never sees her without makeup. She is also highly empathetic and kind, often putting the needs of others before her own. As the story progresses, she develops greater inner strength and self-confidence, learning to stand up for herself and eventually embracing her true self regardless of her appearance.
Her primary motivation is the desire for acceptance and love. She seeks to be valued for who she is, not for the mask she wears. This drive leads her through a complex love triangle with two of the most popular boys at her new school: Lee Suho, who is the first to see beyond her makeup and recognizes her from the rooftop incident, and Han Seojun, a rebellious but kind-hearted student who also becomes a close friend and romantic interest. Jugyeong’s relationships with both young men push her to confront her own insecurities and make difficult choices about honesty and self-worth.
Within the story, Jugyeong serves as the lens through which the themes of identity, societal pressure, and inner versus outer beauty are explored. She is the character who undergoes the most significant transformation, moving from a state of deep self-loathing to one of genuine self-acceptance. Her journey is marked by pivotal moments of vulnerability, such as when Suho discovers her secret and chooses to accept her anyway, and later when the secret she worked so hard to keep is revealed to the entire school.
Notable abilities include her extraordinary skill with makeup, which is so refined that it completely alters her appearance and elevates her social standing. She also develops talents in content creation, becoming an influencer on a platform similar to Instagram, and later pursues formal education in film and cosmetology. Her greatest ability, however, is her growing resilience; the same girl who once contemplated suicide eventually learns to look at herself in the mirror without makeup and find worth in her own reflection.
Determined to escape her past, Jugyeong transfers to a new high school after teaching herself makeup through online tutorials. Her skill is so effective that her transformation is dramatic, and she is immediately hailed as a goddess by her new classmates. At school, she maintains a carefully curated pretty girl image, which includes pretending to like different music and eating very little in public. At home, she reverts to her natural, geeky self, enjoying comic books, fried chicken, and rock music. This double life causes her constant anxiety, as she fears her bare face will be discovered.
Personality wise, Jugyeong is initially very insecure, gullible, and easily influenced by others due to her sheltered upbringing and the trauma of past bullying. She believes that romance is only possible if a partner never sees her without makeup. She is also highly empathetic and kind, often putting the needs of others before her own. As the story progresses, she develops greater inner strength and self-confidence, learning to stand up for herself and eventually embracing her true self regardless of her appearance.
Her primary motivation is the desire for acceptance and love. She seeks to be valued for who she is, not for the mask she wears. This drive leads her through a complex love triangle with two of the most popular boys at her new school: Lee Suho, who is the first to see beyond her makeup and recognizes her from the rooftop incident, and Han Seojun, a rebellious but kind-hearted student who also becomes a close friend and romantic interest. Jugyeong’s relationships with both young men push her to confront her own insecurities and make difficult choices about honesty and self-worth.
Within the story, Jugyeong serves as the lens through which the themes of identity, societal pressure, and inner versus outer beauty are explored. She is the character who undergoes the most significant transformation, moving from a state of deep self-loathing to one of genuine self-acceptance. Her journey is marked by pivotal moments of vulnerability, such as when Suho discovers her secret and chooses to accept her anyway, and later when the secret she worked so hard to keep is revealed to the entire school.
Notable abilities include her extraordinary skill with makeup, which is so refined that it completely alters her appearance and elevates her social standing. She also develops talents in content creation, becoming an influencer on a platform similar to Instagram, and later pursues formal education in film and cosmetology. Her greatest ability, however, is her growing resilience; the same girl who once contemplated suicide eventually learns to look at herself in the mirror without makeup and find worth in her own reflection.