Lookism (Korean: 외모지상주의; RR: Oemojisangjui) is a South Korean webtoon written and illustrated by Taejun Pak.[1] The webtoon was first published weekly on Naver Webtoon in November 2014. Its story revolves around a high-school student who can switch between two bodies: one fat and ugly, and the other fit and handsome.[2]
An aeni series adaptation by Studio Mir was released globally in December 2022 on Netflix.
Plot
Park Hyung Seok is an unpopular and bullied high school student who is looked down on by his fellow students for his obesity. Bullied and harassed every day by a delinquent, he takes out his anger verbally on his mother and asks for a school transfer. Resolving to run away from his problems and start anew, he moves to Seoul and plans to attend a new high school. A few nights before he begins school, however, he receives a new body that is tall, muscular, and handsome. When one body is in use, the other falls asleep; he can switch bodies by waking up the sleeping one.
His days are split between the two bodies: the handsome one for the daytime, and the original for the night. As Daniel Park (Park Hyung Seok) lives with two bodies, he begins to see how much the world discriminates against ugly people. He experiences discrimination and hate for his original body while receiving kindness and special treatment in his new body. He soon becomes a social media influencer, a trainee for an entertainment company, and a fashion model. At night, however, Daniel's dream life becomes a harsh reality when he returns to his original body.
Daniel is a naive, short, obese and non-conventionally attractive high-school student who was bullied relentessly by Logan Lee every single day. Before transferring to Jae Won High School to escape the bullying, he awakens one day with a tall, athletic and extremely attractive body next to his obese one. Realizing that he can switch bodies after one is sleeping, with his new body, he starts a new life. During the day he goes to school and makes friends and rivals, thanks to the attractiveness and surprising strength of the second body and in the night he works at his local Mart seeing how the world treats people differently due to looks, with the 1st body. After an incident due to Jiho he goes into a coma and finds out his real name, or specifically the second body's real name, is James Lee (Jihoon Lee) a former prodigy both academically and physically who mysteriously disappeared. He is threatened by Charles Choi to stop searching for him. Daniel however arrives at the conclusion that he and, consequentially, DG know about his body but to reveal it he will face the 4 major crew.
Vasco has a reputation of being a Robin Hood-like figure, defending the weak and bullied. A childhood friend of Jace Park, he leads Burn Knuckles – a gang which punishes bullies and other wrongdoers. Despite his tough exterior, he is sweet and seeks the friendship of those he considers good.
Jay Hong/Hong Jae Yeol
A quiet, wealthy, and mysterious character who uses the systema and kali martial arts.
Zack Lee is a boxer who was aggressive towards everyone except his childhood friend, Mira Kim, whom he loves. Mira dislikes violence, so Zack stops bullying and becomes more patient. They are friends with Johan Seong.
Mira Kim is compassionate, patient, and observant, and sees the good in everyone. Johan Seong and Zack Lee were in love with her.
Zoe Park/Park Ha Neul/Kagawa Mirei
Voiced by: Sa Moon Young (Korean), Saori Hayami[4] (Japanese); Courtney Lin (English)
Zoe Park is a beautiful girl who tried to use charm to get what she wanted. After Daniel's original body saves her from a stalker, however, she develops romantic feelings for him.
Crystal Choi/Choi Soo Jung/Akari Nerima
Voiced by: Reina Aoyama[4] (Japanese); Halley Kim (English)
Crystal Choi is daughter of the HNH company chairman, also has two bodies. First, an overweight student who transfers to the fashion department of Daniel's school, she lives in her original body during the day. Her different treatment leads her to believe that the world judges those with a different appearance unkindly. Crystal sees the handsome Daniel as an egotistical bully (based on his looks) and prefers the other Daniel's personality.
Supporting
Daniel's mother/Mrs. Kim Park
Daniel's single mother is an old, hardworking, and patient woman. After seeing Logan bully Daniel, and Daniel yelling at her, she transfers him to Jae Won High School. She works twice as hard to enable Daniel to attend J High, folding and selling empty boxes and working part-time waiting tables. More than anything, she wants Daniel to be happy. As he matures, Daniel begins to appreciate and help his mother.
Jace Park/Park Bum Jae
Jace, the second-in-command of the Burn Knuckles, is a childhood friend of Vasco and helped Vasco overcome his fear of needles.
A short, plump student and an aspiring rapper who was bullied by others and rejected by producers. When he meets and collaborates with Daniel, he gains confidence, begins streaming on TV and becomes famous. In the middle of the webtoon, he became a famous rapper.
Jiho Park/Park Ji Ho
Bullied at J High until Daniel takes him under his wing, he is obsessed with power and societal standards. Jiho shows signs of an inferiority complex and goes to juvenile prison for the attempted murders of Daniel Park and James Gong. He becomes mentally ill in prison and is influenced by Jake Kim. He commits suicide after a fight with Daniel, while being haunted by his hallucinations.
Logan Lee/Lee Tae Sung
A big, strong character who bullied Daniel Park in his former school; after Daniel moved to Seoul, Logan did too. Daniel stands up to Logan in his original body, and they reach an uneasy truce. Logan is expelled after assaulting his advisor.
Vin Jin/Jin Ho Bin/Takahito Saitama
Voiced by: Daisuke Ono[4] (Japanese); Nick Martineau (English)
Arrogant, he says he is better than everyone else and dislikes Daniel and Duke. He fears losing his sunglasses, and loses control when they are removed; this is later explained by his polycoria in one eye.
Mary Kim
A pretty, blonde girl who is friends with Vin Jin and is known in Cheonliang (her and Vin Jin's hometown) as the Empress of Two Seconds because she defeats opponents in a fight in two seconds. She hides her past as overweight but skilled in Judo and receiving plastic surgery.
Yui Kim
The leading streamer on Paprika TV until Zoe joins the website. When her boyfriend learns from Zack that she flirted with Daniel, he beats her until Zack stops him. She then develops feelings for Zack.
Doo Lee/Lee Hyun Do
Jiho's main tormentor, he stays around Zack and Daniel mostly to increase his popularity but helps them as needed. A streamer on Paprika TV, Tae Joon collaborates with him to taunt Shin Dae Hoon; they are caught by his gang before being bailed out by Vasco, Zack, and Daniel. He later sometimes appears as Daniel destroys the Workers, once as part of Alexander's clean-up crew, then became Hannya of Mitsuki's crew.
Tae Joon Park
An Executive Manager of PTJ Entertainment who will do almost anything for fame.
Leonn Lee
A mysterious freshman who is revealed to be a girl, her character is a tsundere.
Joy Hong/Hong Jae Hye
Jay's little sister and a model who has a crush on handsome Daniel and enrolls in J High to see him more often.
Nam Su Lee
A nerdy classmate tasked by Zack to buy shoes for him. He buys a ring and says that Daniel is poor and has no fashion sense, and Jay gives Daniel a collection of expensive clothes.
David, Dylan and Sarah Park
Daniel's cousins. Dylan wants to be a rapper, and is Duke's fan; David, a college student, is the star of the Park family, being enrolled into a prestigious university; Sarah, Dylan's sister, has a crush on handsome Daniel.
Hong Ki Tae
Jay's older brother. The polar opposite of Jay.
Samuel Seo
An executive, working for the workers. Previously from Big Deal and was known as Big Deal No.3. He was initially on Alexander's side, then takes over the affiliates that has fallen. Initially allied with Eugene, but turned after a deal with Johan. His goal is to become "King" and will do whatever it takes to do so.
Alexander Hwang
Samuel's associate, who disappears.
Like What and So Funny
Runaway girls who are first forced into prostitution and then begin streaming to earn money. Currently under Sally Park's care.
Warren Chae
Speaks in broken sentences before joining Daniel in his mission. He regains his speech later on and joins Eli in his endeavors.
Eli Jang/Jang Hyun
The single father of a baby girl named Yenna, the daughter of his teenage sweetheart Heather. Jong Gun had his eyes on him for his fighting prowess but also because Eli created the original Hostel. Currently under Eugene's control.
Sally Park
Usually seen with Warren Chae, she is an orphan who lives in an abandoned building inherited from her grandmother in the US.
Max Kang and Derek Jo
Tteokbokki sellers and club promoters. The power duo of Hostel.
Olly Wang
Heather's friend and schoolmate. Betrayed Hostel after he wasn't included, which nearly destroyed the fam. He created his own Hostel from scratch. Commits suicide after learning the source of his inability to feel pain, his guilt over Heather's tragic end.
James Gong
Jiho's psychotic, sadistic bully. Resurfaced after escaping the hospital he was, joining initially Olly's Hostel, then left with Jasmine and Olly's orphans aboard a coaster.
Jasmine Huh
Daniel's classmate, who is a pathological liar. She lives with James and the child soldiers trained by Olly trained, riding a stolen bus.
Johan Seong
Zack and Mira's childhood friend. Bullied because he was poor and his mother was going blind, he had a crush on Mira. His mother's mental state deteriorates and a local religious figure persuades her to join the God Dog cult. Johan takes over the cult, taking its mascot as his own. He aids Jace in Cheonliang and fights with Jin before joining the White Tiger Job Center under Tom Lee. Left the group and becomes allied with Charles Choi, but his sight was still worsening. He picked up other martial arts as his arsenal.
Jong Gun/Jang Dong Gun
Crystal Choi's sadomasochistic gangster bodyguard, who is an extortionist. Once a Yakiza member, he destroyed the clan after he got bored, and became Charles's money collector.
Joon Goo/Goo Kim
A fighter who frequents juvenile centers and succeeds Jong Gun in his extortion racket after Gun loses interest in it. Initially appears as a paid merc by his own cousin.
Jake Kim
Leader of a Seoul's Big Deal gang and a good fighter, he was placed in juvenile prison for an illegal betting ring and became influenced by Jiho. He reforms his gang and is always at odds with Daniel. Now, he was at odds with Eugene and his old colleague.
Jerry Kwon
Jake Kim's number-two, known as Jake Kim's Sword, who cares for the cat Leon. Usually gentle, except when following Jake's orders.
Jin Jang
Johan's faithless lieutenant, who begins spying on J High and plots to pit the students against each other. He later revives his K House gang from the God Dog ruins.
Kouji/Ko Woo Ji
A hacker, he dupes the illegal toto operators and hacks the security feed of the store at which Daniel works. He wants to hack onto Jay's systems.
Charles Choi/Elite
Crystal's father, an executive who worked at a convenience store until he created 4 crews with Jong Gun and other geniuses. He raised 10 geniuses (Group of 10 people who are extremely capable in their respective fields, DG and Kouji among them).
Steve Hong
Ki Tae, Joy and Jay's father, an executive who knows Charles Choi. He becomes Daniel's secret ally to take down the four gangs.
DG/Diego Kang/James Lee
World famous K-pop star who has some hidden past identity, the original James Lee. One of Charles Choi's associates, who seems to know about Daniel's ability and is modeled on G-Dragon. He is most probably the strongest character in the verse.
Oliver Jang/Jang Udon/Woo Dong Jang
Debuts in a new group, Inspirit. Was once in relationship with ARU, until she betrayed him. Became a perpetual trainee until Daniel and Joy joins the crew.
La Sol/Ra Sol
Another perpetual trainee alongside Oliver who becomes a trainer. ARU's friend, was reduced to her status after ARU rose above the rank.
ARU
Oliver's ex-girlfriend and a star who is caught in a casting couch situation.
Tom Lee
One of Charles Choi's 10 Geniuses and owner of a private security agency, White Tiger. Prefers fighting on boxer shorts.
Justine Peng and Chuck Kwak
Two illegal Chinese immigrants rejected by Jake Kim but later accepted by Olly Wang.
Vivi
Chinese woman who flees to Korea to escape her Chinese drug cases, the head of a powerful family who built a club and hotel to cover her drug addiction. She later returns to China with Xiaolung.
Xiaolung
Vivi's servant, who becomes a eunuch to remain close to her. He returns to Korea after taking Vivi home and joins Eugene.
Alexander Kwang
Covers up his rackets by imprisoning promising vloggers and forcing them to work for him, but is foiled by Daniel. Disappeared afterward, last seen as part of a clean-up crew.
Sofia
A muscular Russian woman, Steve Hong's bodyguard, who trains Daniel to reduce his weight.
Eugene
Head of the gang for which Samuel works, who issues deceptive invitations in Olly Wang's name. He invites the other gangs to unite against Charles Choi; Jake, Justin and Chuck accept, and Johan and Eli decline. He Apprentices Daniel, but does not trust him. He has a twin brother named Yuseong, who was the mysterious silent capped character with black VVIP badge.
Yuseong
Eugene's twin brother, a silent but emotionally unstable person.
Hudson Ahn, Jacky Lee and Channing Choi
Leaders of the Ansan Public, a group trying to establish a footing in Seoul. Join Jiho and Darius Hong to form the James Lee Crew, and return to Ansan after being beaten by Daniel, Zack and Vasco. Hudson is their leader, Jacky is the most agile, and Channing is a sadist.
Mitsuki/Neko
Leader of the 2nd affiliate and emcee of the underground death-match club, who has feelings for Sinu.
Ryūhei/Nōmen
Acquaintance of Mitsuki who wears a Nōmen mask. His name was Ryūhei.
Hyottoko and Daruma
Two masked men; Hyottoko is a sumo wrestler and discharged JSDF soldier named Kazuma Sato, and Daruma is a former Yakuza named Kenta Magami, who had grudge against Jong-gun for destroying his clan.
Daniel's design was inspired by model Park Hyung-seok. Jay Hong's design was inspired by model Hong Jae-yeol; DG was inspired by G-Dragon; Oliver Jang's design was inspired by Jang Dongwoo, ARU by singer IU, Jace is modeled by former 2PM leader and singer Jay Park. and Vasco/Euntae Lee was inspired by a rapper whose former stage name was Vasco. The manhwa was created by Taejun Pak, also a model.
Tencent produced 外貌至上主义 (Wàimào Zhìshàng Zhǔyì), a 38-episode Chinese television series based on Lookism, in 2019. The Chinese series starred Lomon, Wayne Zhang, Wang Zi Xuan and Dino Lee.
Korean aeni series
A Korean aeni series adaptation by Studio Mir titled 외모지상주의; Oemojisangjuui was announced during Netflix's "Tudum" virtual event on September 25, 2022. The series is directed by Kwang Il Han, with Dae Woo Lee doing the art direction and Kyung-Hoon Han composing the music.[25] It was originally set to be released worldwide on Netflix on November 4, 2022, but was delayed to December 8,[26] due to the Seoul Halloween crowd crush.[27]Ateez performed the series' theme song "Like That" accompanying the opening credits of the show made by Andarta Pictures, a French animation studio.[28][29]
Episode 1 of "Lookism" kicks off with a gritty and heart-wrenching glimpse into the life of Park Hyeong-seok. A target of incessant bullying, Hyeong-seok's every move is critiqued and ridiculed by his classmates, be it his weight, his financial status, or the way he simply looks. His moments of torment are punctuated with jeers of "pig" and "loser", pushing him further into a pit of despair and loneliness.
A particularly brutal scene takes center stage when Tae-seong and his gang turn a game of dodgeball into a harrowing ordeal for Hyeong-seok, aiming directly for his head with every throw. The situation only grows graver when his mother intervenes, with Hyeong-seok's embarrassment culminating in a public argument that leaves onlookers whispering.
Desperate for escape, Hyeong-seok pleads with his mother to change schools, hoping to find a fresh start. His wish is granted, and we watch as he navigates his new surroundings with a mix of trepidation and hope. However, just when Hyeong-seok thinks he's got a fresh start, an altercation with a student named Jin-seong sends him spiraling back into the shadows of public humiliation, with a video of the fight going viral.
But the twist in the tale comes post this brutal beating. Waking up from his slumber, Hyeong-seok finds himself in a completely unfamiliar body - fit, tall, and conventionally attractive. The once-bullied teenager is now turning heads everywhere he goes. His newfound looks grant him instant popularity, as classmates gush over his appearance and even speculate about his identity.
2
"New Life" Transliteration: "Saeloun Saenghwal" (Korean: 새로운 생활)
Park So-young
Dongju Yang Yeonhee Lee
December 8, 2022 (2022-12-08)
As the episode unfolds, we discover Hyeong-seok's unusual ability to switch bodies after he falls asleep, making him essentially live two different lives. At school, he garners attention due to his tall stature and handsome looks. This draws the attention of multiple classmates, including the flirtatious Ha-neul. However, his looks also earn him unexpected challenges and confrontations, especially with a notorious bully named Lee Jin-seong.
The episode introduces the school's unique structure of various specialized classes, ranging from Fashion Design to Cosmetology. Hyeong-seok's decision to join the Fashion Design class is met with surprise and curiosity, emphasizing the school's distinctive nature.
As the story progresses, we delve deeper into Hyeong-seok's struggles with juggling his dual lives. He struggles with finding a job and even gets one at a convenience store, only to have a fateful encounter with Jin-seong and his gang.
The climax of the episode takes place when Jin-seong, known for his boxing prowess, confronts Hyeong-seok. An intense fight ensues. Contrary to expectations, Hyeong-seok manages to dodge Jin-seong's punches and even lands a surprising knockout punch, leaving the entire school in shock. Hyeong-seok's unexpected skills and strength become the talk of the school.
By the end of the episode, Hyeong-seok's reputation at school changes dramatically. While he gains respect and admiration from some students, he also draws the attention of the school's bullies and notorious gangs, hinting at further challenges and confrontations in upcoming episodes.
The excitement is short-lived as the scene moves to a convenience store setting where the stark difference in how people perceive others based on their looks is made glaringly evident. Here, Park Ji-ho struggles with his two identities: one being ridiculed and the other, puzzlingly, drawing concern. After a botched theft, a series of photos potentially jeopardizing Ji-ho's reputation becomes the center of the tension.
Then, an unexpected intervention occurs. A character named Basco, recognized as a strong figure in their school, steps in. Conversations reveal that Basco is also known as Lee Eun-tae, the founder of a group called Burn Knuckle. There's a mix of awe and fear around him, and he is seen to have a disdain for those who take advantage of the weak.
The school setting shifts to the cafeteria, where the balance of power and alliances are displayed. Hyeong-seok, another central character, draws attention. The episode delves into the juxtaposition of his strength and vulnerability, particularly when alcohol is brought into play. A series of misunderstandings, confrontations, and eventual reconciliations lead to a new dynamic between Hyeong-seok, Basco, and Ji-ho.
Amidst the chaotic interplay of friendships and rivalries, the episode ends on a mysterious note. Hyeong-seok, who earlier had been seen seamlessly switching between two identities, finds himself in a familiar setting but with a twist, emphasizing the recurring theme of dual identities.
The final scene takes us back to school where Hyeong-seok's and Ji-ho's unlikely friendship blooms, leaving viewers on a cliffhanger about the unfolding relationship dynamics in Jaewon High School.
It starts with the revelation of Hyeong-seok's living situation. In a twist of events, we find out he's been rooming with a friend to save on rent, and unbeknownst to his mother, he's been working nights at a convenience store.
This discovery catches Hyeong-seok's mom off guard as she visits, leading to an insightful chat between her and Hyeong-seok's roommate. Their conversation unveils Hyeong-seok's past, where he was bullied in his previous school, making his mother question his current state. The roommate assures her of his well-being, but as the story unfolds, the sincerity of this assurance is in question.
As the narrative progresses, we witness a heated confrontation in which Hyeong-seok's roommate gets involved in a misunderstanding over money he accepted from Hyeong-seok's mom. This altercation with another student reveals a raw display of martial arts, showcasing the physical prowess of the characters involved.
While Hyeong-seok's roommate is berated for taking money, the scene culminates in an unexpected victory against Basco, a formidable fighter known for his strength. This sparks a realization in the roommate of his own potential strength.
Later at a convenience store, Hyeong-seok's roommate's internal conflict continues. He confronts his perceived weakness, yearning to grow stronger. An act of kindness from an unknown individual further fuels his determination, ending the episode with a light-hearted attempt at sit-ups, which humorously contrasts the intense confrontations earlier.
The episode deepens the audience's understanding of Hyeong-seok's personal struggles, his relationship with his mother, and the emerging power dynamics among students, leaving us in anticipation of what comes next.
