Lookism (manhwa)


Lookism is a South Korean webtoon written and illustrated by Taejun Pak. 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.
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 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.

Characters

Main

;Daniel Park/Park Hyung Suk/Keisuke Hasegawa
;Vasco/Lee Eun Tae/Basco
;Jay Hong/Hong Jae Yeol
;Zack Lee/Lee Jin Sung/Ryūsei Kitahara
;Mira Kim/Kim Mi Jin/Mizuki Sakane
;Zoe Park/Park Ha Neul/Kagawa Mirei
;Crystal Choi/Choi Soo Jung/Akari Nerima

Supporting

;Daniel's mother/Mrs. Kim Park
;Jace Park/Park Bum Jae
;Duke Pyeon/Pyeon Deok Hwa/Hinto Kon
;Jiho Park/Park Ji Ho
;Logan Lee/Lee Tae Sung
;Vin Jin/Jin Ho Bin/Takahito Saitama
;Mary Kim
;Yui Kim
;Doo Lee/Lee Hyun Do
;Tae Joon Park
;Leonn Lee
;Joy Hong/Hong Jae Hye
;Nam Su Lee
;David, Dylan and Sarah Park
;Hong Ki Tae
;Samuel Seo
;Alexander Hwang
;Like What and So Funny
;Warren Chae
;Eli Jang/Jang Hyun
;Sally Park
;Max Kang and Derek Jo
;Olly Wang
;James Gong
;Jasmine Huh
;Johan Seong
;Jong Gun/Jang Dong Gun
;Joon Goo/Goo Kim
;Jake Kim
;Jerry Kwon
;Jin Jang
;Kouji/Ko Woo Ji
;Charles Choi/Elite
;Steve Hong
;DG/Diego Kang/James Lee
;Oliver Jang/Jang Udon/Woo Dong Jang
;La Sol/Ra Sol
;ARU
;Tom Lee
;Justine Peng and Chuck Kwak
;Vivi
;Xiaolung
;Alexander Kwang
;Sofia
;Eugene
;Yuseong
;Hudson Ahn, Jacky Lee and Channing Choi
;Mitsuki/Neko
;Ryūhei/Nōmen
;Hyottoko and Daruma

Themes

The webtoon's main theme is lookism: bias based on a person's physical appearance. Daniel, the main character, is an overweight, unattractive student who is bullied until his appearance changes. Other themes include gangs, extortion, bullying, animal hoarding, cults, body shaming, anti-social behaviours, stalking, body positivity, rape, and attempted murder.

Character designs

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.

Adaptations

Chinese television series

Tencent produced 外貌至上主义, 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 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. It was originally set to be released worldwide on Netflix on November 4, 2022, but was delayed to December 8, due to the Seoul Halloween crowd crush. Ateez performed the series' theme song "Like That" accompanying the opening credits of the show made by Andarta Pictures, a French animation studio.