Plot

When Ji Sung-Joon was young, he was ugly. As he grew up, he began to have an attractive appearance. When Kim Hye-Jin was young, she was pretty. As she grew up, she became ugly. Ji Sung-Joon tries to find his first love.

Child-hood friends are separated for fifteen years without many connections. The time comes when the two finally meet again, but the once beautiful Kim Hye-Jin has become unattractive, and the unattractive Ji Sung-Joon grows up to be a very attractive man. Will Kim Hye-Jin be able to face him? Love and vanity are put to the test in 'She Was Pretty'.—Skylar Toney

As a young girl, Hye Jin was impossibly cute and had a comfortable life with her wealthy parents but since her teens, her looks and fortune changed abruptly and now she is living with her friend rent-free and working as a part-time clerk at a convenience store. One day, her childhood first love, Sung Joon, contacts her wishing to meet her, but recognizing Sung Joon has grown into a handsome and fit man, she quickly hatches a plan to have her pretty friend meet him in her place instead. After luckily landing a full-time job, Hye Jin is surprised to find Sung Joon as her boss, who is adding insult to injury, treating her with disdain and contempt.

When Hye Jin's first love reappears many years later, she's afraid to face him. Little does she know, the web of lies she constructs will come back to get her later. Hye Jin does everything in her power to prevent Sung Joon from recognizing her. The only problem? They work together. When Ha Ri runs into Sung Joon, the web of lies surrounding Hye Jin begins to unravel. Meanwhile, Hye Jin learns fashion the hard way. Eveything goes wrong when Hye Jin has to drive Sung Joon to secure an important collaboration deal for the magazine. When Hye Jin nearly loses the missing piece to Sung Joon's puzzle, will he finally catch on to her secret. Meanwhile, Ha Ri starts to develop feelings for Sung Joon. Ha Ri starts to develop real feelings for Sung Joon - but their relationship is based on a huge lie. Hye Jin and Sung Joon end up on a business trip together - alone. Will she finally share her secret with him? Hye Jin makes a mistake at work that the chief considers unforgivable. After Hye Jin transforms her look, people start to see her differently and take her more seriously. When Hye Jin discovers Ha Ri's secret, it's time for everyone to know the truth. However, they aren't the only two that have something to reveal. Now that Sung Joon knows about Hye Jin's web of lies, will he be able to forgive her? Shin Hyuk returns to Most magazine. And Hye Jin begins to let down her guard with Sung Joon. The pressure is on for The Most Korea - will they be able to turn around magazine sales before the unit is shut down? When the main feature interview falls through, the editorial team is left scrambling. And a major character's true identity is revealed - and it's not what you think. With the anniversary edition of The Most finally out on the stands, the magazine's future will soon be known. Hye Jin and Sung Joon start their year apart - with her in Korea pursuing her dream of writing fairy tales and him back in New York. But the distance is more difficult than they would have ever imagined.