[비즈한국] Who knew that watching actors' performances could be this intense? Released on August 18, the Netflix original drama 'Mask Girl' consists of seven episodes, each named after the protagonist Kim Mo-mi and the people around her. By focusing on one character at a time and deeply immersing in their narrative and emotions, the series demands powerhouse performances from its cast. And the actors of 'Mask Girl' more than deliver on that demand.
'Mask Girl' depicts the turbulent life of Kim Mo-mi, an office worker with an appearance complex who finds herself entangled in unexpected incidents after working as an internet BJ with her face covered by a mask. By day, she is an unattractive and ordinary worker who receives no attention, but at night, she becomes the 'attention-seeking' Mask Girl, standing in front of a PC webcam to dance provocatively and enjoy the flirtations of men. The situation spirals out of control when Kim Mo-mi meets her fan, 'Handsome Monk,' leading to a murder case, and gets further complicated by her coworker Joo Oh-nam, who discovers her identity while harboring a secret crush on her.
The original webtoon (Story: Mae-mi, Art: Hee-se), which was serialized on Naver035420 Webtoon for about three years starting in August 2015, garnered attention for its compelling story. It addressed various social issues including lookism, provocative streamer culture, sexism, stalking, "hidden cameras," the effects of a troubled family environment on children—such as obsession or bystander apathy—the exposure of personal information on social media, and various forms of hatred.
I was excited from the moment news of the adaptation broke, and the subsequent casting announcements only heightened that anticipation. Go Hyun-jung, Ahn Jae-hong, and Yeom Hye-ran? Then news arrived that Nana had joined, meaning three different actors—Go Hyun-jung, Nana, and a rookie—would play the lead role of Kim Mo-mi. Since Kim Mo-mi, who was 'a woman who was amazingly ugly but had an amazing body,' transforms her face through plastic surgery and later undergoes the ravages of time while imprisoned, it isn't strange for three actors to play one character. However, in most cases, one or two actors typically use special effects makeup, making the "three-in-one" approach of 'Mask Girl' feel groundbreaking and experimental.
To start with the result: this choice appears to have been a success. The younger Kim Mo-mi, who felt the ecstasy of attention for her dancing skills as a kindergartner but grew up to be met with scorn rather than attention due to her appearance, was played by rookie actress Lee Han-byul, selected from a 1000:1 audition. She caused a stir with her high level of synchronicity, making it seem as if the Kim Mo-mi from the original webtoon—with her tall, slender frame but prominent cheekbones, small eyes, and long face—had stepped directly into reality. Nana, who is second to none in beauty, was a natural fit for the Kim Mo-mi who transforms after plastic surgery, and Go Hyun-jung, who played the middle-aged Kim Mo-mi whose beauty has faded to leave only exhaustion and bitterness after years in prison, was an exquisite casting choice.
The characters entangled with Kim Mo-mi are equally captivating. While all three actors who played Kim Mo-mi radiate their own distinct charms, Ahn Jae-hong (Joo Oh-nam) and Yeom Hye-ran (Kim Kyung-ja) make the drama an absolute must-watch. Ahn and Yeom have proven their worth in many works before, but in 'Mask Girl,' they have literally "ripped it up." Ahn Jae-hong, who has always been likable for his unique charm despite not being a typical "flower boy," banished his likability to a million light-years away by playing an "extremely detestable" character who fosters delusion and obsession while engaging in a pseudo-relationship with a real doll. Yeom Hye-ran, who was the dependable "Auntie" Hyun-nam in 'The Glory,' also makes one forget her previous roles as she transforms into Kim Kyung-ja, a woman driven to vengeance by the insane maternal love ignited by her son's death.
Furthermore, from Kim Ga-hee as the blunt coworker Yoo Sang-soon, Choi Daniel as the team leader whom Mo-mi admired, Park Geun-rok as the 'Handsome Monk' who plays a decisive role in driving Mo-mi's life into chaos, Han Jae-yi as Kim Chun-ae who meets Mo-mi in similar circumstances to form a female solidarity narrative, Lee Jun-young as Choi Bu-yong who leads Chun-ae to ruin, Shin Ye-seo as Mo-mi's daughter Kim Mi-mo, Kim Min-seo as Kim Ye-chun who builds a friendship with Mi-mo, to Moon Sook as Shin Young-hee, the grandmother who raises Mi-mo—not one actor fails to give a passionate performance, regardless of their screen time. Watching their immersive performances, you can breeze through all seven episodes, totaling seven hours, in no time.
The problem is that this drama is far from a comfortable story that everyone would accept without reservation. Even with its "18+" rating, there are provocative depictions—such as full-frontal nudity, sexual assault, and cruel murder scenes—that may cause resistance in many viewers. Conversely, those who loved the grotesque aspects of the original work, where it was difficult to easily empathize with or pity any of the characters, might feel disappointed by the adaptation of Kim Mo-mi’s character and the significant reduction of the story to fit into seven episodes.
Despite several uncomfortable elements, I strongly recommend 'Mask Girl.' Beyond the actors' passionate performances, the details provided by the production team—Art Director Ryu Seong-hee, Music Director Jang Young-gyu, Cinematographer Joo Sung-rim, and Director Kim Yong-hoon, who made an impressive feature debut with 'Beasts Clawing at Straws'—draw the viewers into the screen. It also leaves behind a message that lingers even after the drama ends. The fact that it makes us reflect on ourselves and our society, which are by no means unrelated to lookism, gives this work sufficient significance.
Who is the writer Jung Soo-jin?
She has worked across various magazines, covering film, travel, and pop culture. She doesn't want to fall behind the trends, but she has become an "old soul" who predicts every obvious cliché in the latest dramas. As she drifts through the vast world of OTT, she is trying to regain her lost edge; her current wish is for a bundled OTT subscription plan.