IF you ask me, the Korean hanbok is not exactly the most flattering dress for women.
It is just so, well, puffy.
But in the new drama Hello, My Lady!, Korean actress Lee Da Hae looks absolutely gorgeous in it.
And her traditional costumes really brighten up the show, which is set in an ancient, tile-roofed house in the countryside.
The spunky Da Hae plays the equally spunky Su Ha, the last living granddaughter of a once prestigious clan. Because of her background, she was raised like an esteemed lady.
To save her ancestral home, which is on the verge of collapse, she goes into the city and tries to raise money for repairs.
That's when the fun begins, and it is inspiring how this small-town girl goes around changing the snobbish attitudes of the so-called modern people around her.
BASED ON A NOVEL
The story is based on the teen novel Five Kimchi Dumplings, so you can expect it to be animated and cartoony. There are also many dreamy romantic moments, like when the guy dashes to the girl's rescue or buys her a 'couple phone' (matching handphones).
Ruby-lipped Lee Ji Hoon (Wonderful Life) plays corporate high-flyer Dong Gyu who tries to buy over Su Ha's house.
She says no when she realises it is his grandfather who is eyeing the house, and that the older man stole a cow from her family while working at their home 50years ago.
But there is something about this cute girl that draws the mature Dong Gyu to her.
And after several clashes and misunderstandings, he falls for her.
No Korean drama is complete without a four-sided love story, so enter Dong Gyu's playboy cousin (Ha Seok Jin), who is also attracted to Su Ha, and an ambitious model (Yeon Mi Joo) who tries to seduce Dong Gyu.
Best remembered as the brilliant con artist Yoo Rin in My Girl, Da Hae sparkles again in this younger and more naive role.
There are shades of Yoo Rin in Su Ha, but the latter is a lot more, erm, bimbotic.
But this drama is more than a cute romantic comedy. It also delves into Korea's cultural heritage and offers interesting insights about how the noblemen lived in ancient times.
Su Ha, for one, is trained in skills like traditional dance and calligraphy, and she gets to show off on important occasions.
She also gets caught between love and the duty to protect her late mother's home, and is forced to face up to an old friend who has been jealous of her since childhood.
This is one lady whose misadventures you'll love to follow.