KBS Drama ‘My Girlfriend is a Real Man’: Arin and Sanha Star in Gender-Bending Romance

She was his first love, soft and bright.
Then one morning, her body changed—but her love stayed the same.
Now he must decide: does the heart still matter when the face has changed?

After wrapping up “I Took the Male Lead’s First Night” with a final rating of 3.2%, KBS2 is back with an even bolder and more unique drama: My Girlfriend is a Real Man. Premiering on Wednesday night, July 23 at 9:50 PM KST, the show instantly caught viewers’ attention with its unexpected storyline—blending love, identity, and a totally unusual transformation.

Based on the Naver webtoon of the same name by Masta, the drama tells the story of Kim Ji-eun (played by Arin of Oh My Girl), a beautiful woman who suddenly wakes up in the body of a handsome man. Meanwhile, her boyfriend Park Yoon-jae (Yoon San-ha of ASTRO), an astronomy major, is suddenly faced with the reality that the girl he loves now has the body of a man—though her heart and memories remain the same.

The story begins with their sweet romance during college. Ji-eun and Yoon-jae are each other’s first loves. They support one another, dream together, and even plan a romantic “star-picking” trip. But everything changes when Ji-eun wakes up one morning and finds herself transformed into a man.

Panicking and confused, Ji-eun hides this from Yoon-jae and tries to slowly break the news. When she finally confesses, his reaction is far from what she expected—he doesn’t believe her and assumes the “man” is some kind of stalker. Still, Ji-eun insists, “I haven’t changed, except on the outside. Inside, I’m still Kim Ji-eun.”

It turns out that Ji-eun’s transformation is part of a rare condition passed down from her mother’s side—almost like a strange family curse where some women can transform into men under certain conditions. Ji-eun desperately tries to get her boyfriend to understand and hold onto their love, even though their world has turned upside down. In an emotional moment, Yoon-jae begins to see her not for her appearance, but for the love he’s always known.

Cast Reactions, BL Concerns, and Big Ambitions

During the online press conference held on July 23, the main cast appeared alongside director Yoo Kwan-mo, including Yoon San-ha, Arin, Yoo Jung-hoo, and Chuu. They opened up about how fun yet challenging the drama was—both in terms of the storyline and their roles.

Yoon San-ha shared that he was hooked from the very first script reading. “The story is weird, but it makes you curious. This is my first lead role on a public channel, so I wanted to give it a shot,” he said. He admitted feeling nervous since the show is airing on KBS, but believes it’s an important step in his acting career.

Meanwhile, Arin—who’s also starring in Wavve’s S-Line—said that My Girlfriend is a Real Man feels more light and refreshing. “I really wanted to do a rom-com, and this story was just so fun. At first I was scared I’d have to play the male version too, but luckily, Jung-hoo oppa did a great job!” she laughed.

Yoo Jung-hoo, who plays Ji-eun’s male version (Kim Ji-hoon), shared a fun story about getting into character. “I imagined what it would be like to be a woman. I even went to a nail salon because my hands looked too masculine in photos,” he said, laughing. Though awkward, the process gave him a fresh new acting challenge.

Chuu, who returns to acting after six years, said she was drawn to the role because it’s so different. She plays Kang Min-joo, the queen bee of campus who secretly has a crush on Yoon-jae. “She’s the kind of popular girl I used to be so curious about back in school. I just wanted to experience being that girl once in my life,” she said.

When asked about concerns that the drama might be seen as BL (Boys’ Love), since it visually portrays love between two men, director Yoo Kwan-mo clarified: “I’m sure this isn’t a BL drama. The original female lead still appears in flashbacks and imagination scenes, so viewers will still see the ‘true’ version of their relationship,” he explained. He also emphasized that he wasn’t just chasing ratings—he wanted the drama to spark conversation in society. “If it goes well, I’d love to make a second season,” he said confidently.

As a fun bonus, Instagram account @kitto.idn posted a playful behind-the-scenes clip where Yoo Jung-hoo teasingly acts like Ji-hoon sending mysterious messages to Yoon-jae. You can watch the hilarious and expressive video here!

With dreamy filming locations like Hongdae, Samcheong-dong, and Gyeongbokgung Palace, the show captures Korea’s summer vibe beautifully. My Girlfriend is a Real Man isn’t just another fantasy rom-com—it’s a youth drama filled with curiosity, growth, and the courage to keep loving, even when the world doesn’t look the same anymore.

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If you’re looking for a fresh, different, and meaningful romance drama, My Girlfriend is a Real Man might be the perfect mid-week watch. It airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 9:50 PM KST on KBS2—and honestly, it looks like this one’s going to stay trending all summer long.

Sources:

Articles and press coverage from Daum, Entertain Naver, and iMBC. Video clip courtesy of @kitto.idn on Instagram.