What if your girlfriend turned into a man before your first trip? Will love win or break? See how Park Yoon Jae handles it in My Girlfriend is the Man! Episode 1.
My Girlfriend is the Man! episode 1 begins with Park Yoon Jae waiting sweetly and patiently for his girlfriend, Kim Ji Eun, at a café. But to his shock, a mysterious man enters, drops Ji Eun’s ID on the table, and claims to be her.
My Girlfriend is the Man! stars ASTRO’s Yoon San-ha as Park Yoon Jae, OH MY GIRL’s Arin as Kim Ji Eun, Yoo Jung Hoo as Kim Ji Hun (the male version of Ji Eun), and Chuu as Kang Min Joo. The drama premieres July 23, airing every Wednesday and Thursday on KBS2, with episodes also available on Viu.
The story centers on Kim Ji Eun, a Korean Literature major, and Park Yoon Jae, an astronomy student—an ordinary, happy couple, until everything changes. One morning, Ji Eun wakes up as a handsome man, shocking both her boyfriend and her older sister, Kim Ji Hye. Yoon Jae clings to their love, but things get messy when the university’s popular girl, Kang Min Joo, sets her sights on him.
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Disclaimer: This article includes spoilers for the drama. Continue reading at your own discretion.
My Girlfriend is the Man! Episode 1 Recap: Planning and preparing for their first trip ever
Flashback to Ji Eun’s interview day—Yoon Jae surprised her with flowers and even brought slippers and band-aids for her blisters, being a caring and loving boyfriend. They shared a meal after, planning their first-ever trip together to Chuncheon, where Yoon Jae wanted to show her the meteor stars all night.
Ahead of the trip, Yoon Jae’s boss lent him a car, and he carefully packed a necklace he had prepared as a gift for Ji Eun. Meanwhile, Ji Eun got her things ready and took care of her skin. Both Ji Eun and Yoon Jae were thrilled and eagerly looking forward to their first trip together.
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The Miracle of the Universe: Ji Eun woke up as a man
However, on the day of the trip, everything changed. Ji Eun woke up—in a man’s body. Panicked and confused, she convinced her sister, Kim Ji Hye, of her identity by showing their matching tattoos: hers is a cat reaching for the moon, while Ji Hye’s is a cat reaching for the sun. Eventually, her sister believed her.
Her sister helped her cancel the trip, telling Yoon Jae that Ji Eun was “very sick.” Ji Eun cried over missing the trip, especially after seeing a video of the meteor shower Yoon Jae had sent, the very one he had wanted to show her during their trip.
Yoon Jae continued dropping off food and gifts, but Ji Eun knew she couldn’t hide forever. She showed up to him in her new male body, proving her identity with IDs, photos, and personal memories that only the two of them would know. Unable to accept the truth, Yoon Jae punched her in frustration and confusion.
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Yoon Jae can’t grasp this ridiculous situation
Ji Eun brought Yoon Jae to her home, where her sister revealed the truth — the strange transformation was a rare family curse passed down on their mother’s side, one that skipped generations. Ji Eun assured him it was only temporary and that she would return to her original body, just as their mother once had.
Still trying to grasp it all, Yoon Jae asked for time to process everything. Ji Eun respected that but asked for just one thing in return: for him to believe her, just this once. When she asked if this was the end for them, Yoon Jae remained silent, unable to give her an answer.
As Yoon Jae walked home, memories of their first meeting rushed back. How stunning Ji Eun looked, and how their connection sparked instantly. But fate had other plans from the start. He was supposed to meet someone named Song Ji Eun, while she was meant to meet Han Yun Jae. A total mix-up, but one that led to something lovely.
Back then, Ji Eun walked out of the café, but Yoon Jae chased after her. From that moment, he saw every second with her as nothing short of a miracle. They kept meeting, growing closer each time. Ji Eun introduced him to astronomy, and during one quiet moment, she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. He pulled her in and kissed her on the lips — their first kiss.
“It’s the first time my heart’s beating this fast looking at something other than stars,” he told her. Now, as he reflects on their current situation, Yoon Jae wonders to himself:
Could this ridiculous situation be another miracle I experience with Ji Eun?
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Yoon Jae’s love remains unchanged
The next day, Yoon Jae helped Ji Eun shave, patiently guiding her through the unfamiliar task and taking over when she cut herself, a quiet but heartfelt act that showed his love remained unchanged despite everything.
Later at work, Yoon Jae confided in his friend Min Hyuk about Ji Eun’s transformation. Min Hyuk said that curses like that usually come from jealousy or broken promises, and are often broken by a kiss, the classic “cheat key” in every story. At first, Yoon Jae laughed it off. But when Min Hyuk casually asked why he hadn’t just broken up with her, the truth hit him: he couldn’t.
That night, instead of letting her go, Yoon Jae rushed to Ji Eun’s house — heart pounding — ready to try the one thing that might break the curse: the so-called “cheat key” himself.
Episode 1 Epilogue: “This man… is my girlfriend”
Episode 1 concluded with its epilogue. When Ji Eun begged him to believe her, Yoon Jae finally admitted to himself, “I didn’t want to believe it… but I knew. This man in front of me… really is my girlfriend, Kim Ji Eun.”
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My Girlfriend is the Man! Episode 2 Preview
The trailer for Episode 2 reveals that Kim Ji Eun is terrified that Park Yoon Jae might break up with her. However, she slowly begins to embrace her new male appearance, even coming out to a close friend and going clubbing.
Catch My Girlfriend is the Man! now streaming on Viu.
Photos: Viu, KBS Drama
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