I started reading this manga because I saw it on a post somewhere, it looked like it had good art, and it was about showbiz. I wasn't expecting much, and at first, I thought it was just your typical shoujo manga about some girl who has some poor nice guy who likes her, but ends up falling in love for some bad boy instead.

In fact, I almost stopped reading it because it had a couple very brief racist parts and one fat joke and I absolutely can't stand any type of discrimination, no matter how shallow. The only reason I kept reading, actually, was because it was labeled a gender bender, and I was curious as to what that was about. I kept expecting one of the characters to pop out and say "Surprise! I'm actually a boy/girl!". But that's not what happened. A few chapters in, I realized why it was labeled a gender bender, and from there, the plot began.

The Premise
For reasons I'll let you find out on your own, the main character, Eun-Yo Song, ends up in the mercy of the sadistic and cruel pop star, Nan Lee. She can't turn to anyone for help without getting into a lot of trouble/getting them into trouble, and therefore he has immense power over her. He makes her break up with her boyfriend, the only guy she's ever loved, and lie to her only family (her brothers), saying that she's going to America. Of course she doesn't go to America. Instead he spirits her away to the middle of nowhere and begins her transformation.

He tells her that once she has paid him a certain sum (about 9 million dollars), she'll be free to return to her brothers and her life. However, she has to earn it in the way that he sees fit, which is as a male singer. Thus begins the real story.

The Plot
So rarely do you see a shoujo that actually delves into interesting psychological questions while remaining very true its "shoujo-ness". This one does exactly that. This story feels like a shoujo when you're reading it, but it is much, much less superficial.

This author doesn't try to ignore the harshness of the situation she's put her character in. She very realistically portrays the main character's feelings of hatred for Nan Lee, as well as her feelings of despair when neither her family nor her friends nor her lover recognize her. She also addresses Nan Lee's twisted sense of "love" and the pain felt by Song's ex-boyfriend over her absence.

However, what is most incredible about this manwha would easily be how the author deals with issues of sexual identity. As the plot develops, Song becomes more and more like a guy. Even people who know she's a girl stop referring to her as such, even amongst themselves. You can see that she's slowly losing grip on her identity as Eun-Yo Song, and becoming more and more like her male persona.

The artist very nicely lays out this transformation, which I find amazing, because so often, mangakas create gender benders and don't even think to address the psychological damage pretending to be someone of the opposite sex for extended periods of time would do to you. This manwha deals with that subject very nicely and subtly.

And yet, through all of this, the manwha somehow manages to retain the mood of a typical showbiz shoujo with humor and heartache, and everything that makes a shoujo a shoujo. So if you are a fan of shoujo, but you get tired of predictable, mundane plots that are completely unrealistic, check this manga out. It's definitely worth the read.

*I rated 9.5 because of the brief racism/fat joke. Otherwise it would have been 10/10.

I still remember all of the previous times when I would accidentally download the first chapter thinking it's a manwha I've never read, only to realize I have, and it's not that interesting. First reaction was that of a typical silly shoujo without much plot behind it, the pretty type that I could do without. The reason why I started reading it this time is because I never realized it was a gender bender. That was the start of a revolution.

While the art is not the best I've seen, the plot and the characters pull it along quite lovingly. I must profess my love for this manwha. It is simply amazing. It starts out as a typical uninteresting shoujo, but give it a few chapters and it will have your interests up and going. I know it took me over a year to finally go past the first few chapters, and I am very glad I did. Sometimes the pride of the heroine and the whole scenario seem too much, but then again I feel the slight twinge of realism the more I read each chapter. The way the story unfolds is quite brilliant, and not in a way I would have ever expected. Sometimes the comedic parts are too much, sometimes the seriousness is too much... sometimes the story reeks of a lack of realism. However, what gets me every time is the raw feeling of emotion during tense scenes. The lack of realism isn't so much that I would kick the manwha out, but the emotion is what makes it a sure thing for me, and why I've rated it a 10. Of course, there's a love triangle which makes me wonder who will be in the end since the author is not giving any signs. You know it's good when you can't predict it and you can't wait for the next chapter to come out.

I read this way~ back so I don't really remember too much. But! I still love love love Chiro. The fact that I still remember it after three years says a lot. This was probably one of my first gender-bender series and I have to say, it's till one of the best in that genre. Chiro looks super hot even as a man. The best part was probably the ending. It made me do the mad kicking under blankets. I'm so glad the manhwaga managed to give Chiro a good ending. Actually, I think I'll re-read it again now XD

I have to say this manga is quite twisted, but it's interesting twisted. The way the female lead changes especially her voice makes the female to male transformation more believable. Usually I see gender benders where the female lead is presto a guy and everyone believes her, but Eun-Yo puts in the time and work to become this "guy" and I love it but I do hope she gets revenge. This manhwa has a lot of potential so I hope the author ties everything together nicely.

It's been years since I started this reading series already. My impression of it is forced gender bender done right. I can't wait to see the attraction between the main girl and the guy who forced her into this develop. It was pretty obvious since the beginning that they have this underlying electricity waiting to be unleashed.
I hope I will be able to finish this series before my youth is over. It would be a shame if I can never be able to or became to old to like it.

Every time I think of this manga I get sad, because I read a spoiler about what happends



... Last updated on May 6th, 2012, 1:29pm

This manhwa is pretty good.
I like the illustration a lot. I started reading this manhwa because it involves the entertainment industry, and i often find that interesting.
the main female character is not deep and is a fool (bluntly speaking) at the beginning of the story, but since the character development is okay, we begin to see a deeper side of her later on in the series. she's beginning to think more rationally.
It is a romance--a triangle, i should say. It's somewhat clear, at this point of the story. it's the kind of romance that's between an "ex" boyfriend-who-she-really-really-likes, a pretty pretty girl, and a bad-attitude-i-hate-you-but-pretty-singer guy. So, basically, the pretty girl (lead female) can either choose to go with the quiet/caring/cute/lovable type or a bad-boy type.

it's fast-paced, so you don't have to worry about enduring the same scenes over and over again.
I actually think that this is NOT an original plot. There are so many girl-turn-boy mangas (and I guess manhwas) and this is only one of those. The plot is nothing out of ordinary in my opinion. It can occasionally be amusing and funny. The most alluring point about this manhwa is probably the illustration. the guys are HAWT! lol. Well, let's just say that it's really good.
Anyways, give this a try if you like Hana Kimi or the like, k? enjoy!

... Last updated on November 10th, 2009, 3:03pm

because the girl was annoying at first and the guy is a total bastard.



But
1. it doesn't feel like your typical gender bender showbiz shoujo. You realize to accurately disguise yourself, you have to leave behind a huge chunk of yourself.
2.I do like seeing Eun-yo's development. She has come a long way from the beginning and has to struggle to fulfill her new identity.
3. Eun-yo's first boyfriend. He has developed too.
4. the plot keeps you in suspense a bit. It develops at a more natural pace following Eun-yo training and adjustment to her situation.

The storyline line wasn't that great at the beginning. I thought it was very messy trying to put the characters together to the story. Then when the main storyline started to fold out, I was hooked! I can't wait for more. First volume you just have to bear through then from then on, it's fresh, addictive, and easy to follow. Go Chiro~!! XD

i usually don't like manhwas but this one is amazing. the main character is great and so is the storyline. i really like the art. i don't find it hard to understand at all. i think it's really straight forward.