# WebtoonLib — Who Can Define Popularity #1

## Series
- title: Who Can Define Popularity
- slug: who-can-define-popularity-9fed3c

## Chapter
- number: 1
- release_date: 2025-03-04

### Summary
The inaugural chapter establishes the backstory and central conflict of the series. The protagonist, Siwon Cha, was motivated to completely remake his physical appearance after being cruelly rejected for being overweight as a child. With the enthusiastic support of his sister and family, he dedicated himself to diet and exercise, successfully transforming into a conventionally attractive and popular university student. However, his hard-earned confidence is immediately shattered upon meeting Daun Hyung, a senior who possesses an overwhelming and seemingly effortless natural beauty. Daun is depicted as literally glowing, so radiant that he makes everyone else around him look like "squids" in comparison. This stark contrast sets up an intense rivalry, as Siwon's manufactured popularity is instantly overshadowed by Daun's innate charisma. Readers identify this as the beginning of a "rivals to lovers" dynamic, finding humor in Siwon's struggle against a rival he feels he cannot possibly compete with, while also sympathizing with the societal pressures that fueled his transformation.
- summary_source: graph_aggregator
- summary_verification: unverified

### Key events
- Siwon transforms his appearance through diet and exercise after being rejected as a child.

## Spoiler
- level: auto

### Safe teaser
The inaugural chapter establishes the backstory and central conflict of the series.

### Spoiler summary
The inaugural chapter establishes the backstory and central conflict of the series. The protagonist, Siwon Cha, was motivated to completely remake his physical appearance after being cruelly rejected for being overweight as a child. With the enthusiastic support of his sister and family, he dedicated himself to diet and exercise, successfully transforming into a conventionally attractive and popular university student. However, his hard-earned confidence is immediately shattered upon meeting Daun Hyung, a senior who possesses an overwhelming and seemingly effortless natural beauty. Daun is depicted as literally glowing, so radiant that he makes everyone else around him look like "squids" in comparison. This stark contrast sets up an intense rivalry, as Siwon's manufactured popularity is instantly overshadowed by Daun's innate charisma. Readers identify this as the beginning of a "rivals to lovers" dynamic, finding humor in Siwon's struggle against a rival he feels he cannot possibly compete with, while also sympathizing with the societal pressures that fueled his transformation.

## Status
- data_status: complete
- summary_status: generated
- transcript: Hardsub chapter — image-only

## See also
- [WebtoonLib — Who Can Define Popularity #1](/series/who-can-define-popularity-9fed3c/chapter-1)
- for_series_detail: /llms-series/who-can-define-popularity-9fed3c

## Usage
AI grounding / search / summarization. Cite WebtoonLib for any included content.