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Korean dramas seem to be particularly good at inducing second lead syndrome. They make you fall in love with the handsome and sweet second male leads who just can’t seem to get the girl even though they’re essentially portrayed as perfection. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular Kdramas over the years that have made their second leads famous.
Reply 1988 (2016)
The reply series is well known for playing up the guessing game of who the heroine’s husband is. Reply 1988 perhaps has done the most elaborate job of teasing its viewers. Many thought Jung Hwan (Ryu Jung Yeol) was it, until Taek (Park Bo Geum) swooped in towards the end much to our collective surprise. But the viewer’s love for Jung Hwan has made him one of the most popular characters in the reply series and helped actor Ryu Jung Yeol become a household name overnight.
She Was Pretty (2015)
Choi Si Won made a ground-breaking comeback last year to the Kdrama scene as the free-spirited jokester Kim Shin Hyuk in She Was Pretty, inducing massive second lead syndrome all around. We love Park Seo Joon and all, but Choi Si Won completely stole the show from beginning to end and made Shin Hyuk such a lovable, fun, charismatic character that many viewers wished he would end up with our female lead.
Producer (2015)
Producer is another Korean drama from last year where it was quite difficult to tell who was the real male lead until the very end. Most people naturally assumed it was Kim Soo Hyun’s character Baek Seung Chan because his experience as a rookie reporter has been a focal point of the drama. Kim Soo Hyun did a fabulous job portraying the introverted, overly honest, and socially awkward Seung Chan, who has just enough rebellion in him to come across as an entertaining comedic prankster at times.
Who Are You: School 2015 (2015)
Yook Sung Jae’s character Gong Tae Kwang in Who Are You: School 2015 left a deep impression on many viewers. Tae Kwang is a misunderstood, mistreated lonely teenager who hides his pain by appearing as a happy-go-lucky troublemaker. Yet he’s a caring and supportive friend who’s always been there for our female lead emotionally and physically. It’s no wonder so many viewers rallied behind Tae Kwang and thought that he’s a better fit for her.
Kill Me Heal Me (2015)
Kill Me Heal Me is the only drama I’ve seen where the second lead syndrome is developed towards a character played by the same actor. Cha Do Hyun (Ji Sung), a kind-hearted, mature chaebol with multiple personalities falls in love with his psychiatrist. While Do Hyun is certainly a likable character, his alternate ego Shin Se Gi, drew a large following of his own with a devil-may-care attitude and his unwavering devotion to the heroine.
The Heirs (2013)
Choi Young Do in The Heirs has become an iconic character thanks to Kim Woo Bin’s memorable acting performance. Young Do is your typical aggressive teenage chaebol from a dysfunctional family who bullies classmates and has a hard time expressing emotions and love. The sharp contrast between his usually violent personality and his undeniable soft spot for our female lead made everyone fell for this bad boy.
To the Beautiful You (2012)
How do you not like a character who is athletic, adorable, humorous, and compassionate? That basically sums up Cha Eun Gyeol from To the Beautiful You played by flower boy Lee Hyun Woo. Despite being confused by his own sexual orientation from developing feelings for our heroine who disguised herself as a boy, Eun Gyoel never tried to distance himself or stop being friendly to her. Plus, every time Lee Hyun Woo smiled in the drama, dozens of hearts were melted.
Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)
Sungkyunkwan Scandal managed to induce multiple second lead syndrome at the same time for me. Though I’m a fan of Yoochun, his nerdy and upright character Lee Sun Joon decidedly lacked luster next to the manly justice warrior Moon Jae Shin (Yoo Ah In) and pretty boy jokester Gu Yong Ha (Song Joong Ki). Perhaps Sun Joon was ultimately a better personality fit for the female lead character, but many years later, I still remember Song Joong Ki and Yoo Ah In’s characters vividly.
You’re Beautiful (2009)
I’m sensing a trend here; maybe it’s just easier to like the second male lead in dramas with a central theme of the heroine disguising themselves as males. Perhaps because the male lead is often a jerk or oblivious, whereas the second male lead is observant, caring, and protective. Kang Shin Woo (Jung Yong Hwa) was exactly that guy in You’re Beautiful. Not only did he not expose the heroine after learning her secret, he went out of his way to keep her safe, earning him much deserved love from the viewers.
Boys Over Flower (2009)
Just like the Taiwanese original drama Meteor Garden, the second male lead Yoon Ji Hoo (Kim Hyun Joong), is a picture-perfect character who is sentimental, warm, and protective in Boys Over Flower. In contrast, our male lead, Gu Jun Pyo (Lee Min Ho), is a hot-tempered, arrogant brat. Even though the female lead character shared a deeper connection and more intimate dialogues with Ji Hoo, she was eventually won over by the persistent Jun Pyo.
Which Korean dramas made you develop second lead syndrome and why? We’d love to hear your insights in the comments section below.
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