As every K-Drama aficionado is well aware, the second lead syndrome — where two men are vying for one woman’s attention — is an integral part of just about every Korean series ever made. And though we may roll our eyes at yet another one, it’s also fact that it’s something we love (and sometimes love to hate).
Let’s take a look at some of our favorite second leads who could’ve — and maybe should’ve! — been the main man.
Yes, I know it’s difficult to root against Park Seo-joon. But the second lead was…Choi Siwon. Never mind that I cringed every time the latter said the word, panty. (Sorry, guys. I just hate that word!)
I loved the way his character was completely taken by Hwang Jung-eum and how he referred to her as Jackson, due to her short pants and visible socks. (Answer honestly: How many of you thought he was referring to Got7’s Jackson Wang?) This series wasn’t without its own share of problems. Women were treated as less than if they didn’t fit society’s standard of beauty. But the writers did iron things out nicely by the end of the series. Catch up on “She Was Pretty” here on KOCOWA.
“Sungkyunkwan Scandal”
I’m usually OK with the main lead getting the girl. But I’m not going to lie. I would’ve screamed with happiness if Park Min-young ended up with the second lead here. Portraying the daintiest boy ever in this sageuk, she had a handful of classmates questioning their own sexuality, because they were attracted to her, er, I mean him (since she was pretending to be a male student). On the one hand, there was prim and proper Park Yoo-chun. On the other, there was Yoo Ah-in, who nervously hiccups around girls. With his hair loose and his badass attitude belying his soft heart, he was a better — and more interesting — match for her.
Choose your fighter: Lee Min-ho or Kim Woo-bin. They are your first and second leads vying for the attention of a poor girl (Park Shin-hye) that neither really respects, but wants, nonetheless. Why? Probably because she wants nothing to do with either of them (initially, anyhow). Set in the elite world of an upper-echelon high school, where a handful of students have too much power, Lee and Kim are wonderful together (even though they look much too old to play teenagers). Personally, I would’ve liked for the female lead to have ended up with Kang Min-hyuk’s character. The CNBlue singer had such a warm relationship with his father and didn’t come with all the baggage of the main leads. Watch “The Heirs” on KOCOWA here.
“Strong Woman Do Bong-Soon”
Park Bo-Young has a love triangle that all of us would like to be involved in. A hot bazillionaire — played by Park Hyung-sik — is interested in her. But she’s got a one-sided crush on her childhood friend — portrayed by Kim Ji-soo. Of course, by the time the latter realizes he is in love with her, she has already fallen hard for the first lead. ARGH! Who will she choose? You can guess, but I’m not going to tell you. But … I do believe she made the right choice, because timing is everything and it’s not possible to force the heart to want what it doesn’t. One aspect of this series that I really didn’t appreciate was homosexuality being equated with perversion. Hyung-sik’s character initially pretends to be gay and Bong-soon refers to him as a pervert because of that. Not cool. Not cool at all.
Readers of this blog know that I am a huge Lee Jong-suk fan. HUGE! So when I say that Bae Suzy could’ve ended up with Lee or the second lead, Jung Hae-In (from “Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food”), and I would’ve been happy, you know I mean business.
Due to a cyclical saving of lives going on with this trio, they are somehow tied together and can forsee the future while they are … yes … sleeping … alone. They are all sleeping alone! The trio had such great chemistry with one another that I was left hoping that they would remain in each other’s lives forever, regardless of who Bae chose as her partner. Wanna catch the series? It’s right here on KOCOWA.
Tell me who your favorite second leads are and why in the comment section below!
Be sure to follow @GoAwayWithJae, where I tweet about all things Korean.
25 Comments
You’ve made some decent points there. I checked on the internet for more info about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this web site.
Well done
Nice
Wow! 2nd leads always get me. loved this!
always love and support the second leads. always!
is there any kdrama that dowes not have a second lead syndrome? I cannot think of any.
Hello! I always love the second lead often more than the main man. Keep up the great work!
I lamost always love the second lead more. thank you For this!!
Second lead syndrome will be the death of me! 🙂
i always root for the second lead. i almost always prefer them! amirite ladies?
I am a mother and this helped me!
I always feel second lead syndrome. Great article! Thank you!
forum is pour femme
Hands down one of the best articles I’ve ever read! Thank you for writing abotu how so many of us kdrama fans feel! Second lead syndrome is a real thing!
Koreans do second lead syndromes better than anyone on earth! oh the feels!
I’m all abotu the hot second leads. I love them all!
I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
Too cool!
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Kim Junghwan from Reply 1988!! As much as a adore Park Bogum and his portrayal of Choi Taek, the whole show lead up to Deoksun ending up with Junghwan and I was lowkey heartbroken when she didn’t end up with him!!
Not gonna lie. I wanted Kim Jung-hwan (wonderfully played by Ryu Jun-yeol) to end up with Duk-seon, too. I thought they were the better match.
I could name a few as well. Like:
1) Kang Shinwoo from “You’re Beautiful”.
He is really the best person (so kind I’m sobbing T. T) for the female lead but of course the female lead HAS to end up with the guy who was mean with her earlier. On second thought, I would’ve been happy if she ended with Jeremy as well. Taekyung just wasn’t the right choice.
2) Baek In Ho from “Cheese in the trap”
He is such a sweetheart and his chemistry with the female lead was amazing. Too bad that she ended up with the creepy sunbae.
3) Gong Taekwang from “Who Are You: School 2015”
This was the one which really made me angry. What were the writers thinking by ending her up with the first lead? This couple was so well-loved they EVEN ended up getting best couple award.
4) Kang Hyunmin from “Cinderella and Four Knights. ”
The second male lead and the female lead had just SO MUCH POTENTIAL and CHEMISTRY. I didn’t feel the same with the female lead and Kang Ji-Woon. Ahn Jaehyun’s character was so on point in this.
5) Lee Sung-Joon from “Lovely Horribly”
Please don’t tell me you didn’t ship Sung-Joon and Eul-soon at least once. So much… So much chemistry and potential. The first guy was okay but second male lead was just amazing. I really feel sad for the second lead.
These are my most painful ones. There are plenty more but these really hit me hard when they didn’t end up with the girl, especially Kang Shinwoo as it was my first kdrama. Please make a video on the second leads. :)) love your site, btw!!
You picked some great ones! Thanks for taking the time to read this piece…and to comment!
Thank you for the information 🙂