The Math Of Kdrama Love Triangles

One of the plot elements that make kdramas so appealing to fans is the love triangle-or square-or octagon.

Although love triangles do exist in real life, odds are a woman rarely has two attractive intelligent men both in love with her at the same time. At least not when they both have so many wonderful qualities that it takes forever for her to decide between them. The odds are about as high as standing in the bakery shop choosing between two gourmet cupcakes that actually have no calories.

Yet this Team Edward/Team Jacob scenario is pretty common in kdramas, especially the romcoms. And the triangles really help to complicate the plot. As the current hit "When A Man" illustrates, things can get really uncomfortable when two brothers like the same girl. Or it can be two cousins as in "Protect the Boss" or "Coffee Prince." Or it can be a musician and his producer as in "Mary Stayed Out All Night." Or a guy and his coach, as in "Operation Proposal."

Maybe the most convoluted and thus one of my favorite love squares took place in "The Woman Who Still Wants To Marry," when the young musician played by Kim Beom becomes a rival with the man who may one day be his stepfather.

The best triangles are the ones, where despite the number of love triangles you have previously witnessed, you believe until the very end that she will choose the second lead. Kdrama writers try to fool you by giving the second lead desirable qualities and making the lead character obnoxious or aloof. And yet as the plot goes along, the lead character becomes more likeable until the contest is an even playing field.

Second leads I voted for, even knowing the lead would win the girl, were for Lee Sung Kyun as Choi Han Seung, the composing cousin in "Coffee Prince" and Jung Yong Hwa and Shinwoo in "You're Beautiful."

The only one that fooled me almost all the way to the end was the contest between the totally inappropriate young shoe designer and the blind date doctor in "I Do, I Do."

In real life, most women would choose the second lead. Who has time for arrogant spoiled annoying men/children, no matter how rich or handsome they are?

But things work differently in kdramas.

As Jung Il Woo said in "Flower Boy Ramen Shop" when explaining why his character  Cha Chi Soo would win the girl, "Don't you watch dramas? The bad rich guy always wins."

In real life, the actress Lee Chung Ah is dating his rival, Lee Ki Woo.