7 K-Drama Characters Who Gave Us The Second Lead Syndrome
There are always those second male leads who make us feel like they deserved better. Take a look at the list below to see if your favourite 2nd male lead made it.
1. Park Hyung Sik As Sam Maek Jong in "Hwarang"
With his lovely long royal mane and all the elegance of a King, Sam Maek Jong thoroughly confuses girls' hearts in his commendable performance as the second lead. While standing strong as the determined reformer of a nation, his emotional and vulnerable side is brought out in his unrequited love for the female lead, Ah Ro (played by Go Ara). All he wants is the best for her and he's grateful for all she's done to help him notwithstanding his feelings for her. He's truly the definition of second lead syndrome.
2. Park Seo Joon As Oh Ri On in "Kill Me, Heal Me"
Despite the problematic stance Oh Ri On was put in, his emotions for his adoptive "sister" never faltered. Oh Ri Jin might have only seem him as a baby brother but for him, she was his whole world and the manifestation of all forms of love. Without a doubt, their love would never have been fulfilled but that didn't stop him from nurturing his emotions in hiding.
3. Ji Soo As In Gook Doo in "Strong Woman Do Bong Soon"
The ultimate crush of the female lead Bong Soon, In Gook Doo is a little too late for her. Despite having harboured feelings for her since they were children, Gook Doo is unable to express them as the obvious hints he dropped when they were school kids were not that obvious to her. As a result, their love remained unrealised while Bong Soon found the actual love of her life. Who knows what would have happened had the two expressed themselves earlier.
4. Choi Siwon as Shin Hyuk in "She Was Pretty"
The comic relief to the plot of the drama is also one of the most emotional characters in the whole story. Shin Hyuk prioritises Hye Jin's happiness over everything else, even at the cost of his own. He's sincere with his feelings even though they aren't reciprocated and never lets Hye Jin (played by Hwang Jung Eum) feel burdened by them. His charismatic and selfless nature divided fans between rooting for Shin Hyuk or for the main lead Sung Joon (played by Park Seo Joon).
5. Yook Sungjae As Gong Tae‑kwang in "Who Are You: School 2015"
(Photo : tvN)
Despite being a "bad boy" with a wounded heart and a broken family, Tae Kwang's heart was fully dedicated to Eun Bi. He was the shoulder for her to cry on multiple times throughout the narrative and he was always there to make her smile when things went sour. Fans were heartbrokwn over this second lead, knowing in their hearts that he deserved better.
6. Lee Jae Wook As Baek Kyung" in "Extraordinary You"
While this one was a tough cookie to crack and undoubtedly, Baek Kyung was kind of a mean presence to Eun Dan Oh, once he gained his conscience, he gradually was able to figure out his true feelings. His personality was the closest to that of a tsundere archetype and all his actions were rooted in past trauma which makes it extremely hard to hate him. Even though it is obvious from the start that Ha Ru is the man for Dan Oh, fans couldnt help but want a sweeter ending for Baek Kyung as well.
7. Yoo Yeon Seok As Goo Dong Mae In "Mr. Sunshine"
Goo Dong Mae is the perfect example of loving someone from afar. Belonging to a lower class, he was unable to approach Go Ae Shin but he risks everything for her nevertheless. The perfectly cold character was warm only to her so naturally it ached fans' hearts when she fell for another man instead, leaving Dong Mae heartbroken.
