5 K-Drama Guys Who Will Give You Second Male Lead Syndrome

Second lead syndrome is a very, very tricky thing. It waits until after you are lulled into complicity by a series of just right, can't argue with fate ships, and are disgusted by the row of second-class losers, cheating boyfriends wanting a second chance, and whiny after-the-fact confessions that make you cheer with extra gusto just because the heroine managed to escape that sinkhole.

Who cares about second leads? The hero is there to admire with all his back-hugging, elaborate confession glory.

And then, you see Him. You know, him. The guy who has known the heroine since forever, who has tried his best to be noticed, or perhaps happened to meet her right when Mr. Right stepped her way, causing him to be ignored and pushed out of the limelight by bad timing. Your heart aches for him. Half your Kleenex is for the new tidal wave of angst, and half is for your unsung hero waiting in the rain with a soggy bouquet, watching as the two leads lock lips.

That's how it gets you. And once you've been diagnosed, it's a hard road to healing.

5. Kim Jung Joo (9 End 2 Outs)

I've only started watching this drama, and I know - out of all the other titles I chose for this list - it's starting to become an oldie. But this guy, right here, is utterly adorable. 

I'm a sucker for the occasional noona romance, and Kim Jung Joo's dogged devotion to his particular noona sweetheart (in spite of her being thirty, stuck in a dead-end job and not published yet) and determination to dote on her in spite of only just starting his life and career makes me particularly disappointed this drama won't shape up to be one. 

Tell me you aren't warmed at the thought of being so determinedly, enthusiastically loved in every text, phone call, and in-person embrace.

(I am also feeling very nervous because I hope the main romance doesn't hit the road due to his character being sacrificed and becoming your run of the mill cheating ex.)

Confession time: when I was watching Pinocchio, I hated this guy. Hated. Him.

He stole In Ha's phone! He pretended to be her mom! He sent her into a situation where her mom stepped easily all over her heart - and then was pretty nonchalant about admitting she hadn't sent any encouraging little messages to her estranged daughter, to boot! And he was a spoiled little rich boy! What was there to like? Give me more Dal Po screen time, darn it! 

And then, he started changing. That was one of the beautiful things about Pinocchio for me; being able to see Bum Jo transform from said spoiled little rich boy (and okay, he wasn't that bad, and sometimes he was somewhat pitiful - not even knowing how to open a rice ball for himself!) into a very sympathetic, you-just-want-to-hug-him individual who had to make some very hard decisions for the sake of his friends. 

I was hoping that he and our second lady, Yoon Yoo Rae, would get together (second disappointment for me in watching this drama, besides watching the surprising ship with Yoon Yoo Rae and someone else sink before being fully realized) but barring that, maybe even that little surprise date with Suzy his mom tried to set him up on would have been pleasing. Let him get a little happiness in his life! He deserves it!

So he's not technically billed as the second guy. 

So he's not even really liked by any of the other main characters to begin with. 

But I think Kang Eun Hyuk really deserves to be on this list. Know why? Because of his silent, doomed love for our heroine - which totally killed me, killed me, because it was one of the few times when I wished that I had the power to make this sort of character see me, right here, rapt and heartsick for him in front of my screen, and make him transfer all that love and devotion to me. 

(And don't get me wrong, I did adore Lee Hyun and Cha Ji An as a couple and shed all the tears over that final kiss scene. But still.) 

Maybe I'm a sucker for the underdog. Or guys who nearly get themselves killed and barely have the heroine acknowledge their sacrifice. Either way, he's sweet, he's funny, he's not really the second lead, but because he ends up confessing and admitting he's out of the game, I've decided he is one, so it shall be so and I shall weep all the tears on his behalf.

2. Seo Ha Joon (Sassy Go Go)

This is one of the few shows where I would be perfectly content if the female lead chose to swan off into the sunset with both men on her arms. No, I'm not kidding.

This poor baby has a pretty unhappy, uneven story line all around. Used as a punching bag by his horrible daddy, constantly threatened by the school authorities that should be concerned with his health, not to mention his problematic means of coping with his family life...at least he should get the girl, right? 

But this is a second male lead we're talking about. Alas, alas, alas. This is what kills me about well-written dramas. You want everyone to win. And a lot of the time, the writer doesn't agree with you. Maybe I should stop complaining about having neatly cut out couples and being able to hate the second male lead. Rooting for him, and having him fall short of the finish line, is utter torture.

1. Lee Hui Kyung (You Who Came from the Stars)

Now, I know what you're going to say. Why dwell on the handsome, puppy-eyed, devoted chaebol when you can have the grouchy old man in a stunning young alien package? (No, really, I love you Do Min Joon. Forever.)

But seriously, how can you say no to a guy who has loved you for the better part of your life? Who thinks you're gorgeous and worries about you even when you're trashed, in the middle of a scandal, and can't tell the difference between cotton seeds and the mocha you're sipping? Who is willing to form a one-star agency to save your honor and nearly gets killed to save you? 

Hui Kyung, if it helps at all, you have my heart. I still cry bitter tears over the fact that you deserved better. Stay golden, my dear second male lead. Stay golden.

Do you have any second male leads that still have your heart, even if he didn't manage to impress the heroines?