If you don't know what Second Lead Syndrome is, you've definitely seen (and felt) it in a K-drama. It's when you're falling for the second lead and not the handsome, charming lead character. Don't worry because it's really a thing.
Korean writers give so much depth and layers to each character that you can't help but fall in love with each of them. Oftentimes, to the point that you love the second lead better. In a different universe, they would've been chosen.
Here we list out a few K-dramas whose second lead deserved more.
In this 2017, South Korean television series, Korean actor Ji Soo played the gruff but secretly caring Guk Doo. Sadly, it took him a while to figure out his feelings for Do Bong-soon (Park Bo-young) but that doesn't mean audiences didn't root for him to end up with the female lead.
Don't deny it, you too fell in love with Baek In-ho (Seo Kang-joon), the rebel-with-a-heart-of-gold pianist who clearly fell in love with Hon Seol (Kim Go-eun).
A far cry from his usual character, Choi Siwon delighted us with the motorbike-riding, wide-eyed office guy Kim Shin-hyuk. His free-spirited characteristic added with the fact that he ends up falling in love with Kim Hye-jin (Hwang Jung-eum) before her transformation makes him the ideal man even more.
Jung Hae-in played the police officer with a secret Jan Woo-tak. He is the soft angel in the background who supports his friend even if he's clearly got some unresolved feelings for Nam Hong-joo (Bae Suzy).
Korean actor Yoo Yeon-seok perfectly portrayed the pitiful unrequited love of Goo Dong-mae in 'Mr. Sunshine.' Because of their background, Goo Dong-mae was unable to approach Gov Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri). Yes, he was merciless to everyone however, he does have a soft spot for her that's why viewers sympathized when she fell for another man.
Shin Sung-rok perfectly portrayed the Royal Emperor Lee Hyuk in 'The Last Empress.' Although he was despicable due to his two-faced nature, he softened audiences' hearts when he fell for the lovely Sunny Oh (Jang Na-ra). He might not have deserved to end up with her, but his unrequited love still made our hearts ache.
Although all the boys surrounding Kang Mi-rae (Im Soo-hyang) are all charming, it's Yeon Woo-young (Kwan Dong-yeon) who has our vote. His charming appearance and friendly persona make him popular among the students and he falls for Kang Mi-rae's personality.
Jung Jin-young portrays Seo Do-hyeon, a guy with a heart of gold who has a secret crush with Han Song-I (Jung Chae-yeon).
Jung Yong-hwa's Shin Woo in 'You're Beautiful' was the first to discover that Go Mi-nam/Go Mi-nyeo (Park Shin-hye) is actually a girl disguised as a boy --- and kept it a secret! He protected and loved her until the end.
The biggest second male lead in the drama world right now is Lee Do-hyun's character Go Chung-myung in 'Hotel del Luna.' Although it may seem like he's a traitor at first, he's actually roaming around the Earth for more than a thousand years to protect Jang Man-wol (IU).
Probably the most heartbreaking unrequited love in the world. Ahn Bo-hyun plays the friendly, always there for you Nam Eun-ki in 'Her Private Life.' Ever since they were younger, Nam Eun-ki has always had an eye for Sung Deok-mi (Park Min-young) but she never sees him as more than a friend.
This list wouldn't be complete without Kim Woo-bin's character Choi Young-do in 'The Heirs.' Although his way of wooing Cha Eun-sang (Park Shin-hye) was a bit questionable, let's just admit that we all have a soft spot for bad boys with secret scars.
Run Jun-yeol's Kim Jung-hwan of 'Reply 1988' is one of the most symbolic second male leads of all time. He always had a crush on his childhood friend and neighbor but was unable to express himself. In the end, he decided to back down when he realized that another childhood friend liked her. Talk about unrequited love.
Kim Hyun-joong's character in 'Boys Over Flowers' Yoon Ji-hoo is in contrast with Lee Min-ho's character. Yoon Ji-hoo is protective and kind which makes him the perfect gentleman for any girl. Paging, Geum Jan-di!
Who could also forget Han Tae-seok (played by Won Bin) in 'Autumn in My Heart?' It was he who won the hearts of many female fans when he offered to take care of Yoon Eun-suh (Song Hye-Kyo) when she revealed that she has leukemia.
Kang Ha-neul played the role of 8th Prince Wang Wook. His charming yet pitiful character in the drama made us fall in love with him.
Kim Kyung-nam's character as Kang Shin-jae may not be the first guy you would root for at first ('cause, hello, Lee Min-ho) but his undying love and admiration for Jung Tae-eul (Kim Go-eun) is remarkable. Who didn't cry in Episode 15 when he finally confessed his feelings to her after all those years of admiring her from afar?
BTOB member Yook Sung-jae melted our hearts in 'Who Are You: School 2015' as the happy-go-lucky Gong Tae-kwang. Every moment he comforted Lee Eun-bi (Kim So-hyun), we kind of wished it was us by his side.
Everybody was conflicted when Seo Dal-mi (Bae Suzy) chose Nam Do-san (Nam Joo-hyuk) over Han Ji-pyeong (Kim Seon-ho) in the series finale of 'Start-Up.' Han Ji-pyeong has everything you can ask for, a team leader at a top investment company and a sweetheart to the person he truly cares for. #TeamGoodBoy all the way!
Kim Ah-ro (Go Ara) lost her chance to marry King Jinheyung (Park Hyung-sik) when she chose Moo-myung (Park Seo-joon) as the love of her life. We immediately fell for King Jinheyung the moment we saw him save her countless times from the bad guys and still look good in the process. In an interview, Park Seo-hoon even confessed that he would go for Park Hyung-sik's character because he's got it all -- the face, the body, the charms, and the money.
Actor Ji Soo perfectly portrayed Seo Hwan in the K-drama series 'When I Was Most Beautiful.' In the K-drama, Seo Hwan is an architect who falls in love with Oh Ye-ji (Im Soo-hyang) at first sight. He even confessed his feelings towards her after taking her to her father's workshop. But alas, she falls in love with Seo Jin (Ha Seok-jin) and is whisked away from Seo Hwan's arms.
Jang Geun-soo (Kim Dong-hee) has always had a crush on his friend Yi-seo (Kim Da-mi), despite her lack of empathy towards others, that's why he stayed with her in the first half of the series. He tried to prove himself worthy of her love by working at his father's company to become its successor. Despite failing to woo her in the end, Jang Geun-soo remained loyal towards Yi-seo.
Jung Ga-ram's Lee Hye-young in the hit Netflix K-drama 'Love Alarm.' The kind, sweet, and caring childhood friend of Kim Jo-jo (Kim So-hyun) was well-loved by most, even more than Song Kang's Hwang Sun-oh because he was everything that was good for Jo-jo.
Jung Jin-young's Kim Yoon-sung from the K-drama 'Love in the Moonlight' was also a living embodiment of the second lead syndrome. The highborn character was the first to know of Hong Ra-on's (Kim Yoo-jung) real identity but kept it a secret. He also saved her countless times from being caught. He is genuine, caring, and will do whatever it takes to make Ra-on happy and free.
Hwang In-youp's Han Seo-jun from the K-drama 'True Beauty' is also one of the most well-talked-about second leads. Although Cha Eun-woo's Lee Su-ho deserved the lead role, fans can't help but fall in love with the bad boy turned good boy Seo-jun.