Step aside, main character—the supporting role is in the spotlight now!

In every romance K-drama, you can usually find your standard ensemble: the male and female lead who are inevitably endgame, their close friends and/or family members, and the second lead vying for the heart of one half of the main couple.

One would think that rooting for the destined love of the leading couple is a given, but what happens when the second lead starts capturing the hearts of the audience as well?

What is Second Lead Syndrome?

Second lead syndrome is when the audience ends up rooting for the second lead, wanting them to end up with the female lead—even though they really have no chance in the long run of the drama’s plot. Whether it’s because of their looks or the charm in their personality, these characters carve out a spot for themselves in the viewer’s heart. This is a common experience for those who enjoy romance K-dramas and love triangles, but in no way is it limited to Korean media. 

Why do we have Second Lead Syndrome?

There are many reasons why people may prefer the second lead over the main one. Still, common tropes within romance dramas lend themselves to this sentiment.

More often than not, the main couple’s start is rocky—they might have a history as enemies or are finding each other again after falling out. They might leave each other with terrible first impressions! Not to mention, the leads can be cold and downright cruel to their female counterparts in the beginning stages of their romance. 

Take the drama Boys Over Flowers (2009), for example. Gu Jun-pyo (Lee Min Ho), the male lead, mistreats Geum Jan-di (Ku Hye-Sun), the female lead, and even gets others to bully her throughout the show. They may fall in love later, but that sure isn’t the best way to get the romance ball rolling.

Eventually, the plot may lead us to be more sympathetic towards these kinds of leads or set them up so that they’re secretly warm and loving once you wait and dig a little deeper. But what about those of us that don’t like to wait?

Second leads are typically kind and sweet from the get-go—they seem to be trying to win the girl over. They could be the longtime sufferer of an unrequited crush or even a stranger pulled to the female lead as soon as they meet. Ultimately, they are established as clearly different from the male lead. 

In Imitation (2021), ATEEZ’s Yun-ho plays Yu-jin, the male second lead and childhood friend of the female lead, who consistently cheers her on and shows up for her, even at his own expense. He has a softer, golden-retriever personality, showing unconditional affection for his crush, especially in contrast to Kwon Ryok (Lee Jun-young), the male lead, who is initially standoffish towards the female lead. As an ATINY (fan of ATEEZ), I will admit that I may be slightly biased in my love for Yun-ho’s character. Nevertheless, Imitation’s love triangle fits the formula for second lead syndrome.

The chemistry between this second lead and the leading lady may be as good or arguably better to watch than the inescapable spark between the main couple at times. 

Reply 1988, one show within the Reply series, features quite a touching dynamic between characters Sung Deok-sun (Lee Hye-ri) and Kim Jung-hwan (Ryu Jun-yeol). It’s almost painful to watch their adorable friendship as Jung-hwan shows over and over just how much he cares for Deok-sun.

Sometimes it just comes down to personal preference. If there’s just something about that second lead that is so endearing to a viewer, the male lead will have to be bumped down a notch!

This happened to me while watching Cinderella and the Four Knights[2016]: I found Kang Seo-woo (CNBLUE’s Lee Jung Shin) and how he subtly took care of the lead, Eun Ha-won (Park So Dam), so lovely that I couldn’t help but want them to end up together (instead of her and the male lead).

The Debate

One question lies at the heart of a division within K-drama audiences: is it really second lead syndrome if the male lead is simply a terrible person? The point here is that defaulting to the second lead—who is often a more decent individual—might not truly reflect second lead syndrome.

For a drama like The Heirs [2013] (also called Inheritors), both the main male lead, Kim Tan (Lee Min Ho), and the second lead, Choi Young-do (Kim Woobin), get similarly mixed reviews in online discussions about their behavior—being bullies and not fully respecting Cha Eun-sang (Park Shin Hye). However, “second lead syndrome” wins out for some viewers due to Young-do being more interesting.

Is this simply a preference for the more appealing of two flawed characters, or does it represent true second lead syndrome? Feel free to decide for yourself.

Ultimately, the second lead syndrome is part of the shared K-drama experience. The plot pushes us in one direction, but our hearts can’t help but follow another. Next time you watch a love triangle play out, don’t be too surprised if you find yourself falling for that irresistible second lead—it's a sentiment that resonates with many viewers.

Edited by Danica Joy Salinas.