Saturday, February 4, 2017

Second Male Lead Syndrome in K-Dramas: Top 10 Favorites (Part 2)


Hello everyone, I'm back with my favorite Second Male Lead in K-Dramas list! I started this list several weeks ago, but it hasn't finished yet. That's why today I decided to continue my list. 

For those of you who just read this blog, I will try to give brief explanation about this list. It was inspired by second male lead syndrome among K-Drama viewers. Just like its name, this list referred to our tendencies rooting for the other guy in K-Dramas aside from the male lead. We deeply wanted him to win the girl's heart and got his own happy ending because of various reasons. Unfortunately, our wishes did not came true and our heart crushed at the end.

In order to appreciate those charming second male leads, I decided to make special list. Today's list consisted of my other five favorite second male lead in K-Dramas. They are top tiers because of their strong characteristic which made them shine among others. So, who are they? Here are my top five favorites second male lead in K-Dramas...


5. Lee Hwi Kyung (Park Hae Jin) – You Who Came From Another Star (2013)


Before Park Hae Jin went all cold and dark (Bad Guys and Cheese in the Trap), he was a goofball in You Who Came From Another Star. Park Hae Jin acted as Lee Hwi Kyung, a naïve guy with rich background. He became Cheon Song Yi (Jun Ji Hyun) best friend since childhood and slowly fell in love with her.

Lee Hwi Kyung has a pure love for Cheon Song Yi. He would do anything to make her happy although his way of showing things often turned hilarious. His actions provided laugh for viewers while also became his main charming point. Park Hae Jin delivered solid performance and cute chemistry with Jun Ji Hyun in this drama. Lee Hwi Kyung was my favourite character of him to date and how I wish Park Hae Jin would comeback to this route...

Best Moments: All Lee Hwi Kyung clueless reactions towards everything about Cheon Song Yi


4. Choi Young Do (Kim Woo Bin) – The Heirs (2013)


Choi Young Do (Kim Woo Bin) was not your typical second male lead. He fitted into bad boy type which usually the archetype of male lead in K-Dramas. Choi Young Do has strong personality with his aggressive and loud behavior towards Cha Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye). In the beginning, it was hard watching his actions because he has tendency to bully Cha Eun Sang.

Fortunately, everything started to change towards the end of drama. Choi Young Do behavior turned in 180 degree after Cha Eun Sang rejected his love. He became softer and protective towards Cha Eun Sang, even made him became her reliable friend. As the drama went along, viewers also learned about Choi Young Do rough past. He grew up without unconditional love from parents.

The journey of Choi Young Do was one of the main things that hooked viewers watching The Heirs. His character got proper development and closure, things that other characters including the main one did not get. Choi Young Do character also worked well because of Kim Woo Bin acting. He put enough balance of charisma, wit, and vulnerability to this character. No wonder Kim Woo Bin career took off greatly after The Heirs.

Best Moments: Choi Young Do simple confession to Cha Eun Sang


3. Seo Ha Joon (Ji Soo) – Sassy Go Go (2016)


Seo Ha Joon (Ji Soo) characteristics were quite similar to Choi Young Do. Both were rough guy who raised without parents' love. They always appeared tough eventhough their heart was wounded.

However, there was huge difference that made Seo Ha Joon more likeable than Choi Young Do. It was his sincerity. Seo Ha Joon was a loyal bestfriend for Lee Yeol (Lee Won Geun) and guardian for Kang Yeon Doo (Jung Eun Ji). I love how he just turned naive and adorable whenever interacted with them, especially Kang Yeon Doo. We could feel how much he treasured them.

That characteristic provided a solid storyline to Seo Ha Joon. We saw him developed his character throughout the drama and got proper closure without losing his roots. Still Seo Ha Joon strong character could work because of Ji Soo layered portrayal.

Best Moments: When Seo Ha Joon found Kang Yeon Doo after she got lost. His relieved and hug was heartbreaking to watch


2. Cha Gwan Woo (Yoon Sang Hyun) – I Hear Your Voice (2013)

 

I Hear Your Voice was one of few dramas where its four lead have strong characteristic and different from each other. This included Cha Gwan Woo (Yoon Sang Hyun). He was a high-spirited rookie lawyer that always wanted to do the right thing. However, he did not find it easy to achieve it.

There were often false accusation or corruption among criminal cases. Plus, Cha Gwan Woo had trouble with social interaction because he’s so geeky and awkward. This was where female lead Jang Hye Sung (Lee Bo Young) came. She was a stubborn public defender that has opposite way of thinking from Cha Gwan Woo. Because of their differences, these two kept bantering. Their interaction was delightful to watch and their chemistry was strong.

I like how Yoon Sang Hyun put enough heart to Cha Gwan Woo character. It made viewers easy to root for him because of his strong principal. That was why we felt relieve to see him able to fight for justice in the end despite did not end up with Jang Hye Sung.

Best Moments: Every single time Cha Gwan Woo banters with Jang Hye Sung


1. Kim Jung Hwan (Ryu Jun Yeol) – Reply 1988 (2016)


When you thought Reply series had it enough to break viewers heart, they did it again! We met Kim Jung Hwan (Ryu Jun Yeol) in their next installment Reply 1988. At first, Kim Jung Hwan seemed not belong to second lead male category. He was not that handsome and he has prickly yet cold personality. But behind that not so nice exterior, he was a softie on the inside.

Kim Jung Hwan cared deeply about his surroundings. He did not hesitate doing embarrassing and game changing things as long as his family members happy. He willed to stand up from his friends when they encountered bad things too. Then let’s not forget, he always protect the female lead Sung Deok Sun (Girl’s Day Hyeri). Kim Jung Hwan did all of these things silently, without expect anything in return.

His actions made Kim Jung Hwan basically a perfect character. However, Ryu Jun Yeol able to give rawness to Kim Jung Hwan character which made him relatable and did not out of reach. He did an amazing job despite Reply 1988 being his debut in K-Drama scene.

Best Moments: When Kim Jung Hwan covered Sung Deok Sun from crowded passengers in bus…that was the first moment viewers fell in love with him.


So, that was the end of my top 10 favorites second male lead in K-Dramas list. Hope you guys enjoyed it eventhough it was painful to remember their sacrifice for the female lead L Do share your personal thoughts about these charming second leads or maybe tell me if you have other favorites beside them ;)




0 comments:

Post a Comment