Second Lead Syndrome
by cyberlina | created - 17 Dec 2020 | updated - 3 months ago | PublicTitles where we find rooting for the second lead (even if we like the first lead).
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1. Two Cops (2017–2018)
Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Cha Dong-Tak is a detective in pursuit of justice. A swindler's spirit takes possession of his body. The detective and swindler's spirit cooperate to solve cases. The detective falls in love with a reporter.
Stars: Jo Jung-Suk, Kim Seon-ho, Lee Hyeri, Oh Eui-Sik
Votes: 508
Again, Kim Seon Ho second fiddle..l come on! Rooted for him.
2. Start-Up (2020)
TV-14 | 80 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Young entrepreneurs aspiring to launch virtual dreams into reality compete for success and love in the cutthroat world of Korea's high-tech industry.
Stars: Bae Suzy, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Seon-ho, Kang Han-na
Votes: 14,705
No doubts - team Han Ji Pyeong/ Good Boy. How could she not choose Kim Seon Ho? Heart broken. At least he shot to fame after this.
3. Boys Over Flowers (2009)
TV-14 | 70 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Poor girl attends the elite Shin Hwa High and is bullied by the leader of F4 (the four richest boys). He becomes attracted to her; however, she has a crush on his best friend. Whom will she choose?
Stars: Ku Hye-Sun, Lee Min-ho, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Bum
Votes: 14,414
One of the most memorable and devoted second leads... till the very end, with an unforgettable song to express the feelings. Lee Min Ho rooted for, but second lead also deserved her.
4. The K2 (2016)
TV-14 | 60 min | Drama, Romance, Thriller
A highly trained special ops agent goes off the grid after being framed for murder, and is hired as a bodyguard when the powerful and influential father of a troubled girl sees his skills.
Stars: Ji Chang-wook, Song Yun-ah, Im Yoon-ah, Jo Sung-ha
Votes: 9,489
Totally rooted for the Noona/ complicated older woman who fell for him, rather than the insipid innocent girl. Would have gone for her.
5. Dream High (2011–2012)
70 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
The story of six students at Kirin Art High School who work to achieve their dreams of becoming stars in the Korean music industry. Along the way, they discover the true meaning of friendship, love and life.
Stars: J.Y. Park, Bae Suzy, Kim Soo-hyun, IU
Votes: 3,567
The second lead got the girl (kind of) - yay!
6. Cheese in the Trap (2016)
60 min | Comedy, Romance
A college student balances her studies and a part-time job with a relationship with an insecure man who manipulates others.
Stars: Park Hae-Jin, Kim Go-eun, Seo Kang-Joon, Nam Joo-hyuk
Votes: 4,724
Nuanced and moving second lead with Seo Kang Joon in first role I saw him in. Fell for him even though Park Hae Jin worthy first lead.
7. Heirs (2013)
55 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
After a chance encounter in LA, two teens from different social backgrounds reunite at an exclusive high school attended by Korea's über rich.
Stars: Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye, Kim Woo-bin, Choi Jin-hyuk
Votes: 13,444
Kim Woo Bin a touching tough but ultimately crushing second lead. Lee Min Ho uncontested favourite, but sad for woo bin.
8. Doctor Stranger (2014)
TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Drama, Romance
Park Hoon and his father were kidnapped by North Korea and he fell in love with Jae Hee, but lost contact.
Stars: Lee Jong-suk, Jin Se-yeon, Park Hae-joon, Chun Ho-jin
Votes: 3,538
He should have chosen the quack doctor... better chemistry and did not like his girlfriend.
9. Secret Garden (2010–2011)
60 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
A rich young CEO falls for a poor stuntwoman despite class differences, cultural traditions and the man's firmly objecting mother.
Stars: Ha Ji-Won, Hyun Bin, Yoon Sang-Hyun, Kim Sa-rang
Votes: 7,657
Lee Jong Suk as hot, gay second lead... wow. Totally rooted for him.
10. While You Were Sleeping (2017)
30 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
The drama is about a woman, Nam Hong Joo, who can see accidents that take place in the future through her dreams. And a prosecutor, Jung Jae Chan, who struggles to stop the woman's dreams from coming true.
Stars: Bae Suzy, Lee Jong-suk, Jung Hae-in, Lee Sang-Yeob
Votes: 9,860
Jung Hae In as second lead, how can you not feel sorry for, for his unconfessed crush. Of course when Lee Jong Suk is the main lead, can’t help but root for him, but still sad.
11. True Beauty (2020–2021)
TV-Y | 70 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
After being bullied and discriminated because of her ugly looks, a high school girl transforms herself into a gorgeous "goddess" and quickly rises to fame after mastering the art of makeup via online tutorial videos.
Stars: Moon Ga-young, Cha Eun-woo, Hwang In-Youp, Park Yoo-na
Votes: 14,826
What a sweet second lead... he liked her so much and never really confessed, poor guy. And even 2 years later, Cha Eun Woo won the girl, deservedly, but still felt sorry for our second lead who had been a good friend.
12. Mai geol (2005–2006)
60 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
With a perpetually indebted father, Joo Yoo Rin learned to lie on the spot and get herself out of tricky situations, which gets Seol Gong Chan, a rich heir to a company, to hire her to impersonate his long lost cousin.
Stars: Lee Da-hae, Lee Dong-wook, Lee Joon-gi, Park Si-yeon
Votes: 1,750
Aye, how sweetly devoted and supportive. Started as friend but his secret crush took hold and was very touching until the end. Good friend, good cousin and good crush. I still rooted for Lee Dong Wook but he was very sweet.
13. Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016–2017)
60 min | Action, Comedy, Drama
Revolves around an elite group of male warrior youth called Hwarang who grow through passion and love in Seorabeol, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla.
Stars: Park Seo-joon, Go Ara, Park Hyung-sik, Choi Min-ho
Votes: 5,800
I like you Park Seo Joon, but Park Hyung Sik’s hidden king is such a wonderful character so tenderly played. I was rooting for him all the way... gorgeous.
14. Love in the Moonlight (2016)
60 min | Comedy, Drama, History
The unlikely love story between a crown prince and his eunuch.
Stars: Park Bo-gum, Kim Yoo-jung, Kwak Dong-yeon, Chae Soo-bin
Votes: 4,216
While the main lead match is good and Park Bo Gum deserves her, the second lead’s love and ultimate sacrifice is so touching.
15. Nae ireumeun Kim Sam-soon (2005)
960 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
The misadventures and romantic entanglements of Kim Sam-Soon, a passionate, stubborn, klutzy and almost thirty year old pastry chef.
Stars: Kim Seon-a, Hyun Bin, Jung Ryeo-won, Yeo Woon-gye
Votes: 2,010
16. A Love So Beautiful (2020–2021)
20 min | Comedy, Romance
Love is as tough as it is sweet for a lovestruck teenager, whose relationship with her next-door neighbor transforms as they grow into adulthood.
Stars: So Joo-yeon, Kim Yo-han, Hoi-Hyeon Yeo, Jo Hye-joo
Votes: 1,709
17. More Than Friends (2020)
70 min | Drama, Romance
A romantic drama about a man and a woman who, due to a misunderstanding, have held a crush on each other for over 10 years.
Stars: Ong Seong-wu, Shin Ye-eun, Ahn Eun-jin, Lucy Baik
Votes: 666
18. My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021)
65 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
The thrilling love story of Shin Woo Yeo, a 999-years-old gumiho who wants to become human, and Lee Dam, who accidentally swallowed his fox bead.
Stars: Jang Ki-Yong, Lee Hyeri, Kang Han-na, Kim Do-wan
Votes: 4,622
19. My Absolute Boyfriend (2019)
35 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Dan Dan, is a woman who works as a special effects make-up artist but has a very cold-heart. She then, unexpectedly, falls in love with Yeong Goo, a humanoid robot programmed to be a ... See full summary »
Stars: Yeo Jin-goo, Bang Minah, Hong Jong-hyun, Seo-Young Hong
Votes: 390
20. Extraordinary You (2019)
35 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
The story of a girl who finds out that she is in fact a supporting character in a web comic and decides to change her fate.
Stars: Kim Hye-yoon, Kim Ro-Woon, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Na-eun
Votes: 5,071
21. Love Alarm (2019–2021)
TV-MA | 727 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
In a world where an app alerts people if someone in the vicinity likes them, Kim Jojo experiences young love while coping with personal adversities.
Stars: Kim So-hyun, Song Kang, Jung Ga-ram, Go Min-si
Votes: 7,703
22. Clean with Passion for Now (2018–2019)
70 min | Comedy, Romance
Gil Oh Sol, an employee at a cleaning company, meets Jang Sun Gyeol, the boss of the company. The two are diametric opposite when it comes to cleanliness. With the help of Oh Sol, Sun Gyeol faces his mysophobia and finds love.
Stars: Yoon Kyun-Sang, Kim Yoo-jung, Song Jae-rim, Seon Yu
Votes: 2,461
23. Where Stars Land (2018)
35 min | Drama, Romance
Two people overcome ups and downs in their lives to find true romance and make dreams come true at Incheon International Airport.
Stars: Lee Jehoon, Chae Soo-bin, Lee Dong-geon, Kim Ji-Soo
Votes: 1,303
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