The Second Lead Syndrome is real; here's why we need it

I'd like to dedicate this year's Valentine's Day to all the second leads in Kdramaland. Han Ji Pyeong and Kim Sun Woo, you are loved. *sob*

Welcome to the mid-month special of Kdrama Girl! 🎉 It’s Valentine’s Day and I thought I’d cook up something. And what better topic to post about than the Second Lead Syndrome? 😁 Without further ado, let’s get to it!

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Anyone here who watched “Start-up” kdrama , please raise your hand if you also had the Second Lead Syndrome and felt so bad for Han Ji Pyeong that you can feel the heartbreak even until now.

You know the feeling. You start a kdrama, completely prepared and even committed to falling for the obvious male lead, whether he’s chaebol heir with an emotional baggage so huge you can fit in it or the broody bad boy with a tragic past that you weep just thinking about that. And then… AND THEN out of nowhere, the second lead appears. In a twist of fate, you’re now suddenly screaming at your screen, “Pick him! PICK. HIM. 제발! No, not that male lead. The other one! Aish… 바보야!”

The second lead is perfect. He actually listens. He truly cares. He shows up when the male lead is too busy agonizing over something in his penthouse, preferably in the coziest and most expensive bed or sofa that graced the Earth. It’s the second male lead who gives the female lead an umbrella in the rain, ties her shoelaces, and yet she still chooses the guy who emotionally tortured her for the last ten episodes.

Welcome to Second Lead Syndrome, the emotional affliction that kdrama fans know all too well. There is no cure here, only suffering. Here, let me hold your hand while I walk you through it. Fair warning: It might relive your pain and heartbreak for that second lead that you rooted for all this time.

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Why do kdramas do this to us? Why create the perfect man, only to have him rejected? *wails in Korean* Because, as much as we hate to admit it, we do need the second lead. It’s essential to the kdrama experience, and here are some of the reasons why:

The second lead raises the stakes

What if the second lead was just… meh? Good bye, dramatic tension! Let’s face it: the stakes wouldn’t feel real if the choice was obvious. But when the second lead is kind, handsome, and has the emotional maturity of a functioning adult? That’s when we suffer. And suffering = good kdrama. Yes, it’s a good kdrama even though it wrecks at somewhere along the way. We all grow up a little after finishing a kdrama. *tee-hee!*

They make the female lead’s choice feel earned

It doesn’t feel right, but when she finally chooses the male lead, we don’t want it to feel easy. Second leads test her heart, making her (right alongside us) question everything. Does she want fireworks or quiet support? Passion or stability? A walking red flag or a golden retriever in human form? (We all know the answer to this, but let’s act like we didn't know right from the start.)

They give us an extra love story to root for

Be honest: Have you ever watched a Kdrama just for the second lead? (Looking at you, Kang Hyeon Min from “Cinderella and the Four Knights"!) Sometimes, their character arcs are more compelling than the main romance. They make us hope. They make us believe. And then… they make us cry. 🙃

They keep the fantasy alive

Imagine if second leads got the girl. We’d all be satisfied. A little too satisfied. Where’s the heartbreak? The rage-texting? The dramatic pause before the final rejection scene? We’re still going to look for that. Kdramas thrive on emotional damage, and second leads are the sacrificial lambs that keep us coming back for more. It’s a hard pill to swallow, especially after watching “Start-up” and “Behind Your Touch.” 😭

And so, I therefore conclude: We suffer, but we love it

Second Lead Syndrome is painful, unfair, and wrecks us emotionally. But it’s also what makes kdramas so addicting! Because deep down in the dark recesses of our souls (heh 😏), we know the second lead was never meant to win, although that doesn’t stop us from hoping. And screaming. And writing a post about why he we still need him around.

The next time you fall for a second lead, just remember: He was never meant for her. He was meant for us. 💔

With that said, go forth and find your new favorite second lead. Cozy up with a warm cup of ramyeon and get those tissues (an emotional support soju, too, if that’s what floats your boat) as you hit play. Enjoy the weekend!