Its not easy being the nice guy in korean dramas. Why? Because nine out of ten, your more badass and definitely more bad boy bestfriend is the one who ends up with heroine in the end of the series. Its the illfated second lead syndrome, but thankfully that trend is started to change in many of today’s kdrama.

2009 started with widely successful Boys Over Flowers, that had many fans swooning over Kim Hyunjoong’s nice guy character. Jihoo sunbae, as he was� fondly called throughout the series was the guy who was always there, ready to listen and to lend a shoulder to cry on… when heroine Geum Jandi was tormented by her budding love with tempermental Goo Joonpyo. Lots of viewers found themselves wishing that jandi would just end up with the perfect princelike Jihoo and have a happy ending.

In the currently airing trendy drama You Are Beautiful, viewers are quick to sympathize with Kang Shinwoo. He is the silent brooding type, who calmly drinks tea, and is there to be the source of comfort to a troubled Go Minam. Shinwoo hyung saves Minam from an embarassing scene of walking through a crowd of naked boys in the boys locker by throwing a towel of her head. Newcomer Jang Yonghwa delivers lines like “I can’t shower with you here…” with equal charisma and warmth as he plays Kang Shinwoo.

It seems like the trend is now switching… viewers fall in love first with the lesser appreciated hunnam (warm guy) instead of the lead kkotminam (pretty boy) of the story.

Interesting fact:

Jang Geun Suk, who plays the male lead (and resident hot tempered bad boy) in You Are Beautiful has spent much of his acting career in second lead roles… most of the time his characters don’t end up with the heroine. He played second fiddle to actors such as Kang Jihwan (in historical drama, Hong Gil Dong) and Kim Myungmin in Beethoven Virus.

Credit: Asiae.co.kr