Almost as good as the swoon-worthy romances in kdramas are the affectionate male relationships known as bromances.
The kdrama bromance can take place between two comrades or rivals. They can actually be related or have sworn loyalty to each other.
Earlier this year, DramaFever.com gave out a "Best Bromance" award to Park Ki Woong and Joo Won for their love-hate relationship in "Bridal Mask." The two men alternated between being friends and enemies for the length of the drama. Their affection for each other is a victim of a larger political battle.
Here are a few more that stand out:
In "Padam Padam: The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats," Yang Kang Chil, played by Jung Woo Sung, is in love with Jung Ji Na, played by Han Ji Min, but the really important relationship in his life is with his guardian angel and former prison cellmate, played by Kim Bum. The angel Lee Gook Soo makes it his mission to save Kang Chil's life and the two have an affectionate older-younger-brother relationship.
"Do you dare to live without me," Lee Gook Soo asks Kang Chil at one point.
In "School 2013," Go Nam Soon, played by Lee Jong Suk, and Park Heung Soo, played by Kim Woo Bin, are high school classmates. Go Nam Soon is a smart guy with a troubled past, who drifts through life. Their friendship saves him. The two actors even had a kiss scene that led to post-drama rumors about them being a real-life couple.
"I know that there are a lot of dating rumors about me with Lee Jong Suk," said Kim Woo Bin after the drama ended. "I think friendship is also love."
In "Protect the Boss," Ji Sung and Kim Jae Joong play cousins in direct competition for the best job and the same girl. Yet, despite the political desires of others in the family, they do have genuine feelings for each other. Even when they are angry at each other, they often seem like squabbling puppies. There are pillow fights and Jae Joong falls asleep on his cousin's shoulders. In the end their affections will matter more than any family plotting.
One of the best parts of the drama "Sungkyunkwam Scandal" is the friendship between Yong Ha, played by Song Joong Ki and Geol Oh, played by Yoo Ah In. The characters not only support and protect each other. They almost get to the point of declaring their feelings when Yong Ah asks Geol Oh, "Who am I to you?" For this performance, they won the Best Couple Award at the KBS Drama Awards for 2010.
"It felt good, but it also felt weird to receive that award," said Song Joong Ki.
The next time, he says, he wants to win it with a woman.
