K-dramas and movies don't have a lot of characters who profess to being gay, so viewers are wondering whether the rumors about Ahn Jae Hyun's character in "You're All Surrounded" will turn out to be true.
His rookie cop partner, played by Park Jung Min, seems very upset at the idea that he lives and works with someone of a different orientation. But so far viewers are not sure what will happen. The next few episodes will reveal Ahn Jae Hyun's "secret."
The last openly gay character might be the genius musician played by Lee Jong Suk in "Secret Garden." Hallyu star Oska, played by Yoon Sang Hyun, attempts to recruit his character and becomes his reluctant muse. It may have been this role that led fans to assume that Lee Jong Suk was really gay and that there was an off-screen relationship between him and "School 2013" co-star Kim Woo Bin. The co-stars and friends found the dating rumors amusing but they are just friends.
"Kim Woo Bin and I are friends from when we were models," he said during a "School 2013" special presentation. "That's why I was more at ease when we were acting together. It was cold, so I couldn't get my emotions right, but he helped me a lot."
K-movies have seen more stars play gay characters. Joo Jin Mo and Jo In Sung played lovers in the film "A Frozen Flower." Kim Jae Wook played what his character described as "a gay of demonic charm" in "Antique Bakery." Lee Jun Ki played the clown loved by a king in "The King and the Clown."
K-dramas also have characters that pretend to be gay. Lee Min Ho was such a character in "Personal Taste." He let Son Ye Jin think he is gay so he could rent a room from her and explore her house. This only temporarily interferes with their blossoming romance.
And then there are the characters that think they must be gay because they fall in love with a girl disguised as a boy. Given the number of girls dressed as boys in k-dramas, this is a long list, with a few notable examples.
Lee Hongki worries he is falling for Park Shin Hye in "You're Beautiful."
Gong Yoo worries about his feelings for Yoon Eun Hye in "Coffee Prince."
Joo Jin Mo and Ji Chang Wook both have feelings for Ha Ji Won dressed as a boy in "Empress Ki."
Will Ahn Jae Hyun come out of the closet? Stay tuned for this week's drama revelation.
