K-drama lovers know that there is such a thing as Second Lead Syndrome. The second lead is often the better choice for a boyfriend as he is kind and supportive and willing to suffer through a lot to get the girl. Because you have fallen for him, you really want him to get the girl. But he rarely does. Except maybe in real life.
The k-drama lead is usually arrogant or cold-hearted or spoiled and does not deserve the girl until he goes through great efforts to reform himself and be someone she truly deserves. It often does not seem fair that he succeeds when the hardworking second lead fails. But that's not necessarily true in real life.
One example is the love triangle of Jung Il Woo, Lee Chung Ah and Lee Ki Woo in "Flower Boy Ramen Shop." Lee Ki Woo played the second lead, Lee Chung Ah's nurturing and self-sacrificing friend. Jung Il Woo played a spoiled rich boy, only interested in getting what he wanted, but in the end he got the girl anyway. Well, only in the drama. In real life, Lee Chung Ah began dating Lee Ki Woo.
Park Ha Sun and Ryu Soo Young recently confirmed that they were dating. They met on the set of the thriller "Two Weeks." His detective character took care of her and her child after her loser ex-boyfriend left the scene. And yet when her ex, played by Lee Jun Ki, returns and is repentant, she leaves the sure thing BF for the ex who messed up her life in the first place.
Not in real life. In real life, she's dating the second lead, Ryu Soo Young.
Getting the girl in real life does not mean you get to keep her. Kim Bum played the loyal second lead in "Goddess of Fire Jeonji." He gave up his life for Moon Geun Young's character but she was more interested in the prince played by Lee Sang Yoon. However when the drama was over, Kim Bum and Moon Geun Young became an item. Unfortunately they broke up after six months. But not because of Lee Sang Yoon.
Second female leads don't usually get the guy either. Except maybe in real life. Lee Bo Young and Ji Sung met on the set of the drama "Save The Last Dance For Me." Onscreen he gave his heart to his leading lady, played by Eugene, but when the cameras stopped filming, Lee Bo Young was the only woman in his heart. They dated and are happily married.
