5 K-Dramas with second leads that left fans demanding an alternate ending: From True Beauty to Boys Over Flowers

Welcome to the world of K-Drama Second Lead Syndrome. The symptoms? Lingering frustration—years after a show has ended—because the second lead didn’t get the girl, closure, or even a decent storyline. And yet, that doesn’t stop you from admiring the first lead.

The cure? Waiting (impatiently) for the second lead to land a drama of their own and finally get the spotlight they deserve. But let’s be real—that’s a rare and unpredictable remedy.

So, which K-Drama left you with a serious case of Second Lead Syndrome? With a little help from fans on social media who are still grumbling about the injustice, here’s our list of the most unforgettable ones.

Oh dear, this debate is still going strong, even six years later. Should Cha Eun-woo’s Su-ho have ended up with Mun Ka-young’s Jyu-Kyung, or was Hwang In-youp’s rebellious, bad-boy Seo-jun—with his heart of gold—the better choice? Both sides have solid arguments.

If you’re just now joining the bandwagon and wondering what all the fuss is about, True Beauty follows Mun Ka-young’s feisty Lim Jyu-Kyung, a girl who has endured relentless bullying over her looks. To protect herself, she hides behind makeup—though both our leads see right through it. As they wrestle with their own personal struggles, they each fall hard for her and stand firmly by her side.

True Beauty is streaming on Viki, Netflix.

Team Potato Boy or Team Song Kang? Yes, you read that right. Fans affectionately dubbed Chae Jong-hyeop’s character, Yang Do-hyeok, "Potato Boy"—a sweet, soft-hearted cooking expert who has loved Han So-hee’s Na-bi since childhood. But Na-bi’s heart is drawn to Song Kang’s Park Jae-eon, a charming yet undeniable red flag. Dashing? Absolutely. But still a red flag.

Nevertheless dives into the emotional push-and-pull of relationships, where feelings are intense, but commitment feels elusive. And right in the middle of this whirlwind? Enter Potato Boy (trust us, once you hear it, you won’t stop calling him that either).

Nevertheless is streaming on Netflix.

As one fan morosely stated, no second lead syndrome has been as severe as Kim Seon-ho’s predicament in Start-Up. While the show revolves around the cutthroat race of entrepreneurship, it also follows a sweet, moving romance between Bae Suzy’s Seo Dal-mi and Nam joo-hyuk’s Nam Do-san, whom she believes to be the guardian angel who wrote her letters in childhood.

However, that’s Kim Seon-ho, dun dun dun.

Start-up is streaming on Netflix.

The 2016 series perfectly embodied the trope, leaving fans frustrated, especially with its controversial finale.

 The story follows college student Hong Seol (Kim Go-eun), who starts sensing that the school’s seemingly perfect and wealthy senior, Yoo Jung (Park Hae-jin), isn’t as charming as he appears. Overwhelmed by his unsettling behaviour, she takes a break from school. But when she returns, Yoo Jung unexpectedly showers her with kindness, leaving her even more confused.

Amidst the uncertainty, she meets Baek In-ho (Seo Kang-joon), a talented pianist with a troubled past. Unlike Yoo Jung, In-ho is warm, protective, and undeniably devoted to Hong Seol. Cheese in the Trap was one of the rare dramas where fans found themselves rooting against the male lead—firmly believing that, for once, the second lead truly deserved the girl.

Cheese in the Trap is streaming on Viki.

This is where most of us began our K-Drama journey. Lee Min-ho took on a role that almost became synonymous with his on-screen character for years later: A bratty, rich heir with curly hair that the actor detested, and dressed in fur coats. Our rebellious lead Jun-pyo, falls in love with the simple, but feisty Gum Jan-di. Too bad, his best friend with a similar hairstyle, falls for her too...and predictably, she is drawn to Jun-pyo later. Sigh. Nice guys don't always win?