Second Lead Syndrome
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| Synonyms: | SLS |
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Second Lead Syndrome is a term that originated in romance K-Drama fandom.
It's common in romance K-Dramas to introduce the audience to second male lead (and sometimes second female lead). Often, second male lead will also be pursuing the main female lead, creating the love triangle dynamic on the show. And while the audience knows ahead of the time that the second male lead will not succeed, some of the characters gain enormous popularity, leaving the audience wishing the female lead would choose the second male lead.
Examples
- True Beauty's Han Seo-Jun
- Start-Up's Han Ji Pyeong - the Second Lead Syndrome was so strong among the fans of this show, it practically launched the actor's career.
- Reply 1988's Kim Jung Hwan - often quoted as the most loved second male lead of all time
- While You Were Sleeping's Han Woo Tak
- The Heirs' Choi Young Do - first introduced as an antagonist, he seduced the fans with his spectacular redemption arc
- Cheese in the Trap's Baek In Ho