Five of the Most Charming and Romantic Male Leads in Korean Dramas This Year

Many actors have made headlines for their charming and romantic roles in various popular dramas this year. Check out some of the actors below who were able to catch the hearts of hundreds of fans!

Ryu Joon Yeol from tvN’s “Reply 1988” has earned himself the title of ‘the boy who makes girls’ hearts beat like they are going to die.’ He plays a main lead in the drama as Jung Hwan and is currently receiving a lot of popularity and love for his charismatic character. Being friends since they were little, Duk Sun, played by Hyeri, and Jung Hwan are always seen arguing with each other like siblings. However, when the two unexpectedly get stuck in an alleyway together, Jung Hwan starts to form an adorable, one-sided crush on his long-time friend Duk Sun and begins to see her as a woman for the first time. On the episode that aired on November 14, many viewers fell in love with Jung Hwan’s manly side when he protected Duk Sun from all the people pushing her around on a moving bus. Viewers commented on the scene saying, “This is crazy,” “I am at a loss for words,” and “So romantic.” Starting from Jung Hwan and Duk Sun’s first awkward, cute ‘skin-ship’ scene in the alleyway to the scene where Jung Hwan’s extremely romantic and manly side is shown on the bus, Ryu Joon Yeol has definitely done the job of grabbing the attention of many female viewers.

Park Seo Joon from MBC’s “She Was Pretty,” has also recently received a lot of love for his perfect representation of the character Ji Sung Joon. Many girls could not help but fall in love with the vice president of ‘Most’ magazine, a character who acts stern and strict in public but is in reality, an innocent, sweet cutie. Through “She Was Pretty,” which recently came to an end, Park Seo Joon was able to rise high in his status as an actor after four years since his debut. He received a large amount of popularity acting as the first love of Kim Hye Jin (Hwang Jung Eum) and as the chic, manly romanticist of Ji Sung Joon. The drama was a large success with a high viewers rating of 16.7 percent. Due to the large success of his previous drama “Kill Me Heal Me,” Park Seo Joon is now being called the ‘King of Romantic Comedies.”

Watch “She Was Pretty” here at Viki.

Lee Sang Yoon, who played Cha Hyun Suk, Ha No Ra’s high school classmate as well as her current college professor, in tvN’s “Twenty Again,” also gained much recognition from female fans through this drama. Cha Hyun Suk, who is extremely professional in his area of work, becomes an immature teenager whenever he is with his first love, Ha No Ra (Choi Ji Woo). He acts mean and annoyed when Ha No Ra is around but is always extremely affectionate and caring towards her through small actions he does for her without her knowing. This romantic and comedic side to Cha Hyun Suk has made many viewers’ hearts melt. Lee Sang Yoon was already very popular as an actor due to his great academic background, good looks, and tall height. However, through the drama “Twenty Again,” he was able to also receive the title of ‘King of Romantic Comedy.’ In an interview, Lee Sang Yoon said, “I was able to show viewers a more comedic, light side of me through this drama. It was something they have not seen before.”

Lee Dong Wook from tvN’s new drama, “Bubble Gum,” is also currently receiving a lot of love for his romantic relationship with Jung Ryeo Won in the drama. The two characters they play were friends since they were little until they slowly begin to form a more romantic, innocent relationship. The drama is therefore about a romance that forms between two best friends and Lee Dong Wook plays the perfect boyfriend that everyone wishes for. Especially on the episode that aired on November 17, Lee Dong Wook grabbed at fans’ heartstrings when he said to Jung Ryeo Won, “I am the happiest person when I am with you,” right before he went in for a beautiful kiss.

After two years since his last drama, So Ji Sub has returned through the newest drama on the list, “Oh My Venus.” Only after two episodes, So Ji Sub was able to gain much attention and love through his character’s caring and cool charms. Acting as the world famous health trainer, Kim Young Ho, So Ji Sub acts as the perfect man as he continuously helps Kang Joo Eun, played by Shin Min Ah, in various sticky situations. Many fans were especially pleased during a scene when Kim Young Ho helps out a shocked Kang Joo Eun, who had fallen to the floor after she discovered her boyfriend with another girl at a hotel. In this particular scene, Kim Young Ho helps Kang Joo Eun up and grabs her by the waist, making many fans swoon.

Watch “Oh My Venus” here at Viki.

Who was your favorite male lead in a Korean drama this year?

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