K-dramas for short, have gained a massive following worldwide due to their captivating storylines, talented actors, and stunning visuals. While the male leads in K-dramas are often portrayed as charming, handsome, and perfect, some characters can exhibit certain traits that should serve as warning signs for anyone looking for a healthy relationship. In this article, we will take a closer look at 10 red flag male leads in K-dramas.
1. Park Jae-Eon From Nevertheless
Nevertheless is a romantic K-drama. The character Park Jae-eon played by Song Kang is the most widely known red flag. One of the most significant red flags is that he frequently lies to his girlfriend, NaBi. He never admits their relationship in front of others. Additionally, he lies to her about his interactions with other women, which is a trust-breaking in any relationship. Jae-eon's behavior also suggests that he is a playboy, someone who enjoys casual relationships, and flirting and does not prioritize emotional connections. Whereas NaBi appears to be seeking a deeper connection with him. Overall, Jae-eon's behavior raises many red flags in the context of a romantic relationship.
2. Gu Jun-Pyo From Boys Over Flower
The drama Boys over Flower is based on Japanese manga and is considered one of the most popular K-dramas of all time. It is a story of a girl who attends an elite high school and gets involved in the lives of a group of wealthy young men. Among them, the lead character Gu Jun-Pyo stands out as a major red flag. Not only is he a severe bully, but he enjoys his awful behavior. He leads a group of supporters who idolize him and takes everything and everyone for granted. Moreover, he is excessively vain and believes that the protagonist picks fights with him solely to grab his attention.
3. Choi Do-Il From Little Women
This Korean drama, starring the actor Wi Ha-Joon as the male lead Choi Do-il, is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott. The plot revolves around three sisters who face financial hardships and adversities at a young age. As they struggle to make ends meet, they get involved in a conflict with the wealthiest family in the country. Hwa-Young then meets Choi Do-il, who is involved in money laundering and makes a deal with him to obtain the rest of the money. However, he is regarded as someone who would readily betray others for financial gain without any qualms. Even though he never actually betrayed anyone in the show and ultimately redeems himself through self-sacrifice, it is noteworthy that his dubious profession and history of treachery serve as warning signs that should prompt one to cut ties with him in real life.
4. Baek Hee-Sung From Flower Of Evil
The main lead Do Hyun-Soo, hides his bad past by pretending to be someone else named Baek Hee Sung. His wife is a police officer who starts to suspect that he might be a serial killer. He acts like a loving husband and father to cover up his true self. He tricks his wife and daughter to make them believe he is a good person.
5. Shin Segi From Kill Me Heal Me
Kill Me Heal Me is a story about Cha DoHyun. He has a problem called Dissociative Identity Disorder, which means he has different personalities. He meets a doctor named Oh RiJin, who helps him. One of his personalities is called Shin SeGi, and he is strong, aggressive, and hard to approach. He remembers things that happened to DoHyun when he was a child. Shin SeGi protects RiJin when she is in danger. He can be difficult to deal with but he is also funny. Even though his behavior is a red flag, his fans still adore him.
6. Lee Soo From More Than Friends
The drama is about two high school friends, Lee Soo and Kyung Woo Yeon, who is stuck between being friends and being in love. At first, Woo Yeon had feelings for Lee Soo but he didn't like her back. They meet again ten years later and Lee Soo acts like he doesn't care about her. Woo Yeon tries to take their relationship further, but Lee Soo doesn't reciprocate her feelings. Instead, he keeps her at arm's length and doesn't let their relationship go anywhere. When Woo Yeon starts dating other guys, Lee Soo gets jealous and tries to pursue her. He even calls Joon Soo a bad name, even though he knows that Woo Yeon is dating him. Lee Soo only starts treating her better when he sees that she is happy with someone else. Joon Soo is a good guy, but unfortunately, the story doesn't focus on him. Lee Soo's behavior is selfish and immature, and it's hard to forgive him for how he treated Woo Yeon.
7. Yoo Jung From Cheese In The Trap
Yoo Jung seems like a perfect guy at first. He's rich, kind to his friends, smart, and well-liked at school. But the female lead, Hong Seol, thinks otherwise. She believes he's manipulative and cunning. As the show progresses, we see how Yoo Jung uses other people to make Seol's life miserable without getting his hands dirty. He even sets a stalker on her path. Yoo Jung's behavior is a result of his upbringing and his need to be perfect for his father. But his actions towards Seol can't be excused by his past. Although he's a complex character, he would be a big red flag in real life. Even Yoo Jung admits that he's not ready for a relationship.
8. Baek Kyung From Extraordinary You
Baek Kyung is engaged to Dan Oh. He is the bad boy type and treats Dan Oh poorly, only being with her because his family wants him to. Kyung is very rude and arrogant and doesn't care about other people's feelings because he is so focused on his own problems. He is a complete jerk and treats Dan Oh badly.
9. Kwak Ki-Tae From Extracurricular
Ki-tae is Min-hee's boyfriend, but he is not a very nice guy. He has a group of delinquent friends and is often violent and immature. Ki-tae spends a lot of time playing games and hanging out in arcades. He only seems to care about himself and his own needs, and he enjoys bullying other people. He only dates Min-hee because she spends a lot of money on him and spoils him. He gets upset if she doesn't give him expensive gifts on his birthday. Ki-tae is proud of being a mean and ruthless person, but he acts innocent in front of teachers so he can get away with bullying others at school.
10. Jang Jun-Woo From Vincenzo
Jang Jun-Woo’s character from Vincenzo seems to be helpful and friendly in starting but later revealed that he is actually a bad person who is cruel and has anger issues. He is arrogant and does not care about others' feelings. He tries to control the female lead and becomes violent toward her. This shows that he is not a good person despite his initial charm.
