Deal Breakers

If you're one of those who got caught up with the hallyu phenomenon that swept the region in the past decade or one of those still riding high and enjoying the tremendous influx of Korean dramas as a result of the said cultural wave, then, chances are, you've already seen a good sample of the male leads and characters that come with every popular television hit. They've probably made your heart beat faster, turned your knees into jello and brought a smile to your face with every romantic gesture...but how do these dream boys, with their so-called sensitivity and depth as seen on t.v., really fare under close scrutiny?

Well, to follow up on this harebrained-idea of a post that I came up with last  November [but somehow never managed to finish in time for the new year], I've put together this short list of well-loved male kdrama characters, who don't appear to be as desirable or winsome once you take a good, hard look at the big picture. There's certainly a few things here and there that would give pause to any rational-minded girl. Things that would make you stay up at night and wonder about what it was that made you so enamored as to miss out on character flaws so material, that in real life, they would no doubt be considered as deal breakers.

*** WARNING : The rest of this post is full of spoilers. Reader discretion is advised ***

Forgive me for this rather trivial post. I know it's totally uncalled for, especially for those who've come to love their kdrama heroes, but characters in such dramas, more often than not, do come with a number of complications---whether they be Byronic heroes, over-privileged men afflicted with the Peter Pan syndrome, socially maladjusted bigwigs who don't know the real score or emotionally insecure men in dire need of parental love and affection---bottom line is most of them spell trouble. And while I, myself, may have been swayed by an actor's good looks, innate charisma or magnetic performance at one point or another, what I have below is my top ten picks for kdrama heroes that, in hindsight, would have sent any practical, level-headed girl running to the nunnery or else swearing off problematic male archetypes that make up kdrama fodder.

Winter Sonata (2002) - Kang Jun-sang/Lee Min-hyung 

Amnesiac with Rust-colored Hair

Love comes with the onset of winter and melts away slowly as the  love of your life allegedly dies before the season's close.  Just when you thought you've lost him forever, you get to meet his doppelganger---who turns out to be the exact same person, it's just that he has this crazy mother who gave him a new identity and a makeover.

Open Your Eyes: Now, if the idea of having a mother-in-law eager to exact revenge on you on account of your parents doesn't turn you off, then also consider the fact that the man before you is so accident prone that he's hit his head too many times, enough for him to go blind as a bat, shortly after recovering from long-term memory loss.

Rooftop Attic Cat (2003) - Lee Kyung Min

The No-good Leecher

Picture this---you're strapped for cash and this guy lends you money, thinking that you're best friends with the girl that he wants to hook up with. He later incurs some gambling debt and gets into trouble with some loan sharks/gangsters, and suddenly he's shacking up with you in a cramp oktabbang, enjoying free room and board.

The Ugly Truth:  The guy may be a future prosecutor but don't forget the fact that he's immature, unreliable and a total douche. He lies, cheats and steals. Yep, he even steals pennies from that tea canister that his poor "roommate" has hidden in the kitchen cupboard to impress that obnoxious chick that he's been chasing after.

I'm Sorry, I Love You (2004) - Cha Moo Hyuk

Dead Man Walking

An exciting and dangerous encounter with a tall, dark and handsome stranger in the Land Down Under leads to a sad, bitter ordeal as the man in question later shows up eager to take revenge against his mother who allegedly abandoned him.

Final Prognosis: This scruffy dude might clean up nicely but he harbors a deep resentment over his younger brother, who appears to have been given all the love and attention that he's missed out on as a kid. Not only does this man belong to a long line of misinformed revenge-seekers in the kdrama world, he's also a certified goner since he has two bullets in his head. Stay away from this dude, lest you want to find eternal slumber on the lips of a red bottle.

My Name is Kim Sam Soon (2005) - Hyun Jin Heon

Torn Between Two Lovers

A guilt-ridden restaurateur, who's nursing a broken heart and recovering from a series of personal tragedies, contracts a fake relationship with a plus-size employee in need of financial assistance in order to avoid being fixed up by his mother.

Bad Business: For starters, the said love contract could very well be the subject of a sexual harassment suit. Another area of concern would be this guy's inability to let go and move on, channeling his angst and anger on things such as his ex-girlfriend's first name or his pretend girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. Stubborn and possessive, he's one hell of a mess when it comes to relationships---being the type that likes to have one's cake and eat it, too.

Goong/Princess Hours (2006) - Lee Shin

Prince Not-so Charming

A smug and socially inept Crown Prince gets rejected by his long-time girlfriend suddenly agrees to marry a girl from an ordinary family with whom he was betrothed. Sounds like a fairytale scenario but in truth, it's more like a repeat of the drama that happened in the House of Windsor. Throw in some political intrigue and there you have a media circus. 

A Royal Scandal: This sought-after prince has the ability to turn  ordinary, bright and outgoing girls into one giant, pathetic, weepy mess, who at one time or another will attempt to take one's life or starve one's self to death. Don't forget that he's also so isolated and unable to express himself that he talks out loud to a teddy bear...

The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince (2007) - Choi Han Kyul

Clueless Bastard

Cocky, rich kid is sent home to Korea to manage a family-owned coffee shop after prodigiously wasting his grandmother's money abroad. As a marketing strategy, he hires an all-male staff to lure female customers in, totally unaware of the fact that the person he considers his wingman and blood brother is a girl who's only pretending to be a guy in front of him.

Sexually Suspect: It takes a mature, open-minded and progressive person to even consider the possibility of being attracted to the same sex  and to come to the conclusion that love does not discriminate, but this kid isn't earning any points because after all that roughhousing and skinship, there's no reason why he shouldn't be able to distinguish a guy from a girl. 

Strongest Chil Woo (2008) - Kang Chil Woo

The Cosplayer

Low level civil servant by day, masked avenger by night.  Along with his merry band of cosplayers, he protects the weak and dispenses justice on the corrupt, evil men that are left untouched by the system. He's but one of many masked heroes in kdramas of late and  like all of them, he has a compelling reason to take the law into his hands and wear a ridiculous striking outfit.

The Magic Hour Approaches: I know I'm being a tad superficial here but seriously now, don't tell me that the idea of a 17th century Joseon hero clad as Zorro with a matching bullwhip, roaming the streets at night, doesn't have you arriving at a number of unsavory conclusions.

Queen Seonduk (2009) - Bidam

A Charming Psychopath

He's the bastard son of the royal consort and the king's brother, who later grows up to be the disciple of a retired general. Deprived of his mother's love and forever seeking the approval of his mentor, he joins the fight to reinstate a long lost princess to her rightful position, only to fall in love with her and later plot her removal from the throne.

It Runs in the Family: He's an excellent swordsman and an able-bodied fighter, too bad he also inherited his mother's penchant for cruelty and creativity in convincing people to do as they're told. When he was a kid, he poisoned a community of hobos; as a grown-up, he gets to slay his master and commit high treason. 

Boys over Flowers (2009) - Goo Jun-pyo

A Big Bully

Poor, little rich boy in dire need of his mother's attention lashes out by imposing a reign of terror in his prep school. He's lonely, he's misunderstood, doesn't have any other friends aside from his posy of equally over privileged and bored peers, who have nothing better to do than watch his fist do the talking. He's the poster boy for bad boys in need of some tough lovin' and girls can't resist the idea of reforming him.

Beyond Help: He's terrorized members of the student body for years, enough to scare some into attempting suicide and others to seek vengeance no matter what the cost. Forget about the domineering mother, this guy has a long list of enemies awaiting their turn. Furthermore, if the way he gives instructions to his lackeys is indicative of his management skills, you can very well say goodbye to the family fortune.

Prosecutor Princess (2010) - Seo In Woo

Mr. Here, There and Everywhere

A capable and meticulous lawyer, who has a reputation for doing anything to win his client's cause, provides special assistance and attention to a ditzy prosecutor in furtherance of his personal agenda.

Alarm Bells:  Smart, funny and sweet, he's the best friend who can anticipate your every need, one who always comes to the rescue when you're down and out because he's a stalker, you see. He has you investigated and followed 24/7 and he's cooking this elaborate albeit circuitous way to get revenge against your family in the course of clearing his father's name. Surely, there's a better way to beat the statute of limitations; being all rich and influential, he could have taken a safer course, one that didn't involve the possibility of being slapped with a restraining order.

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And that's pretty much all there is to this list. I'm sure there are a number of characters that are arguably more vile or repellent than the ones listed above, but I personally steered clear of the ones that were designed as such. Yes, I know it's a kdrama and that it shouldn't be taken seriously, you can even accuse me of nitpicking but don't you find it rather interesting how a lot of these characters get away with things that would normally be considered unacceptable behavior in a real world setting?

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Photo credits: Pretty Boy Power, Korean Drama, The Pink Connection, and Dramabeans.

Categories: Korean Drama