In the K-dramas of the first half of 2024, we were treated to attractive men, full of charm and dapper looks, but also intelligent and steadfast, who courageously put their hearts first. They were willing to take a bullet for love and defy all odds to protect the people they loved and they were romantic with the same ease that they fought, laughed and did not hesitate to shed tears.
Here we present to you five male K-drama characters who have captivated many people by making their hearts beat wildly.
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Byeon Woo Seok in “Lovely Runner”
No one can deny that Byeon Woo Seok’s Ryu Sun Jae in “Lovely Runner” is the current King of Hearts. Bedridden Im Sol’s (Kim Hye Yoon) world is transformed when aspiring singer Sun Jae of Eclipse tells her during a radio call that he’s glad she’s still alive, making of her a desperately devoted fan. After Sun Jae dies in an accident, Im Sol goes back in time to save him and change his destiny, while trying to change her own.
Byeon Woo Seok’s endearing interpretation of Sun Jae made many people swoon, because he was an exceptional man who did not hesitate to show his vulnerable side. Despite Im Sol’s efforts to protect Sun Jae across timelines, it’s clear that he would gladly sacrifice himself for love. In addition to having well defined the characteristics of his character, Byeon Woo Seok also made Sun Jae an iconic character of all time. Viewers were captivated by his innocence when he fumbled to confess his feelings, by his despair when he fought against himself, or even by the passionate way in which he expressed himself.
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Kim Soo Hyun in “Queen of Tears”
Baek Hyun Woo (Kim Soo Hyun) is a shrewd lawyer capable of getting out of the trickiest legal situations, but he faces his biggest challenge when it comes to his wife Hong Hae In (Kim Ji Won). Hyun Woo is married to wealthy heiress Hae In, and although they are a perfect couple, their marriage is far from perfect due to a lack of communication, ego issues, and misunderstandings that have created a wedge. gap between the two. Although Hyun Woo wants to leave, he decides to delay things when Hae In receives a life-threatening diagnosis. It’s As sparks are rekindled, old feelings resurface, but too many factors keep them apart. As Hyun Woo’s suspicions are confirmed and he realizes that Yoon Eun Sung (Park Sung Hoon) not only has feelings for his wife, but also poses the biggest threat to his family, he begins himself in the line of sight.
Despite the many twists and turns and tropes in the plot of “Queen of Tears”, it was above all the electrifying chemistry between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won that stood out. Indeed, Kim Soo Hyun plays a man who spares no effort to protect the woman he loves and repair their broken relationship and the two characters perfectly highlighted the complex and endearing relationship between them.
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Park Hyung Sik in “Doctor Slump”
A lifelong brilliant student, renowned plastic surgeon Yeo Jung Woo (Park Hyung Sik) hits rock bottom after an operation goes wrong at his clinic. Not only does he lose everything he has built in a few days, but he also has to face a lawsuit for medical negligence. That’s when he meets his old classmate and archenemy, Nam Ha Neul (Park Shin Hye) who is a doctor, but suffers from mental health issues and fatigue. As their paths converge, these two support and care for each other, and love is just a mere accessory on the path.
Park Hyung Sik’s Jung Woo is endearing and the magnanimity of his situation doesn’t stop him from being cheerful and encouraging towards Ha Neul. A committed doctor who struggles with his own traumas and his neglected childhood, he is a generous and compassionate man towards others. Although “Doctor Slump” meanders a bit, Park Hyung Sik gets an A+ for his adorable antics.
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Wi Ha Joon in “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon”
A man who knows what he wants, Lee Joon Ho (Wi Ha Joon) won’t stop until he gets it. The latter was the best student in Seo Hye Jin’s (Jung Ryeo Won) class seven years ago, but Joon Ho wants to quit his corporate job and become a lecturer at the academy where he graduated. He then jokingly tells Hye Jin that he would earn a lot of money at the academy rather than toiling behind a desk from nine to five, but his motivations have nothing to do with money because Joon Ho has been in love with Hye Jin for the past seven years. The latter doesn’t doubt his feelings for Hye Jin, who calls him “his pride” as a former student.
Moving from a teacher-student relationship to a relationship of colleagues, then of lovers, the two protagonists offer us a delicious love story. Despite Hye Jin’s hesitations due to their seven-year age difference, Joon Ho is not the type to bother with these questions, on the contrary he becomes her strongest shield against the world.
After starring in the action genre, we finally get to see Wi Ha Joon take on a full-fledged romantic role, which is far from disappointing. By taking the initiative to woo Hye Jin, her sense of flirtation adds to what promises to be a sizzling romance. By playing Joon Ho, Wi Ha Joon manages to shatter the formula of love.
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Ji Chang Wook in “Welcome to Samdalri”
Jo Sam Dal (Shin Hye Sun) had hoped to never have to return to her home in Samdalri, but her career as a fashion photographer is floundering and her pride is badly shaken after being wrongly accused of roughing up her assistant. . It’s actually the thought of running into her ex-boyfriend Jo Yong Pil (Ji Chang Wook) that makes returning home even more difficult because she broke his heart before leaving for Seoul. Yong Pil, a weather forecaster, is very popular among the townspeople and he keeps an eye on Sam Dal’s mother, he has never left Samdalri for over ten years. Once these two are reunited, past wounds come to the surface, but it seems Yong Pil never harbored any grudges against Sam Dal. While pursuing her, he gives her the confidence she so desperately needs to get her life back on track and he provides the safety net and anchor that her wandering soul seeks.
Resilient, patient and understanding, Ji Chang Wook, as Jo Yong Pil, is the greenest of green flags, all the way. “Welcome to Samdalri” provides a feeling of well-being and the chemistry between Shin Hye Sun and Ji Chang Wook is endearing to say the least.
So, who is your favorite K-drama male protagonist of 2024? Let us know in the comments below!