This article is a continuation of our previous LGBT themed article which you can read about here. Members of the LGBT community who are also lovers of K-Dramas can finally thank the K-Drama gods as with the release new series there is a more active representation of the community. It is not just the supporting roles with little to no speaking time or scenes, more stories are broadly told throughout the season. With more visibility in some of our favorite series, members of the LGBT community now have more reasons to tune in and more importantly, feel connected to their favorite dramas. Here are some of our favorite K-Dramas with LGBT representation.
1. “Sweet Munchies”
The drama is about a chef who just opened a new restaurant and due to lack of customers is seemingly going through a difficult time. He randomly finds an opportunity to be on a TV cooking show but the kicker is he has to be gay. The LGBT character is Tae Wan played by Lee HakJoo, a fashion stylist who is closeted. He takes a liken to Jin Sung (the lead character played by Jung ILWoo) as he finds some form of comfort and familiarity in the fact that he’s not alone. His interest in the lead character spurs a love triangle that was sometimes cute and charming but often bothersome as the viewers could see that he was being led on. The climax of his story comes when the truth is revealed and he has to now deal with the fact that what he thought was a genuine bond might have been a lie all along. The situation however leads to him reconciling with his father, having had a distraught and distanced relationship with him due to his orientation. The series ends with a hint of a happy ending for him as a new love interest played by Choi JaeHyun (the lead character’s younger brother who was also his huge fan and openly gay) walks into his studio, sparks fly and a budding romance seems to be on the horizon.
2. “Mine”
This story follows a strong-willed willed and confident woman, Jeong SeoHyun played by Kim SeoHyung, who is the leader of the household. She commands respect and comes off as intimidating and ambitious having married into another rich family, a marriage that seems like a business arrangement to boost both families and organizations’ standings. However seemingly perfect her life is, she holds a secret close to her heart, a secret which is slowly shared with the viewers. She is a lesbian. We are taking on an emotional journey that many viewers can relate to, despite being extremely successful and wealthy, she has to fight to hide her sexuality as she is afraid of the implications that will arise when it is revealed. She however gains the courage to come out to her family and close friends in the latter part of the series and with the support gotten from them, she faces her true love with a reassuring sense of reflection and desire when she asks for a little bit more time. With her character, viewers are taking on a journey of growth, self-love, and acceptance.
3. “She Would Never Know”
Though a side character, his storyline was very important and relatable as it highlighted a real-life situation that many LGBT individuals (especially adults) have to face in dealing with their sexuality and pressure/expectations from the community. Woo Hyun a character played by Lee DongHa is a married man who to many has a perfect life, a loving wife, an adorable kid, and a good job. However, confusion and problems start to arise when he has an unsuspected run-in with an ex who happens to be a man, a chef his wife is a huge fan of. Multiple run-ins make him nervous and anxious and what seemed like a perfect world slowly begins to feel suffocating. His secret is however unveiled and he now has to make a choice, to accept who he truly is or keeps living a lie. An empowering and loving storyline, despite her struggles coming to terms with her new situation, we were so happy when his wife said “It doesn’t matter who you are, or who you love. You are not wrong or abnormal,” giving one of the most reassuring moments in K-Drama history.
4. “Nevertheless”
A cute romantic storyline with its own share of trials but with a cute ending that warms our hearts. The story follows 2 best friends; Sol played by Lee HoJung and JiWan played by Im SeonWoo who secretly have feelings for each other but are scared to admit it for many reasons. JiWan and Sol have been friends for a while and friendships despite the genders often times evolve into something more, however, both characters are facing the conflict and confusion of what it means to be attracted to the same sex. It takes a lot of courage for Sol to finally open up and confess her feelings to JiWan, to which the former responded by kissing her, giving viewers the charming and adorable moment they’ve been waiting for. 4 Ways Korean BL Can Be Better KDRAMA STORIES|Aug 31, 2021 8 K-Dramas Featuring The LGBT Community KDRAMA STORIES|Feb 21, 2020
