There are so many cases when the main couple just doesn't have the chemistry we'd like. Or even if they have decent chemistry they get upstaged by the side couple, or a couple that is completely non-existent in terms of that particular drama (but those actors better start dating in real life). Secondary romances get us through many a melodrama, and quite often upstage the main romance all together.
I know my OTP is often not the main couple, even if I like them too. So here are some real OTPs, or at least some couples with more chemistry than the main couple.
Shunji and Ueno Rie, Gaksital
I recently finished Gaksital (finally!), which is an amazing if not emotionally wrenching, but there might be one thing that it is lacking in. I was never completely sold on Mok Dan being in love with Kang To and not just Gaksital, or the idea of him as Gaksital- Korea's hero. Especially when she was calling him young master all the time. I know she was supposed to, and their chemistry was okay, especially on Joo Won's part, but it just wasn't doing it for me. However there was one couple in that show whose chemistry was off the charts, and it wasn't anyone who was supposed to have chemistry.
Everytime Shunji and Rie were talking or together we would always start shouting "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" Seriously, Park Ki Woong and Han Chae Ah should just date in real life because their chemistry is rawr... and they're like not even supposed to be in love. We did it even when he was about to kill her... or not. We were like "Don't kill her, just kiss her, Shunji!"
You know who else had more chemistry than the main couple? Them:
We called them the "elite couple" or the "power couple" and all we wanted was for them to stay alive and repopulate Korea (sniff).
Dragon (aka Prosecutor Lee) and Investigator Yoo, Pride and Prejudice
Ok, so Choi Jin Hyuk and Baek Jin Hee had okay chemistry, especially when arguing and being snarky. I mean Choi Jin Hyuk could probably have chemistry with a stick (awkward). But once they stopped fighting, suddenly that spark was gone. But who had awesome chemistry from episode 1? This couple:
We seriously shipped them from episode 1, and then they got together just like we wanted, and in the best way too.
Normally I don't like manipulative girls, but in their case it was perfect. She had him right where she wanted him, and then she played him hard.
Until he manned up and became the boyfriend/prosecutor/man she wanted him to be. The man he was just too lazy to be before. So, yes, this couple. My P&P OTP.
Yunho and Cray Cray Cousin, The Night Watchman's Journal
There is only one couple who's in love in this show, and they're cousins. Ew.
They're not really supposed to be in love, but they were the only couple who really had chemistry at all, because the main couple certainly didn't. I didn't even believe that Yunho liked the main girl like he was supposed to. Nope, not when he's looking at his "cousin" like this:
The only time he has any expression on his face at all is when he's looking at her. It's a subtle sort of worrying longing that he's got. The most impressive expression he ever makes.
I hope the rumor about them dating in real life is true, because I thought he was in love with his cousin for the first half of the drama and was so confused because she was his cousin and... yeah. Not good. They should just date in real life.
Krystal and Kang Min Hyuk, Heirs
Let's face it. No chemistry between dumb and dumber in this show (don't kill me Lee Min Ho fans). He just can't act. I was never impressed with Park Shin Hye until Pinocchio, where she proved she can actually have amazing chemistry with someone, so that was no shocker when the main couple was completely uncompelling. But if there was one couple who actually looks like they like each other, it's Krystal and Kang Min Hyuk.
They're just so cute!
I'd be completely okay with them dating in real life too (wink wink).
Little Sister and Lee Tae Hwan, Highschool King
I guess I should call them Jung Yoo Ah and Oh Tae Seok, but the point is they were the only couple to be liked in this show because all the others were pedonoona nasty. I can't say that they had chemistry because it creeped me out too much. But these appropriately aged high school students had me shipping them from the start.
I was hoping it would happen, and it did. Yes!
That kid's smile though. Rawr! He's so happy she claimed him. Aw.
The Violin Couple, Tomorrow's Cantabile
Once again Joo Won's romance has not so much chemistry... well, that's not true, they had tons of chemistry, but no outlet for it. Yoo Jin was so closed off that the most we ever got was chemistry and almost kisses. However, as good as the main couple's chemistry and tension was, Il Rak and Shi Won's was better.
This love story just made me happy, and if it hadn't have been there, then I might have screamed from the frustration of the no kissing main couple. Boo almost kisses. I still liked them though.
Ki Joon and Bool Ja, Modern Farmer
Once again the secondary romance was way better than the main romance. That was frustratingly drawn out and completely one sided chemistry. I believe noona liked Min Ki, but Min Ki was just noona's donsaeng. No chemistry there. Just siblings. But boy was Ki Joon and Bool Ja's love story compelling and cute. This moment, when she uses his own phrase against him, pretty much telling him she knows exactly what he means. Ah! So cute!!!!!
They were my favorite part! The OTP of Modern Farmer!
The Stepmom/manager from My Loveable Girl
It's sad that the only couple with chemistry was the old couple who weren't ever going to get together.
That just goes to show that the main couple had zero chemistry. It was nasty. I got shivers every time there was any skinship between Rain and Krystal. Ew! I could make a case for L and Krystal, however that is a completely different topic- second male leads who have more chemistry with the girl then the male leads, or something like that. I'd be fine with L and Krystal dating in real life too. L and Min Hyuk can battle it out for her... only I think that Min Hyuk should win that, sorry L.
Kim Bum and Kim Sa Eun, Boys Over Flowers
There is no way I would have ever managed to finish BOF without So Yi Jung swooping up in his fancy sports car to steal Chu Ga Eul away for whatever reason. It was literally the thing that kept me going. If I saw that sort of thing happening in the previews, I would press play for the next episode.
They just had good chemistry, even if she did that awkward "I can't look at you because you're so hot" thing. Literally the only good couple in this show. Can I say "literally" one more time?
Honorable mentions:
Here are some couples who have plenty of chemistry, enough to deserve to be mentioned, but because the main couple also has tons of chemistry, all they can do is tie for first place.
Eun Shi Kyung and Lee Yoon Ji, King 2 Hearts
I can't even handle this couple. Jo Jung Suk! You made me love you, and then you made me cry! I just wanted them to be happy!!!!!! Wah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But if there was ever a couple with completely perfect, awkward, protective, supporting, awesome chemistry, it is this couple... and the main couple. Ha Ji Won and Lee Seung Gi are good too... but this couple though...
Kun Da and Puff, Inborn Pair
So while the main couple, Annie Chen and Chris Wang, had plenty of chemistry, their love story was dragged out for like 84 episodes (practically), so while we had to wait for them in ridiculous frustration, we became way more compelled by Kun Da and Puff.
Another case of the manipulative girl that I actually like, because this dude needed it even more than Dragon did in P&P. He was a bit of a lame irresponsible dude, but his character growth in this 84 episode show is amazing. He goes from being a bully (in kindergarten) to a playboy, to a faithful boyfriend, to a good father and husband, all because she knew who he really could be if scared and pushed into changing. It was way more compelling than those silly leads, who still had plenty of makey-outy chemistry when they finally got around to it. But once again, I watched for these moments. I don't know why I love Kun Da Short Neck so much, but I do. I also love, love, love Puff, so this was a great pair.
Anyways, these couples are great, even if they steal the show from the main leads. No, they are great because they steal the show. One upping the romantic leads? Don't mind if you do. I love me some more cuteness, and if the leads must be mopey, then at least their friends are falling in love and having a good time. Or maybe just the random peeps that aren't supposed to be in love will just make us laugh and be confused...
Just kiss her already, Shunji!!!!
