7 Bad Boy Male Leads Who Stole Our Hearts In K-Dramas

Every now and then, we crave something different from the perfect golden boy male lead in K-dramas. Sure, they're charming, but their predictable arcs and 'can do no wrong' actions sometimes leave us wanting more. That's where the impulsive, sometimes chaotic, bad boys come in.

These guys bring a whole new level of excitement to the screen with their inconsistent behavior and murky motivations. If you want to see how a K-drama can handle having an antihero type for a lead, here is a perfect list for you.

Nevertheless (2021)

IMDb rating: 7.1/10

Where to stream: Netflix

Park Jae-eon is an irritating, misanthropic playboy who shies away from commitment. However, everything shifts when he crosses paths with Yoo Na-bi, a classmate nursing her own heartbreak and skepticism towards love. Suddenly, Jae-eon finds himself reevaluating his outlook on life.

The One and Only (2021)

IMDb rating: 7.2/10

Where to stream: Netflix, Prime Video, Viki, TVING

Three women, all facing terminal illness, unite with a common goal: to take down their common enemy. As they delve into their mission, they become entangled in a murder investigation, where they cross paths with Min Woo-cheon, a contract killer who unexpectedly finds himself falling for one of them.

Extracurricular (2020)

IMDb rating: 7.6/10

Where to stream: Netflix

Oh Ji-soo is a top student in high school, but his exceptional mind is also used in a lucrative but illegal side business. As his two lives begin to merge, danger looms not only for Ji-soo, but also for his classmates.

Legend of the Blue Sea (2016)

IMDb rating: 8.1/10

Where to stream: Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Viki, WeTV, iQIYI, SBS VOD

The drama follows a love story between a mermaid and a human man, spanning two timelines and two reincarnations. In his past life, the male lead is the son of a noble family in the Joseon era, but in the present, he is a witty con man and everything viewers could want in a bad boy type.

The Devil Judge (2021)

IMDb rating: 8.3/10

Where to stream: Netflix, Viki, WeTV, TVING

In a bleak dystopian future, Chief Judge Kang Yo-han turns his courtroom into a twisted reality show where he ruthlessly dispenses justice to evildoers, gaining a cult-like following as a folk hero. But it seems there's a dark secret lurking beneath Yo-han's facade of righteousness.

Vincenzo (2021)

IMDb rating: 8.4/10

Where to stream: Netflix, TVING

Park Joo-hyung is literally a mafioso, unafraid to resort to violence and manipulation for his own gain. However, when his thirst for revenge against even worse guys leads him to team up with an energetic lawyer, he unexpectedly finds himself caring for her.

Flower of Evil (2020)

IMDb rating: 8.6/10

Where to stream: Netflix, Prime Video, Viki

Baek Hee-sung has a shadowy past that he's kept hidden from his detective wife for years. But when she begins investigating a string of murders, the buried truth inevitably resurfaces, plunging their family life into chaos and turmoil.