Love triangles are present in most K-dramas. We either love them or hate them; we either support the main lead of the second one. And sometimes, some choices are harder than others, especially when female characters have to choose between members of the same family. Call it weird, creepy, romantic or whatever you want, these trios surely add some spice to the story.
Without further ado, here’s a list of some triangles featuring family members in love with the same woman. Which one is your favorite? Do you know any other?
Why Her?
Relationships: Antagonistic brothers hating each other even more
In more details: Oh Soo Jae was in a relationship with Choi Joo Wan. She thought they would get married, but he abandoned her whilst pregnant and tied the knot with another (wealthier) woman. Joo Wan’s younger brother, Choi Yoon Sang, has always had an unrequited crush on Soo Jae, causing a stir between the siblings.
Cast: Seo Hyun Jin, Hwang In Yeop, Bae In Hyuk, Heo Jun Ho & Ji Seung Hyun
Plot: Oh Soo Jae (Seo Hyun Jin) is a skilled lawyer, who works for a big law firm. She is ambitious and does whatever it takes to win her cases. After an incident, she gets demoted and ends up teacher law at the university. There, she meets Gong Chan (Hwang In Yeop). He falls in love with her.
Episodes: 16
What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim
Relationship: Opposite brothers wooing the secretary
In more details: Lee Young Joon has always had a crush on his secretary Kim Mi So. So, when she is about to quit, he does everything in his power to keep her by his side. Unfortunately, his brother Lee Sung Yeon gets entangled with Mi So too and starts falling for her. Due to their past, Sung Yeon resents his brother a lot and wishes to win Mi So over. Who will she choose?
Cast: Park Seo Joon, Park Min Young & Lee Tae Hwan
Plot: Lee Young Joon (Park Seo Joon) is the vice-president of his family’s company. He is handsome, smart and rich, but also eccentric and arrogant. His secretary is Kim Mi So (Park Min Young). She has been working for him for years. One day, she suddenly decides to quit her job. Upon knowing that, Young Joon decides to re-conquer her.
Episodes: 16
Queen for 7 Days
Relationship: Rival brothers wanting the same Queen
In more details: Royal brothers Lee Yeok and Lee Yoong have a rather good relationship until Shin Chae Kyung’s appearance. She immediately chooses Prince Lee Yeok and refuses to become Lee Yoong’s Queen. This situation drives an edge between the 2 men, who not only fight for the girl, but are also forced to fight for the throne. In the end, Lee Yeok becomes King Jung Jong, while Shin Chae Kyung is crowned Queen. Yet, she only remains on the throne for 7 days and is ousted from the palace due to political rivalries. The lovers will spend their lives away from and yearning for each other.
Cast: Yeon Woo Jin, Park Min Young & Lee Dong Gun
Plot: The drama tells the love story of King Jung Jong and Queen Dan Gyeong.
Episodes: 20
When I Was the Most Beautiful
Relationship: In love with his older brother’s wife
In more details: On a rainy day, Seo Hwan meets Oh Ye Ji. It is love at first sight. A few days later, Seo Hwan goes to high school and discovers that his teacher is none other than Ye Ji. The connection is immediate; their relationship simple and fluid. Yet, Ye Ji is going through a lot personally and refuses any kind of romance. Later on though, she meets Seo Jin, Seo Hwan’s older brother, who actively pursues her, while discrediting his brother’s love. He considers it as being an immature crush that will pass. Ye Ji bends and marries Seo Jin. The heartbreak gets worse when Seo Jin mysteriously disappears after a car accident in the US; leaving his younger brother and wife on their own.
Cast: Im Soo Hyang, Ha Seok Jin & Ji Soo
Plot: Oh Ye Ji (Im Soo Hyang) is a ceramic artist. She has led a tough life and still bears the weight of her past. She gets entangled in a love triangle with 2 brothers Seo Hwan (Ji Soo) and Seo Jin (Ha Seok Jin). The former is a high school student, the latter a race car driver.
Episodes: 16
Grand Prince
Relationship: Cruelly trying to steal his brother’s lover
In more details: Sung Ja Hyun comes from a prestigious family. She is kind and beautiful. She falls in love with Prince Lee Hwi. He is popular, handsome, smart and affectionate towards her. But their sweet romance is disturbed when Lee Kang lays eyes on Ja Hyun. Attracted by his kindness, he falls in love, though knowing Lee Hwi’s feelings. Lee Kang has nothing to do with his brother. He is ambitious, dreams of becoming King and is not afraid of using cruel methods to get what he wants. The war begins between the siblings.
Cast: Yoon Shi Yoon, Jin So Yeon & Joo Sang Wook
Plot: Lee Hwi (Yoon Shi Yoon) is a popular and appreciated Prince, who has no intention of becoming King, contrary to his ambitious brother Lee Kang (Joo Sang Wook). Rivalry starts when they fall in love with the same woman Sung Ja Hyun (Jin So Yeon).
Episodes: 20
Lie to Me
Relationship: Coincidentally fighting over the same heart
In more details: It all starts when Kong Ah Jung lies about the identity of her husband to answer her friends’ question: ‘When are you going to get married?’. So, she pretends she recently tied the knot with a conglomerate. She ends up entering a contract relationship with Hyun Ki Joon. Meanwhile, Ah Jong meets Sang Hee, unaware he is Ki Joon’s brother. The young man develops feelings for her, and tries to steal her from his brother, saying that their relationship is just a smokescreen. But is it really though?
Cast: Yoon Eun Hye, Kang Ji Hwan & Sung Joon
Plot: One day, Kong Ah Jung (Yoon Eun Hye) lies about having gotten married with a rich man. The rumor spreads that her husband is Hyun Ki Joon (Kang Ji Hwan), forcing the two to start a fake relationship.
Episodes: 16
Goong: Princess Hours
Relationship: Crushing on his cousin’s wife and queen
In more details: Lee Shin is the future King of South Korea. In the past, his grandfather made a promise to Shin Chae Kyung’s grandfather: One day, they will eventually become family. Still in high school, they are forced to comply with the promise and to get married. Though they hate each other at first, they develop feelings. Lee Yul is Lee Shin’s cousin. His father should have become King and he Prince, but things went astray. He feels like an outcast, just like Shin Chae Kyung upon entering the palace. While they share their hardships, Lee Yul starts falling in love with the future Queen.
Cast: Ju Ji Hoon, Yoon Eun Hye & Kim Jeong Hoon
Plot: In order to comply with an old promise, Prince Lee Shin (Ju Ji Hoon) and ordinary student Shin Chae Kyung (Yoon Eun Hye) are forced to get married. They now have to learn to live and appreciate each other.
Episodes: 24
Hit the Top
Relationship: Father and son become rivals
In more details: In 2017, Lee Ji Hoon dreams of becoming an idol, but his (adoptive) father is very reluctant. He has a secret crush on his friend Choi Woo Seung. But, she doesn’t know about Ji Hoon’s feelings. When Hyun Jae is transported from 1993 to present days, he gets involved with the 2 friends. Rapidly, he starts developing feelings for Choi Woo Seung – as is she – not knowing that his biological son (Lee Ji Hoon) also likes her.
Cast: Yoon Shi Yoon, Kim Min Jae, Lee Se Young & Cha Tae Hyun
Plot: In 1993, Yoo Hyun Jae (Yoon Shi Yoon) is a popular idol. But, he disappears in a typhoon. When he comes back to his senses, he has time travelled to 2017. There, he finds his old manager Lee Gwang Jae (Cha Tae Hyun) and his adopted son Lee Ji Hoon (Kim Min Jae).
Episodes: 32
Reply 1997
Relationship: Sweet brothers crushing on the same crazy fan girl
In more details: It’s all about THE question that runs throughout the entire drama: Who is Si Won’s husband? Little by little, two main contestants are introduced: Yoon Yoon Jae – Si Won’s childhood friend – and Yoon Tae Woong – Yoon Jae’s older brother, Si Won’s teacher, and her dead sister’s fiancé (that is a lot yes). From the beginning, Yoon Jae has a crush on the crazy fan girl. Yet, nothing really happens for a long time. Si Won even starts dating Tae Woong, so we are set to believe he is Si Won’s husband. But Yoon Jae eventually decides to confess his feelings to Si Won, which makes her realize her own feelings for him. In the end, Yoon Jae turns out to be Si Won’s husband.
Cast: Jung Eun Ji, Seo In Guk & Song Jong Ho
Plot: Set in the 1990s, the drama tells the story of Sung Si Won (Jung Eun Ji), H.O.T.’s biggest fan, and her 5 high school friends.
Episodes: 16
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Relationship: Siblings all in love with the same girl
In more details: I guess we don’t really have to limit the number of contenders for Hae Soo, as it seems that each Prince crushes on her at one point in the story. Still, the two strongest suitors are the kind Wang Wook, who catches the eyes of Hae Soo; and the ruthless Wang So, who is immediately under Hae Soo’s spell. Though the choice is difficult, Hae Soo ends up falling for Wang So’s unconditional love. Unfortunately for the couple, Hae Soo goes back to her time, leaving behind (and alone) her great love. Honestly, I don’t think there is a single person who hasn’t cried because of that!
Cast: Lee Joon Gi, IU, Kang Ha Neul, Hong Jong Hyun, Nam Joo Hyuk, Baekhyun, Ji Soo, Kang Ha Na, Jin Ki Joo and Seohyun
Plot: During a total eclipse, Hae Soo (IU) travels back in time to the Goryeo Era. There, she meets the Princes of the royal family and falls in love with Wang So (Lee Joon Gi), who is feared by everyone.
Episodes: 20
Once Upon a Drama 