It makes sense that the main couples tend to get all the limelight, but in the BL world, there are times when the allies also really shine—those special characters who support and stand up for love in all shapes and sizes. It’s those characters that you wish were real and your best friend.
This one is all about applauding the most lovable and iconic allies in the world of BL. These five characters are ones you just can’t help but love.
Warning: Light spoilers ahead!
1. “Light On Me”: Shi Woon
The MVP award in “Light On Me,” without a doubt, goes to Namgoong Shi Woon (Go Woo Jin), the drama’s most lovable and goofy ally. Shiwoon is a member of the student council, which the anti-social and bluntly honest Woo Tae Kyung (Lee Sae On) tries to join to break out of his shell and make friends. His attempts though, aren’t immediately fruitful.
Tae Kyung soon becomes entangled with two contrasting guys: student council Vice President Noh Shin Woo (Kang You Seok) and President Shin Da On (Choe Chan Yi). Queue the self-proclaimed relationship expert Shi Woon, who is able to pick up on the romantic atmosphere in the student council before anyone else is.
The amazing thing about the ray of sunshine that is Shi Woon is that he has no problem accepting that his friends could have feelings for each other. He supports them from the get-go, no questions asked!
Shi Woon is never late to offer advice to his friends as they navigate their complicated, growing feelings. Though sometimes it seems like he is speaking in riddles (at least according to the oblivious Tae Kyung), he always says what his friends need to hear. Shi Woon gives 24/7 golden retriever energy, and he’s seriously the king of reading the room.
Start watching “Light on Me” now:
2. “The New Employee”: Ji Yeon
In “The New Employee,” supporting character Seo Ji Yeon (Baek Ji Hye) takes the cake as the supportive and hilarious longtime friend of leading gay man and newly hired intern Wu Seung Hyeon (Moon Ji Yong). All Ji Yeon wants for her friend is for him to find a good guy who’ll treat him right, and that just might happen when something starts going on between Seung Hyeon and his boss.
What starts as a small office crush becomes something more after a drunken kiss, and Ji Yeon is there to help Seung Hyeon navigate the treacherous waters of office romance. As an outspoken woman who is part of the LGBTQ+ community herself, she’s a character with an open mind that is really admirable.
One of the most iconic scenes in the drama happens when Seung Hyeon drinks a bit too much and accidentally lets it slip out that Seung Hyeon likes men. Of course, she does this in front of his boss, which actually helps her friend in the long run.
Start watching “The New Employee” now:
3. “My Love Mix-Up!”: Hashimoto Mio
It’s hard to find any dislikes or faults in the honest and kind Hashimoto Mio (Fukumoto Riko) in “My Love Mix-Up!” She’s what might seem like an average school girl until she steps up to the plate to encourage and protect her dorky deskmate, Aoki Sota (Michieda Shunsuke). Funny chaos and an identity crisis for Sota ensues when he borrows an eraser from Mio, leading to a mix-up of who likes who in their class. This mix-up creates a friendship between Mio and Sota.
When Sota reveals to Mio that his crush is another male classmate, she immediately reassures him that it is normal and that nothing is wrong with him. It did not even take her a minute to process. The scene could easily bring anyone to tears.
In the end, Mio plays a big part in helping Sota accept that his feelings are completely okay, and she isn’t afraid to throw a punch at someone who tries to tell him otherwise. Without her, he may not have found the courage to follow his heart, let alone accept himself. Way to go, Mio!
Start watching “My Love Mix-Up!” now:
4. “Kabe-Koji-Nekoyashiki-kun Desires to be Recognized”: Yamada Koharu
Yamada Koharu (Yahagi Honoka), a proud fujoshi (an extreme BL fangirl), is the hilarious BL lover in “Kabe-Koji-Nekoyashiki-kun Desires to be Recognized.” She’s close friends and classmates with the contrastingly gloomy Nekoyashiki Mamoru (Matsuoka Koudai). Mamoru is an erotic BL manga artist who needs to feel recognized for his work to survive.
Without hoping for anything in return—except for him to keep publishing his BL novels—Koharu just wants her friend to find happiness and success. In one of the simultaneously most heartwarming and heartbreaking scenes of the drama, she defends Mamoru against a classmate who calls him out for being gay. The slap she lands is so satisfying to see. It is perfect.
Mamoru already struggles with depression and a severe inferior complex, so when his childhood friend and old crush, now a J-pop idol, springs back into his life, Mamoru’s complicated feelings go into overdrive. Thankfully, Koharu is there to lend him advice and a shoulder to cry on when he goes through hard times.
Whether it’s making a house call with food, giving him advice on his drawings, or assisting him at his manga events, she’s always there for him. She’s an icon through and through.
Start watching “Kabe-Koji-Nekoyashiki-kun Desires to be Recognized” now:
5. “My School President”: Thiu
Finally, in “My School President,” Mark Pakin Kunaanuwit plays the forever reliable Thiu, the best friend of Tinn (Gemini Norawit Titicharoenrak). Thiu is very much aware of Tinn’s longtime crush on another classmate Gun (Fourth Nattawat Jirochtikul). In fact, he’s been Tinn’s wingman.
Gun hasn’t really taken notice of Tinn yet, so Tinn decides to finally make his dream of dating Gun a reality by becoming the school president. Sure enough, Thiu is there to help Tinn scheme—ehem, plan—ways to win Gun’s heart. Thiu’s a BL watcher too, and he even suggests Tinn to use BL series to learn how to win Gun’s heart. That’s pretty good advice in my book.
gunsatthaphan
gunsatthaphan
gunsatthaphanThiu is not only a sincere ally but also just a really amazing friend. A friend who doesn’t question who you like but supports you instead? That’s friend goals right there.
Start watching “My School President” now:
What are your favorite side characters in the BL or GL genre? Did any of them make this list? Let us know in the comments below!
Asya’s a BL-biased Soompi writer with a love of K-pop and all types of Asian dramas. Some of her favorite shows are “Psychopath Diary,” “Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice but to Kiss!,” “Light On Me,” “The Untamed,” “Go Go Squid!,” and “Cherry Magic!”
Currently watching: “Love in the Big City,” “Eccentric Romance,” “Sell Your Haunted House,” “Love is a Poison,” “Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo,” and “My Damn Business.”
Looking forward to: “Your Sky the Series” and “I’m the Most Beautiful Count.”
English (US) · 