Queer Storylines
supporting and minor characters/storylines & implied/censored characters
-
1. Itaewon Class
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
trans supporting character/subplot, handled fairly well
-
2. Wedding Impossible
Korean Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
2ML is gay, the entire plot kicks off bc of this
-
3. Kekkon Aite wa Chusen de
Japanese Drama - 2018, 8 episodes
supporting queer characters voicing their concerns over the marriage bill is a subplot
-
4. Reply 1997
Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes
supporting character has crush on his best friend, handled respectfully
-
5. 10 Years Ticket
Thai Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
2 supporting characters are queer women
-
6. Secret Garden
Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes
supporting character has crush on his mentor/idol
-
7. Run On
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
supporting character has crush on his best friend, handled respectfully, tw homophobia from parent
-
8. Kiss
Thai Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
supporting characters revealed to be a couple 2/3 through the series
-
9. The Sweet Blood
Korean Drama - 2021, 15 episodes
2ML is bi
-
10. Kleun Cheewit
Thai Drama - 2017, 15 episodes
FL's manager is gay, they have a very sweet friendship
-
11. Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
Japanese Drama - 2007, 12 episodes
possible unpopular opinion, but I'm including it because 2ML goes through self-reflection and accepts his feelings for her before finding out FL is a girl
-
12. Wol Soo Geum Hwa Mok To
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
FL's best friend is gay, handled okay. Mild homophobia from his boss and family.
-
13. Golden Spirit: Joseon Marriage Prohibition
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
supporting character revealed to be gay + a stealth plug for marriage equality, although both in the last 10 min of final episode
-
14. A Time Called You
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
minor but significant gay characters appear in one episode (tw death)
-
15. Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
lesbian minor character featured in 1 episode (+ her partner w/ no lines)
-
16. Sunbae, doe die lippenstift niet op
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
supporting character's husband leaves her for a man, extremely minor subplot, handled okay
-
17. Liefdesalarm
Korean Drama - 2019, 8 episodes
minor character/subplot, iirc some bullying from another minor character, ML sticks up for him
-
18. Cheese in the Trap
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
gay couple as minor characters, face difficulty due to homophobia which is exploited by ML :(
-
19. Someday or One Day
Taiwanese Drama - 2019, 13 episodes
minor but significant gay character appears in one episode. tw suicide, bullying
-
20. So I Married an Anti-Fan
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
FL's ex bf (minor character) left her because he's gay
-
21. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
odd amount of faux/dream sequence flirting btwn the ML and 2nd ML / some characters believe the ML is gay at first meanwhile the supporting (actually) gay character depicted as an offensive stereotype
-
22. The Untamed
Chinese Drama - 2019, 50 episodes
INCREDIBLY gay for a drama that is technically censored
-
23. Payakorn Sorn Ruk
Thai Drama - 2020, 13 episodes
implied bi supporting character; not explicitly canon, but implied ex-girlfriends Lyla & Rin are then implied to get back together at the end of the series
-
24. Eternal Love
Chinese Drama - 2017, 58 episodes
FL's uncles (supporting characters) are depicted as a married couple despite the text never explicitly stating it
-
25. Eternal Love of Dream
Chinese Drama - 2020, 56 episodes
FL's uncles (supporting characters) are depicted as a married couple despite the text never explicitly stating it; female supporting character in love with her female guard (posing as male)
-
26. School 2013
Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes
not explicitly canon, but the actors said they played it as if they were in love and it SHOWS
-
27. Are You Human Too?
Korean Drama - 2018, 36 episodes
not explicitly canon, but 2 supporting male characters are devoted to each other/end the series together
-
28. Xiao Sa Jia Ren Dan Dan Zhuang
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
not explicitly canon, but one of the princes and his bodyguard/best friend are implied to be a couple
-
29. Zoeken: WWW
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
not explicitly canon, but this drama is shot like a love triangle btwn the 3 female leads (I'm honestly confused why they gave them male love interests at all)
-
30. Seen from a Distance, Green Spring
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
not quite as insane as Search: WWW, but coded ot3?? ML is equally obsessed with FL and the other ML, FL refers to the boys as having a married couple's quarrel, and the show ends with the three of them laughing together, no love interest for the "single" "third wheel" ML
-
31. Because This is My First Life
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
FL implied to be bi; makes passing reference to finding a woman attractive and asks her on a date
-
32. Shen Yin
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
lowkey feel like they were implying something between Xiuyan & Mingqi??
-
33. Wayla Gam Tay
Thai Drama - 2022, 15 episodes
-
34. Love with Flaws
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
supporting character(s) are gay
-
35. Personal Taste
Korean Drama - 2010, 16 episodes
supporting character is gay
-
36. Tian Ya Ke
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes