Male lead falls first and chases first
Some special cases...
1 - ML is already in love with the FL by the beginning of the drama. This may be because of a long-time secret crush, some fateful past connection (see this list), etc.
1a - FL does not know about the ML's feelings or doesn't know him at all.
1b - FL knows about his feelings but doesn't reciprocate for some time.
1c - FL has reciprocated ML's feelings for a long time but doesn't tell him.
1d - leads are ex-lovers. ML always loved FL and chases first upon reunion.
1* - ML falls in love at first sight with the FL in an early episode.
2 - two (or more) MLs/SMLs all fall first and chase the FL first. Noted only if the SML's pursuit of the FL plays a big role in the plot. (For cases where the FL likes/chases the SML first, check this list.)
3 - the ML pursues the FL openly for a long time. There are many episodes between the ML realizing or trying to confess his feelings and the FL accepting his advances.
4 - FL pursues the ML first technically but for some plot reason other than love (e.g. revenge, deception).
Related lists: Crazy-In-Love MLs, ML constantly seeks out FL, Green Flag MLs, Red Flag Toxic/Taboo Romance, FL Chases First
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1. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
3
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2. My Small Indeed Fortunate
Chinese Drama - 2021, 28 episodes
1a
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3. Coffee Prince
Korean Drama - 2007, 17 episodes
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4. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
3
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5. Wat is er aan de hand met secretaresse Kim?
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
1a, 3
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6. Clean With Passion For Now
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
This is one of those "falling for you has ruined my life" kind of comedy stories. He falls first and chases first even though it drives him crazy, haha. Very cute drama
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7. My Secret Romance
Korean Drama - 2017, 13 episodes
between 1b and 1d - ML falls during a one-night stand in the first episode
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8. Something in the Rain
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
1a
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9. Kimi Wa Petto
Japanese Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
1a, 1b ish (ML's feelings are hard to miss)
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10. Boss & Me
Chinese Drama - 2014, 34 episodes
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11. Love O2O
Chinese Drama - 2016, 30 episodes
1a
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12. Lucky Romance
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
4
ML has a smile that could make a thousand flowers bloom :)
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13. The Romance of Tiger and Rose
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
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14. Cunning Single Lady
Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
1d
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15. The Greatest Love
Korean Drama - 2011, 16 episodes
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16. Love is Sweet
Chinese Drama - 2020, 36 episodes
1a, 3
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17. Go Ho's Starry Night
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
1a, 2
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18. Noodlanding op jou
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
The kind of love story where chasing her ruins his life and he chases her anyway
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19. Love Me Like A Child
Chinese Drama - 2021, 29 episodes
1b
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20. Hello Again!
Taiwanese Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
1a ish
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21. Hwarang
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
2
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22. Noble, My Love
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
3
cw obsessive toxic ML
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23. The Heirs
Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes
2
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24. The King's Affection
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
3
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25. Cang Lan Jue
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
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26. When the Camellia Blooms
Korean Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
1b*
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27. Er is iets met die 1 procent
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
3 - though at first ML pursues FL for selfish reasons, not love
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28. Try the World
Chinese Drama - 2022, 40 episodes
1a (kinda implied), 3
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29. Maid's Revenge
Chinese Drama - 2022, 30 episodes
1b
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30. Reply 1988
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
2
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31. School 2017
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
love this ML
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32. Queen Cheorin
Korean Drama - 2020, 20 episodes
ML starts off in love with someone else but when he does fall for the FL, he falls first and hard
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33. Hana Yori Dango
Japanese Drama - 2005, 9 episodes
3
Same goes for all other versions - cw for forced kiss in Meteor Garden, Boys Over Flowers
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34. Crazy Love
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
4
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35. The King's Woman
Chinese Drama - 2017, 48 episodes
1*b, 3
cw super possessive anti-hero ML
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36. Love in the Moonlight
Korean Drama - 2016, 18 episodes
3
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37. Falling Into Your Smile
Chinese Drama - 2021, 31 episodes
ML is tsundere type, takes him a while to pursue actively
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38. Love with Flaws
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
1b ish, 2, 3
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39. Reply 1997
Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes
1b, 2
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40. Descendants of the Sun
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
1*
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41. Cheese in the Trap
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
cw near sociopathic ML
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42. Prince of Wolf
Taiwanese Drama - 2016, 18 episodes
1*
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43. Witch's Romance
Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
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44. The King in Love
Korean Drama - 2017, 40 episodes
2
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45. Radio Romance
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
1a
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46. I Hear Your Voice
Korean Drama - 2013, 18 episodes
1
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47. My First First Love
Korean Drama - 2019, 8 episodes
2, FL does fall quickly for the SML
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48. Lang Jun Bu Ru Yi
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
2 - love triangle but it's the ML twice
very much 3
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49. Secret Love Affair
Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
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50. Confess Your Love
Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes
1a
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51. A Business Proposal
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
3
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52. I Need Romance 3
Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
1a/1b
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53. Divorce Lawyer in Love
Korean Drama - 2015, 18 episodes
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54. You Are My City and Fortress
Chinese Drama - 2021, 40 episodes
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55. All About Eve
Korean Drama - 2000, 20 episodes
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56. 5-ji Kara 9-ji Made
Japanese Drama - 2015, 10 episodes
1*
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57. Love Scenery
Chinese Drama - 2021, 31 episodes
1a - ML has a crush on her gaming persona
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58. Sassy Go Go
Korean Drama - 2015, 12 episodes
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59. Abyss
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
1b
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60. Love Better Than Immortality
Chinese Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
3, very much 3
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61. Emergency Couple
Korean Drama - 2014, 21 episodes
1d
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62. Shopping King Louie
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
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63. Ho Goo's Love
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
1
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64. About Is Love
Chinese Drama - 2018, 30 episodes
3
cw for toxic possessive ML
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65. Moon Embracing the Sun
Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes
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66. He is Psychometric
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
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67. Falling for Innocence
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
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68. One Shot Scandal
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
Falling in love with her genuinely ruins his career and yet he still does it lol. I think it's implied that they fall at the same time but she doesn't realize it until after he's already started pursuing her
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69. Beautiful Gong Shim
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
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70. Kill Me, Heal Me
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
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71. Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
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72. My Strange Hero
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
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73. DoDoSolSolLaLaSol
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
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74. Qian Jin Nan Tao
Chinese Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
2 - fun frenemies relationship between ML and SML
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75. My ID is Gangnam Beauty
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
1a
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76. King the Lander
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
3
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77. Ware Schoonheid
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
1a, 2
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78. Start-Up
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
1a, 2
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79. Scent of a Woman
Korean Drama - 2011, 16 episodes
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80. De Koning: Eeuwige Monarch
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
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81. Uncontrollably Fond
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
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82. Devilish Joy
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
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83. Fight For My Way
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
3
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84. Dali and Gamjatang
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
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85. Dong Lan Xue
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
1b, kind of 1c
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86. Mang Ai Qian Jin
Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes
3
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87. Devil Beside You
Taiwanese Drama - 2005, 20 episodes
cw - obsessive bully ML
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88. Haar Privéleven
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
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89. Healer
Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
2 - love triangle but it's the ML twice
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90. Dress Sleeved Red
Korean Drama - 2021, 17 episodes
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91. She Was Pretty
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
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92. Love Revolution
Korean Drama - 2020, 30 episodes
3
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93. Destruction
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
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94. One More Happy Ending
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
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95. Strongest Deliveryman
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
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96. Eulachacha Waikiki
Korean Drama - 2018, 20 episodes
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97. Assistant of Superstar
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
3
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98. Monstar
Korean Drama - 2013, 12 episodes
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99. Baby-faced Beauty
Korean Drama - 2011, 20 episodes
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100. Moonlight
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
3