We can allow a teensy bit of objectification if we also appreciate his… talent.

I know, but not only I find it VERY cheap and lazy way of making FL more impressive in the eyes of viewers by giving her multiple passionate suitors, it's also super disrespectful to SML characters in general to treat them like love triangle levers and nothing more. This teaser in particular is already doing SML some disservice with his only scene being dedicated not to his own characterization, but to him pining for FL. And the show hasn't even started yet! They'd better fix this asap or else...

I don't mind scheming ministers tho. Like at all. They can be pretty entertaining if done right. What's the court life without conspiracies and power plays anyway? Those are two incomparable things, because OTPs - even in sageuks - can exist just fine without any third-wheels.

Love triangles are there to make FL appear more desirable and by extension give female viewers this sweet fantasy experience of being the center of reverse harem full of hot men. Which is also why FLs are often suffering from weak characterization - all for self-insert purposes. Notice how love triangles of 2 women and 1 man are rarity, and if rivaling SFL does show up, she's usually a real piece of work with zero chances to win ML at all. Thankfully this trope is slowly dying out - I guess SK now prefers their crazy bitchy ladies to shine in makjangs instead of being wasted as plot devices in romcoms - but classic MFM love triangle still stands strong to this day. Hell, another upcoming romance sageuk has 3 (!) dudes courting FL! You can guess the target audience of such story by mile)))

Every frame of this drama with him will look like a painting handcrafted by god. His face card is beyond insane.

Now in a parallel universe, this character has Eunseoba’s adorable Busan accent! Bliss!