Drama where the ML is part of the mafia or just “bad”

first - what you described (mafia/crime/ action /anti hero ML +romance) is MY FAVORITE scenario, so maybe you could also recommend what you've seen like that, beginning with "my name" which I couldn't find, can you link it?

I just commented in other tread and will copy it because fits what you want perfectly:

there are good dramas, but really really BEST ever drama in Crime/action/romance is "Cruel City", it's so high level no other will compare to it... you would love everything in it, twists and turns, unexpacted surprises, character developments, action and interesting events TILL the end (many dramas have good start but then goes down, but it was perfect 20 episodes), you never know what will happen next, who is whose ally or enemy, mafia, undercover cops and gray characters, I mean no one is fully good and only few fully bad, this drama is complex and not usual cliche black/white sotry. Many multilayered characters and complex relationships but ML is best, someone like K2 + more smart and more dark, anti hero/criminal authority. 

+ one of most amazing romance (though it's kind of side story not main, but still one of best and emotional romance I've seen, with hot chemistry), btw from my experience best not cliche romances are often as side story in not romantic dramas.

p.s. after "Cruel City" I'm always hungry for something like this drama, I hoped few times (for example when I tried Vincenzo, also "My beautiful bride") but every time after few episodes I realize that this isn't even close...


other anti hero-bad guy ML dramas  with romance (starting with better ones as drama overall):

Arthdal Chronicles  it's totally different genre, like korean GOT but really best drama ever and amazing multilayered characters, there are 3 main male leads and 2 female leads. almost no one are fully good in this drama, complex interesting characters and relationships, there are no guns but killing and being bad guy ... of course. one ML is good (but also interesting development) other ML is bad cruel super smart misterious and super sexy though he isn't in first episodes, he is surprise and twist himself, and third ML older guy amazing soooo interesting character, he is national hero and also anti hero, really amazing character with also amazing romance, his love interest is soo badass girl...and their romance is great, 2 ambitious strong leader person on opposite sides of political battles still loyal to each other. there are other romances too...
Flower of Evil really high level drama, amazing acting. dark ML, romance (they are married but trust me still better romance then 70% kdramas)

Hello Monster ML isn't bad but not angel either, but there are 2 other SMLs serial killers, there is romance too (I'm not fan of that romance but this is must watch drama, really!)

The Smile Has Left Your Eyes misterious dark ML and amazing chemistry romance Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi this is original Japanese version, both are very good

Kill It perfect fit for you - contract killer and detective girl, both beautiful, chemistry and really good drama

Lucifer also perfect fit for you, masterplan revenge and dark SML behind it, he kills people with other peoples hands, smart dark almost villain and nice beautiful girl....

Born Again  hard to explain but ML practically is killer obsessed with FL, there is love triangle and 2 different time/reincarnation 

A Man's Story  and Giant  in both bad guy/anti hero and FL romance, overall not so great dramas but very good romances. first one is more bad, villain second is anti hero who tries not to be fully bad ))) Giant is long drama, I skipped other storylines and watched only Joo Sang Wooks story/romance, and it was worth it, one of memorable romances  (I think)

The Innocent Man revenge drama, how good boy becomes bad... he did everything for woman but she betrayed.

Warrior Baek Dong Soo historical and not so much romance (I mean romance is there but it's weak part) but I recommend it because SML is unforgettable anti hero, he fully shadows ML Ji Chung Wook he becomes kind of mafia boss and he plays cold killer with sad beautiful eyes soo great!

 monochrome:

Hi, thanks for the recommendations!!  My Name is a Netflix show, but I should warn you, the mafia guy isn't the ML here (I wish he had been lol), I'm not even sure he's a romantic interest... I just loved his dynamic with the FL! It's a "dark" show tho, so don't expect fluff, cute moments or anything like that bc everything revolves around crimes and police vs mafia stuff

thanks, 

dark/bad guys are rare MLs, what I listed some are ML some SML but equally main, but first of all, Cruel City which have everything, bag guy mafia authority ML, side story but great romance and everything you could like in these genres ))) it's also dark and feels like it's name (second name is "heartless city")

also Kill it and Lucifer are perfect fits for you, other dramas are also really good.

if you will remember something with that vibe, recommend ^^

 monochrome:

If you haven’t seen My Name, I’m just looking for a ML who’s a bad person (or considered a bad person). He can be part of the mafia, a killer or just do bad things in general. Romance is a must too, I don’t care if it has a happy ending or not tho. Thanks!

Historical romance dramas with a dark or immoral emperor ML: 

• Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
• The King's Woman
• Empress Ki
• Story of Yanxi Palace

Modern dramas with romance where the ML is a murderer, a murder suspect or closely connected to a murderer:

• The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
• Come and Hug Me
• W
• Misty
• Hello Monster
• I Hear Your Voice