The female lead in K-drama has evolved over the years. The South Korean industry moved on from demure characters who look stunning and lead picture-perfect lives a long time ago. Plasticky K-drama heroines are out and relatable K-drama leads who are broken (and perhaps broken) but brave and wear their hearts on their sleeves, work towards their goals and take care of their loved ones. Well-rounded characters with interesting arcs are on the rise. From romantic comedies to sports series, it’s safe to say that we’re only winning with female characters who are as real as they come.
This Women’s Day, we’re celebrating with K-dramas that capture a diverse range of female experiences.
Little Women
This show is nothing like Louisa May Alcott’s beloved classic novel of the same name. While it’s a loose spin on the book, Little Women revolves around three poor sisters who navigate financial struggles, growing pains and love. They are forced to go up against one of the richest, most powerful families in South Korea after one of the sister’s presumably dead friends leaves her 70 billion South Korean won. While the show has some interesting twists and turns, the well-written characters and the spotlight on sisterhood make it a highly engaging watch.
Be Melodramatic
Slice-of-life series Be Melodramatic really gets the highs and lows of the female experience. The K-drama revolves around a trio – Im Jin-joo, Lee Eun-jung and Hwang Jan-joo who find themselves leaning on each other for support during their thirties. As they go through loss, heartbreak and career woes, they rise up to meet adversity and they do it together. The show isn’t afraid to dig deep and gives its female characters the much-needed chance to be human without being judged.
Hello, My Twenties
Hello, My Twenties is a female-led drama about not one but five leads who live together. The show unveils a series of individual stories as the characters experience the tumultuous experience of being in their twenties. They connect with each other deeply as they tackle their problems. While it has some serious tear-jerker moments, watching the show for the most part, feels like hanging out with your friends.
The Glory
Few characters are as flawed and powerful in K-drama history as Moon Dong-eun from The Glory. The show revolves around a woman who sets out to get revenge on her high school bullies. This one isn’t for the faint-hearted as the series doesn’t shy away from the portrayal of bullying and assault. It examines the aftermath and trauma that follows. Actress Song Kye-kyo does a fabulous job of playing the complex character. It is no surprise that she has bagged quite a few awards for her performance in the K-drama.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
One of the most popular K-dramas, Extraordinary Attorney Woo has one of the most loved female leads. The show revolves around a neurodivergent lawyer who goes up against discrimination and prejudices to become one of the best in her field. With her razor-sharp focus on winning cases and a kind heart, she finds success. It also helps that she is absolutely adorable.
Thirty-Nine
K-drama more than makes up for the lack of representation women in their thirties get in popular shows and films in the West. Thirty-Nine is just another example. The show revolves around women in their thirties who are still struggling with adulting because it never really gets easy. The show portrays the realities of many women who deal with societal pressure to get married and “get settled”. It also tackles issues like sexism in the workplace. The cast includes Crash Landing On You star Son Ye-jin. Need we say more?
Hi, Bye Mama!
Fantasy K-drama Hi, Bye Mama! Tells the story of Cha Yu-ri, a spirit who is given a second chance at life. She stays on Earth after her death but in order to be human again, she has to get her life back on track which is a problem since five years have passed and her husband has remarried. The show has a strong female lead who does everything in her power for her family. It is also an interesting exploration of motherhood as Cha Yu-ri tries to fulfil her duties as a parent in ghost form while yearning for the love of her family.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo
If you love a good sports drama that has as much drama as it does sports, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo is for you. The series revolves around a college athlete who juggles friendship, love and weight-lifting. As Kim Bok-joo develops feelings for a guy, she embarks on an emotional rollercoaster, experiencing dating and relationships for the first time. Throughout the show, she remains as driven and ever as a sportsperson who loves as hard as she lifts.
When The Camellia Blooms
Every woman has had thoughts of moving to a small town and restarting their life at least once. In When The Camellia Blooms, Oh Dong-baek does exactly that. She is a single mother who settles down in a small town and opens a bar named Camellia. She remains cool and calm in the face of judgement from her new narrow-minded neighbours even when they constantly ridicule her. She holds her head up high and is a great mother and businesswoman regardless of what people say. When she’s threatened by a serial killer, she refuses to shut shop and leave.
Search WWW
Search WWW has not one but three powerful female leads – Bae Ta-mi, Cha Hyeon and Song Ga-kyung. Competitive women in male-dominated fields of work seldom get good representations on screen. But this show doesn’t give in to basic tropes. Instead, we see three women showing solidarity and no, there is no backstabbing involved. This is a good drama to watch when you’re in the mood for a story about women empowering women.
