Korean Dramas with Brave Heroines who Kick Ass
I love strong, brave female leads in a Korean Drama. She who overcomes invisible barriers and becomes a better version of herself — and lands herself that desired job promotion, comes into terms with her past, and — as a cherry on top — gets her dream man. But the latter is optional. After all, what makes a woman strong comes from within.
In no particular order, here are some KDramas I love because of the strong female leads:
Flower of Evil
What if all clues point to your husband as a serial killer? Baek Hee-sung (Lee Joon-gi) is a man who hides his identity and past from his wife Cha Ji-won (Moon Chae-won), a police detective. From the outside, surface, they seem to be a loving family: A loving couple with a cute daughter. However, Baek Hee-sung has been hiding secrets, that he no longer could hide, from his wife. In this fast-paced drama, she finally catches on to what seems like just another case until one of their own dies under strange circumstances right before their eyes, and now everyone is after them!
Live
I love that the main female lead is a fierce policewoman who overcomes her troubled past, and as a bonus, we have two other female supporting characters who are no less kick-ass. Of course, it’s not Korean dramas without heartwarming background stories and wonderful character development. A must see!
Mr. Sunshine
Kim Tae-ri stars as Go Ae-shin, a Joseon noblewoman turns a sniper who fights for her country’s independence from Japanese occupation in the early 20th century. She meets Eugene Choi (Choi Yu-jin, played by Lee Byung-hun), an American citizen of Korean ancestry, and falls in love with him. As one of the highest rated drama in Korean cable TV history, it’s a must see. A lot of history, lush cinematography, beautiful costumes, and lovely chemistry between the two main leads.
My Name
I personally think Han So-hee made the perfect choice in this high-octane drama about a daughter who avenges his father’s killing by infiltrating a powerful crime organization. After starring as the other woman in The World of the Married and a young woman whose lover won’t commit to her in Nevertheless, it’s refreshing to see that she could kick butts.
Kingdom: Ashin of the North
Jun Ji-hyun portrayed the titular character who seeks vengeance after her family and people of her village are killed. It’s a prequel of the hugely popular Kingdom series, which is created and written by Kim Eun-hee.
Twenty-Five Twenty-One
The title “25 21” refers to the ages when the main leads of the drama fall in love with one another. Kim-Tae-ri plays a teenage student who pursues big ambitions in the sport of fencing and meets a hardworking young man who seeks to rebuild his life after his family breaks apart due to the 1998 financial crisis. Fencing scenes are full of adrenaline and you could see that Kim Tae-ri works so hard to play this beloved character.
