K-dramas are no longer just about romance, thankfully! Young and innocent girls who fall for rich guys? We’re so over it! So instead, today, the best K-dramas follow strong female leads who take matters into their own hands instead of waiting around to be rescued or for their future husbands to sweep them off their feet.
Nothing is more inspiring than watching other successful, strong women. And with these great dramas that drive home a heartfelt storyline, who needs a male main character to catch attention when the leading ladies deserve our admiration?
We’ve prepared a list of some of the best television dramas with female leads from the past years. Note, this list is not based on ranking.
1. Vincenzo
The noteworthy point is that Hong Cha-young played by actress Jeon Yeo has been spotted in her own unique sense of style with a tastefully feminine flair, emphasizing her strong character as a female lead expected to set the trend one way or another.
2. Vagabond
In “Vagabond,” Go Hae-Ri (Suzy) is a National Intelligence Service agent with considerable potential and ambition, but she hasn’t had a chance to join an actual field operation yet. It doesn’t matter how good someone is at their job. You have to have the experience to go along with it.
The drama will surely leave you on the edge of your seat, wanting to cheer for Hae-Ri and Dal-geon’s teamwork as they have now become a formidable force. However, you’ll now wonder what will happen next as season two is likely in the works!
3. It’s Okay To Not Be Okay
“It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” introduces viewers to Ko Moon Yeong (Seo Ye Ji), a best-selling children’s book author with a borderline personality disorder ko Moon Yeong captures her audience’s attention from the start of the drama n from the start of the drama by displaying her brash attitude, fearless sense of style, and overall quirkiness.
The series also shows how mental illness and trauma deals a lot with emotional ups and downs. Ko Moon Yeong often gets a bad rap for this, but tune in to see Seo Ye Ji’s charismatic acting skills, and stay for the romance!
4. Hi Bye, Mama!
After her death, Cha Yu Ri lingered on Earth and watched over her husband and daughter. Finally, after throwing a fit and cursing out a deity, Yu Ri is granted a shot at being human again! To stay a regular woman, she has 49 days to make her life as it was before she died. The problem is, her husband had already remarried five years ago!
Yu Ri is a character who can quite literally make you laugh and cry at the same time. Throughout each episode, you’ll notice her strength because she’s able to stand tall even during hard times.
5. The King: Eternal Monarch
Jeong Tae Eul (Kim Go Eun) is an inspector in the Violent Crimes Squad. It’s safe to say that her upbringing as a Tae Kwon Do instructor has been very useful to her as a police officer. She stays grounded and logical – even when confronted with the possibility and confusion of a parallel world and fantasy elements.
6. It’s Okay, That’s Love
This is Ji Hae Soo (Gong Hyo Jin). She is a psychiatrist in her first year of fellowship. A capable and passionate therapist, Hae Soo does everything in her power to help patients get the mental health treatment they need.
She understands it can be difficult for people who suffer from afflictions like depression and fear of the dark to get the help they require – which is why she’s committed to doing just about anything to ensure all of her patients are happy and satisfied with how things turn out. However, Hae Soo is affectionately known as an emotional wreck when it comes to love outside of work.
7. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
Early into the first episode of Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, it is made clear that female bodyguard Do Bong Soon’s character is full of surprises. She certainly stands out in a sea of similar characters. No ordinary woman, she possesses supernatural strength.
It’s this physical prowess combined with her sweet and unassuming demeanour – despite being so headstrong – which makes both her character and performance so memorable.
8. Hotel Del Luna
Jang Man Wol works as the manager of Hotel Del Luna. Her demeanour is cold, but she has an unbreakable spirit that helps her take care of the needs of everyone in the building.
After Jang Man Wol was framed for murder, she agreed to serve a sentence with the hotel where she plays the role of the secretary dormitory duty master, with conditions that include not leaving her room or interacting with guests or staff members.
9. Flower of Evil
Cha Ji Won (Moon Chae Won) portrays a character named Ji Won, a detective and a wife to a man who has some dark secrets from his past. However, as she and her colleagues begin to investigate the series of murders, the dots connect, and it’s revealed that her husband ends up being the key suspect behind them all. She’s smart, resourceful, and forward – a depiction of a career woman who’s a mother!
10. Penthouse
Shim Su Ryeon’s demeanour makes her a great leader. She exudes a kind of gravitas that inspires those around her to follow through on hard endeavours and tasks with fierce loyalty. But, of course, one must never forget that she is not someone to be messed with, threatening anyone in her way with utter ruthlessness when retribution is in order!
She’s like the queen of hearts in any game of cards — cool under pressure but terrifying for opponents who know what awaits them if they lose.
