Korean shows are renowned for their romance and drama, but the era of “damsels in distress” is long past.
In recent years, the leading women of K-series and films are stronger than ever, defying the odds and having no problem taking matters into their own hands.
By serving up action, attitude, and a whole load of butt-kicking, these characters are giving viewers ever more reason to root for their girl crushes.
Here are just five “unnie”, or “older sisters”, who prove the phrase “the weaker sex” should be permanently retired from the lexicon.
1. Gil Bok-soon from ‘Kill Boksoon’
Work-life balance can be challenging, especially so for Gil Bok-soon.
As the finest and most successful assassin of a hitman agency, Bok-soon leads a double life: not only is she at the top of a cutthroat industry, she’s also a single mother to a teenage daughter.
The actress herself is also a force to be reckoned with: Jeon Do-yeon did most of her stunts on her own, despite this being her first lead role in an action film. She’s clearly killing it both on- and off-screen!
2. Moon Dong-eun from ‘The Glory’
Rooting for revenge is a grey area, but it’s hard not to take sides when you consider what Moon Dong-eun has had to put up with.
As a child, she was brutally and violently bullied by her schoolmates – so much so that she even thought of ending her own life. Yet she persevered and bounced back in ways her tormentors could never have anticipated.
Dong-eun spent the next 20 years of her life meticulously mapping out a plan to exact revenge against her childhood bullies, forming unexpected alliances along the way, and strengthening her resolve to fight against injustice.
3. Yoon Ji-woo from ‘My Name’
After witnessing the murder of her father, Yoon Ji-woo’s only motivation to keep on living is to exact revenge, even if she has to do it alone.
Over the years, she trains under Choi Mu-jin, the leader of organised crime syndicate Dongcheon, and eventually emerges on top in a fight competition among the gang recruits.
Having to prove her worth to a crime boss and, later, in the police force, Ji-woo is the literal embodiment of “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.
4. Oh In-joo from ‘Little Women’
This series is dominated by strong, richly drawn female characters rarely seen in Korean dramas.
Three close sisters dream of escaping poverty and living a happy life, but find themselves entangled in a conspiracy that involves the rich and powerful when 70 billion won falls into their hands.
The eldest, Oh In-joo, starts off as a naive young woman, but her desire to protect her sisters proves her resilience and serves as a reminder that family is not to be messed with.
5. Seo Yi-kyung from ‘Sweet Home’
Seo Yi-kyung’s survival instincts as a former rescue personnel have definitely worked in her favour. Despite her personal struggles, she is one of the strongest people, physically and mentally, in the apartment complex where she has to help defend residents from vicious, bloodthirsty creatures.
Having enrolled in the military at the end of season one, it will interesting to see how her character develops in the upcoming new season as she continues to search for her fiancé who disappeared two days before their wedding.
These titles are all streaming on Netflix.