✨Omona Original✨ Her Story Too: Romance Kdramas keeping focus on their female leads
Ever watched a romance K-drama were you felt like you suddenly lost the female lead halfway? Felt like her initially well-set up story fizzled out to the benefit of scenes of the male lead? Wished you could have seen a more developed exploration of her personal troubles? I know I have! In this post, I will discuss some of my favorite Korean dramas that keep their female lead's character arc central to the story from start to finish.
Aside from survival dramas like Squid Game, Korean dramas are arguably most well-known for their works in the romance genre. Modern classics like Coffee Prince, My Love from the Star, and Crash Landing on You feature stories of star-crossed lovers and their trials to make their love work. Massively popular teen romances like Boys over Flowers, The Heirs, and recently True Beauty show rich, hot, popular boys falling for the spunky outcast (gendered female). Every year, there seems to be at least one romance drama that becomes a must-watch, hits double digits in viewership and launches careers of the leads. Generally catered towards (heterosexual) women, the genre offers an escapist fantasy to the viewer. Meanwhile, it boosts South Korea’s soft power by representing the country and its people as modern, dreamy and glamorous.
Romance is also the genre that got me into watching K-dramas. Although I’ve broadened my K-drama horizons since, I still enjoy the genre a lot. What has fascinated me watching romantic K-dramas is that despite being predominantly written for a female audience, the character and storyline of the male lead often ends up being presented as more important for the drama’s story development. At the very start of these dramas, the female lead’s story is given equal concern as the male lead’s, or sometimes even more, dealing with bullying in school, career struggles, or poverty. Then, after they meet, some hijinks ensue, and fall in love, her problems are solved or fade into the background. We are left with episodes that mostly revolve around the male lead settling An Important Issue or Trauma, with the (emotional) support of the leading lady mixed with some cute love scenes and small tribulations for the couple because of said Issue or Trauma on the side. The drama ends with both leads having found the love of their lives, but also the male lead having successfully solved his problem, becoming a well-rounded person.
Of course, I am oversimplifying; more and more romance dramas subvert such common tropes. But still, I realized that this shift in focus is often the reason I grow bored of romance dramas. Where are the dramas that keep their focus on the female lead’s story and character development? Where are the dramas that keep the female lead as their priority? Well, here are a few, and I hope you could help me find more!
[🌱The rough criteria]
🌱The rough criteria:
The drama relies on a romantic theme or romance/love between the female lead and the male lead(s) is a key element in the drama.
The drama features a personal, non-romantic character arc for the female lead that is given central importance from start to finish, meaning, the drama would lose its substance and could be cut down to 2 episodes (don’t come with the argument that 80% of kdramas could be anyway).
The personal character arc for the male lead does not overshadow that of the female lead’s or is actually not given priority in the story at all. (See that this also could be a downside? It could lead to underdeveloped characterization of significant characters)
The female lead’s storyline revolves around character development (learning about oneself, growing in confidence, taking up agency to pursue change etc.), is offered depth and empathy, and remains of central importance until the end of the drama.- The female lead’s romantic feelings for the male lead can be supportive of her character development, but the drama shows other, non-romantic events just as conducive.
- Must be a Kdrama I’ve seen and remember well enough ;)
[🍃Some possible limitations]
🍃Some possible limitations
The dramas discussed in this post all revolve around heterosexual fantasies and can therefore not be considered perfectly feminist or progressive in their portrayal of the leads or the romance (but at the same time, what medium can?).- Dramas centuring female friendships are not discussed in this post because this post revolves around female-male lead prioritization in romantic kdramas (but dramas with great female friendships would be a fun follow-up post!)
- In the same vein, some Korean dramas excluded from this list can still feature great female characters and characterization. Seong Deok Im from the 2021 hit drama The Red Sleeve is for example not on this list because in my opinion Junho’s character Yi San life, trauma and character is still kept decisively central in the drama. At the same time, this drama actually makes a point to show throughout the story that women, and in particular lower class women, are not allowed importance in the Joseon era where the drama takes place.
- Quite a few Kdramas on this list I have not (re)watched recently, so my memory of the representations in some of these dramas might be more rose-colored than they deserve. This is just for fun and not an academic paper!! (also note to self lol)
[🍀The female leads in focus]
🍀The female leads in focus
Kang Mi Rae (Lim Soo Hyang) in My ID is Gangnam Beauty
Drama warnings: body image, plastic surgery, eating disorder, bullying
Summary Kang Mi-Rae had a timid personality due to her ugly appearance. She was teased by people and even bullied when she attended school. Now, Kang Mi-Rae is beautiful after undergoing plastic surgery, but she still has her timid personality. Kang Mi-Rae starts her first year at a university. People are still mean to her and call her "Gangnam Beauty" in a derogatory manner. Meanwhile, Do Kyung-Seok attends the same university. He does not judge people by their appearance. He cares about what's on the inside rather than outside. Do Kyung-Seok begins to like Kang Mi-Rae.
Motivation I remember being very skeptical when I learned about the premise of this drama, afraid that the drama would not handle the theme of plastic surgery and beauty standards well. In the drama, Mi Rae is deeply insecure, socially awkward and struggles with her courses. However, the drama shows her road to self-love carefully and emphatically. By making a lot of frustrating mistakes, being honest and learning to be courageous, she finds confidence, realizing that she is precious despite what people think, with or without surgery. Oh, and she finds a boyfriend too. Kyung Seok is not the only character who loves Mi Rae for who she is, nor is he the only one helping her believe in herself. In my memory, his own personal story arc focuses on his relationships with his mother, but never steals the spotlight from Mi Rae’s story.
Pyong Gang/Yeom Ga Jin (Kim So Hyun) in River Where the Moon Rises
Drama warnings: Death
Summary A love story between Pyong Gang and On Dal. Pyong Gang (Kim So-Hyun) is princess of Goguryeo. She was raised as a soldier for Goguryeo as soon as she was born. She is ambitious enough to dream of becoming the King of Goguryeo. She meets a man named On Dal (Na In Woo).
Motivation Plagued by Kim Ji Soo’s bullying and sexual assault accussations, this drama was partially reshot and continued with Na In Woo taking over the role of On Dal. Although in real life a man’s wrongdoings overshadowed the drama, the drama itself centers a female lead who does not let herself be overshadowed by the men in her life. Kim So Hyun is fierce as Princess Pyong Gang and her alter ego Yeom Ga Jin, who fearlessly enters the physical and political battlefield to fight for her country, family and honor. But her character goes beyond the ‘strong female character’ trope: at the same time, Pyong Gang engages in an emotional and moral struggle of asking her gentle, soft-hearted lover On Dal to commit atrocities for her cause. An imperfect and complex character, this drama has as much ambition as its female lead.
Eun Dan O (Kim Hye Yoon) in Extraordinary You
Drama warnings: (terminal) illness
Summary Eun Dan-O (Kim Hye-Yoon) is a student at a prestigious high school. Her family is wealthy, but Eun Dan-O has a heart disease. Her fiance Baek Kyung (Lee Jae-Wook) attends the same prestigious high school. She likes him a lot, but he does not like her at all. Suddenly, Eun Dan-O has short-term memory loss and she can see what will happen in the near future. She gets confused by her symptoms. Then, Jinmiche, from the school cafeteria, tells Eun Dan-O that she is a character in the comic "Secret" like everybody else there. Eun Dan-O learns that her character is not even a main character, but rather an extra and she doesn't have much time to live. Eun Dan-O is stunned, but she decides she wants to find her own true first love and not someone written by the comic writer. One day, she falls down the school stairs. She feels her back touch the back of another student, among a group of male students. Her heart suddenly starts to flutter. Eun Dan-O wants to find the male student who made her heart flutter. She eventually finds the student (Ro Woon) and he is her classmate. He is a character that doesn't have a name. They get close and Eun Dan-O names him "Ha-Roo."
Motivation Listen, this drama is personal because it was a right drama at the right time, pulled me out of my kdrama slump type of K-drama (and converted me into a Rowoon fan). But mostly, this drama is a study in agency for Eun Dan O first and foremost, and is partially the inspiration for this list. As soon as Dan O realizes she is a secondary character with a terminal illness in a manhwa, she does everything in and outside her power to change her plotline and save her own life. Dan O is unrelenting, bright and audacious, but also caring and scared of her life possibly coming to an end. She comically challenges and rejects the manhwa tropes her character is subjected to. Other characters’ plotlines do not overshadow hers, even if they do in the fictional manhwa that makes up Dan O’s world; even when the story falls into the kdrama cliché male lead Ha Ru having to save Dan O, it remains within the theme of agency denied to her and other characters. Most of all, Dan O shows throughout the drama that she is more than capable of saving herself. And she inspires others to do so, as well.
Lee Hwi/Yeon Seon (Park Eun Bin) in The King’s Affection
Summary The Crown Prince's wife gave birth to twins, but twins were considered an ominous sign. The twin daughter was supposed to be killed, but her mother begged to save her life. Secretly, the twin daughter is sent out of the palace. A few years later, the twin son Lee Hwi is killed. The Crown Prince's wife hides her twin son's death and brings her twin daughter back to the palace and raises her as Prince Lee Hwi (Park Eun-Bin). Lee Hwi eventually becomes a crown prince, but she is afraid her real identity will be revealed. Because of her secret, Lee Hwi is unable to have anyone close to her. She hides her emotions from others and she makes biting remarks. Jung Ji-Un (Ro Woon) is Lee Hwi’s teacher. Jung Ji-Un comes from a noble family. He is handsome, smart and an optimist who enjoys life. Crown Prince Lee Hwi develops feelings for Jung Ji-Un.
Motivation I swear that I am only slightly biased by putting multiple dramas starring Rowoon on this list, but his (and most of Cha Eunwoo’s) dramas center some very well-developed female characters leading the story. Park Eun Bin dressed in a Joseon king’s robes is already a statement, but the drama goes beyond the message of women being just as capable of leadership as men. Park Eun Bin also portrays with depth Lee Hwi/Yeon Seon’s emotional coming to terms with her fate designed by the gender discrimination and misogyny of that era. She learns to trust the right people but mostly her own judgment. Her love interest and bisexual king Jung Ji Un offers her unwavering support, but his storyline never overtakes hers. In fact, as with the rest of the drama, his character and relationship with Lee Hwi/Yeon Seon often turns the heterosexual relationship dynamics and tropes that we see often in K-dramas upside down.
Ha No Ra (Choi Ji Woo) in Second 20s
Drama warning: mentions of (terminal) illness
Summary 38-year-old Ha No-Ra (Choi Ji-Woo) dreamed of becoming a dancer when she was younger. She met her future husband, Kim Woo-Cheol, when she was only 19-years-old and became a mother unexpectedly. Since then, she focused on her life as a wife and mother. Ha No-Ra then decides to attend the same university as her 20-year-old son Min-Soo and faces life a second time like a twenty year old.
Motivation Her life in shambles, Ha No Ra resolves to take up everything she gave up to be a loving mother and housewife by attending university and wholly immersing herself in university life. Because of her age, she is better able to stand up against inappropriate demeanor by professors (this was the first drama I’ve seen calling out sexual harrassment, the scene still gives me goosebumps thinking about it!), but at the start of the drama, No Ra is mostly timid and apprehensive, struggling to stand up for herself. We see her find confidence, learn to resist her horrible ex-husband, and develop a mature relationship with her now newly adult kids. Of course, she finds love as well, but to be honest I hardly remember him - as her life, the drama ultimately revolves around her.
Na Bong Sun (Park Bo Young) and Shin Soon Ae (Kim Seul Gi) in Oh my ghost!
Summary Na Bong-Sun (Park Bo-Young) works as an assistant chef. Because of her timid personality and low self-esteem, she doesn't have any friends. Since she was a child, she has been able to ghosts because of her shaman grandmother. One day, she becomes possessed by seductress ghost Shin Soon-Ae (Kim Seul-Gi). Kang Sun-Woo (Cho Jung-Seok) is a star chef. Na Bong-Sun has a secret crush on him. He is good looking and confident as a chef. Even though he is popular with women, he has yet to get over his ex-girlfriend. He begins to notice Na Bong-Sun after her sudden change.
Motivation I actually do not agree with the summary of this drama (do better Asian Wiki!) because this drama offers meaningful character arcs to both their female leads. Where Bong Sun is demure and socially awkward which keeps her from standing out in the kitchen, sassy and confident Soon-Ae tries to solve her own murder. Both very different in their personalities, but similar in their determination to work together and achieve their goals. With some help of love interest for both female leads Sun Woo, of course. This drama also sort of hints at polyamory between the leads, which takes this list a little bit outside its classical monogamous heterosexual scope, yay!
Dong Baek (Gong Hyo Jin) in When the Camellia Blooms
Summary Dong-Baek (Kong Hyo-Jin) is a single mother living in the small town of Ongsan. She runs the bar-restaurant Camellia, while also taking care of her son Pil-Gu (Kim Kang-Hoon). The people of Ongsan frequently gossip about Dong-Baek. She grew up as an orphan, is a single mother and runs a bar where many of the men in Ongsan frequent. Regardless of what the locals may whisper about Dong-Baek, local police officer Hwang Yong-Sik (Kang Ha-Neul) is deeply in love with her. Meanwhile, Dong-Baek's ex-boyfriend Kang Jong-Ryeol (Kim Ji-Suk) suddenly reappears in her life. He is a famous baseball player, who hid their relationship when they dated. While Dong-Baek tries to find happiness, something truly sinister lurks in the background. A serial killer roams Ongsan and Dong-Baek may be a target.
Motivation It is a frustration of many of the villagers in this drama: it’s all about Dong Baek ever since she moved to the town! And the drama really is about her, too. Although this drama was sometimes on the slow side for me, I really did appreciate the way the timid, soft-spoken Dong Baek learns to stand up for herself and learns to take pride in herself as an orphan and single mother, without a complete change of character. A surprisingly simple character, Ha Neul’s character Yong Sik is completely devoted to Dong Baek in the story, but Dong Baek does not lean completely on his support.
[☘️Honorable mentions]
☘️Honorable mentions
Kim Yumi (Park Go Eun) in Yumi's CellsMotivation Yumi truly is the leading character in this story, inside and out, as the drama stresses near the end of season 1. This first season focuses predominantly around the ups and downs of her romantic life, whereas the second season of the drama attempts to work with Yumi’s flaw to put herself aside for love, having her focus on her writing career. However, though the focus remained on Yumi, the second season in my opinion was not able to strike a meaningful, matured non-romantic story arc for Yumi.
Goo Hae Ryung (Shin Se Kyung) in Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
Motivation To be completely honest, I do not recall this drama well enough to be able to say whether Goo Haeryoung’s story in the end is sacrificed for the arc of the bastard prince she falls in love with, played by Cha Eun Woo. I do remember that the Haeryoung is a great female character, who is resourceful, confident and stands up for her principles without fail in a palace that does not want to offer any space to women in the first place.
Yoon Song Ah (Won Jin Ah) in She Would Never Know
Motivation This drama shines more in the absence of a dramatic backstory and story arc for the male lead (played, again, yes, by Rowoon) and in that sense, it is novel for a romantic drama. The drama chooses to focus on the women around Hyun Seung: his romantic interest Song A, and the lives of his sisters. However, their stories in the end revolve around romance and love, though they learn about themselves through these experiences.
Source: Drama summaries via AsianWiki 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | gifs via tumblr: @valeriemperez, @forursmiles, @liveasbutterflies, @dailyasiandramas, @iamacolor, @banghae, @weeguttersnipe, @kateknowskdramas 2, @orangesyellow, @candlewinds | Dramas can be watched via Viki, Netflix, VIU and Dramacool
I've had this post in my drafts for ages but was too shy to post it (and still am). Hope you like it! Tell me, Omona, what are some of your favorite female leads in Korean dramas and why?