As we celebrate International Women’s month, we look back on some of the best Korean dramas that highlight the unwavering fortitude of a woman
These Korean dramas have featured awe-inspiring female leads and their journeys to claim their inner worth alongside bringing warmth through their heartening stories.
Romance Is A Bonus Book
Lee Na Young breathes life into Kang Dan Yi, a woman who unfortunately had problems securing a job that fits her qualification after a career break to take care of her family. She eventually has to settle for working as a contract employee doing menial jobs. Despite the downshift to what she is capable of, she decides to see the silver lining in the challenges thrown at her.
Her character gives the realization of the harsh truth of how career breaks impact women when it should not be the case. While the effect of innovations missed during changing times is a factor to consider for career-returning women, companies should understand the role of women in a family. With an established skill set that was temporarily unused, getting the hang of it again is a manageable thing to do.
K-Drama Review: “Romance Is A Bonus Book” Revives Downbeat Mood With Reassuring Life Lessons
When the Camellia Blooms
Fully understanding that her being soft-hearted left her with fewer retreat routes to protect herself and her loved ones, she moves to change. Her character development served as the lingering impression of the series. The endearing at times mushy romance was just a bonus.
With a woman-empowering theme, this drama is a superb encouraging watch not just for single mothers, but for women of all ages. More so, the parent-child bond scenes abundant in the drama provided thoughtful lessons making the series perfect to watch with your family.
When the Camellia Blooms reminds us that happiness is not supposed to be chased. It has to be savored right at the very moment it happens. Although problems decorate life, and it’s not something that we want to welcome – it inevitably arises to make us stronger.
Scent of a Woman
This Kim Sun Ah drama screams YOLO mantra. It leaves a deep impact focusing on the self-esteem of women. The story threads on a woman who has deprived herself of experiencing the beautiful things in life and finds out that she is dying. Because of her situation, she decides to complete her life bucket list.
The tears, the smiles, the regrets, and the optimism of the strong heroine would inspire women. Since watching it then, I have promised myself to balance worrying about the future while living in the moment.
Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
Presenting the back story in the waning episodes gave the truth of how the ousted King had only wanted his people to accept new culture and technology. A vision that the antiquated moral standard of Joseon cannot accept.
It also includes a few depictions of how the women and the commoners are deprived of privileges that are enjoyed by those with ranks in society. A call to change, even with the suppression, has made the side stories of the series connect smoothly along with the inserted love elements.
With a gregarious heroine, who sprees on raising changes for the benefit of the people; and a prince who supports her idea along the way, Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung concocted a ruminative story that has substance to learn and romantic moments to make viewers’ hearts sweetly skip a beat.
Something in the Rain
For women who constantly end up committing the same love relationship mistakes, Son Ye Jin’s portrayal of Yoo Jin Ah is a great inspiration. Her meek character has indirectly caused her to be taken advantage who viewed her as weak and submissive. But then she decides to change for the better, inspired by the selfless devotion of a man who loves her.
There is a lot more to life than engaging in a relationship that makes you pity yourself. Something In The Rain bravely provides insights to women on how they should claim the love they deserve.
K-Drama Review: “Something In The Rain” Lingers With Heartfelt Love Lessons That Gratifies
Because This is My First Life
No self-help books can teach how life can be lived perfectly the first time. In this emotionally perceptive drama, we are given pep talks on how to burst happiness on our faces by living and loving to the fullest.
Powered by a vibrant cast, the heartfelt writing reinvented the trite rom-com cohabitation premise to a whole new level, leaving traces of feel-good love-affirming moments that would make you smile after each chapter.
K-Drama Review: Because This Is My First Life Pitches The Choices And Bargains We Make For Love
What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim
Often, married women succumb to losing their identities in the process of becoming a mother and a wife. But single women who are breadwinners of their families also share the sentiment.
Park Min Young has had a few heroine-centric dramas, but her work in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim expounds on the idea of how single females can work on a life that is entirely their own.
Search: WWW
Stage in the world of strong-willed women powering the top internet web portals of the country, the tvN series delves into their career journey with side love and life stories.
Smartly written, Search: WWW celebrates the triumphs achieved by women determined to define their worth on their own. At the same time, it gave a picture of how even successful career women struggle to find their inner peace.
As women suffering from over-dependency are often depicted in Korean dramas, it is such a refreshing moment to meet ladies who genuinely portray the other type of girls K-Dramaland refuse to delve on.
Jewel in the Palace
A classic that deserves recognition for its women-empowering theme. Jang Geum (Lee Young Ae) defied all odds to rise in a male-dominated era and became the first female royal doctor. Despite not being born an aristocrat, her intelligence and perseverance paved the way for her to be recognized.
Though it was not easy, Jang Geum just only proved that women can do more than what is expected of them and that they can contribute well to society.
Oh My Venus
KBS2’s hilarious romantic comedy leaves the audience with woman-empowering messages and doses of blissful trance for ladies imagining how it would feel like to have a gorgeous personal trainer like So Ji Sub.
The series is driven to encourage women with weight worries to lighten up and push themselves to be even more disciplined in becoming fit. Presenting it as a propelling force to reclaim their confidence. Playing the role of Kang Joo Eun, Shin Min Ah delights with her convictions. She knows herself and does not let her physical appearance deter her from being a good lawyer and a decent human being.
Though she often asks for someone to save her in difficult situations, she easily learns her lesson. Her intelligence and determination are such endearing qualities. She does not let her ex-boyfriend and friend walk all over her, instead, she gets down to work in achieving a healthier and much better version of herself.
K-Drama Review: “Oh My Venus” Spurs Engrossing Romance Decorated By Empowering Message On Self Worth
My Mister
With its gloomy mood and straightforward narrative, My Mister plows a deep trench to allow its resonating message of finding strength and peace by enabling yourself to trust someone.
Lee Ji Eun’s portrayal of a young woman, who inherited her mother’s debts and was cruelly mistreated by the son of the loan shark she accidentally killed out of self-defense, eases the viewers’ hearts, even with her despondent life story. How she opens up to the first adult who showed her genuine care encourages her to at least strive for the most common dream a typical person has – to be happy.
Lee Sun Kyun, who portrayed the role of a manager that got entangled with the company’s power-play, is given jabs of life setbacks. Amidst his personal heartaches, he still generously gives pieces of his strength to people who need them. The beautiful relationship that happened between Ji An and Dong Hoon attests to how people we came across are meant to leave a significant impact on our lives.
My Mister has provided burrowing insights into the harsh realities of what being an adult entail. It teaches direct and implied lessons that would make you stop to contemplate on each episode – a truly amazing drama gift despite its emotional premise.
K-Drama Review: “My Mister” Motivates With Messages On Personal Healing and Seeking Human Warmth
Start-Up
Start-Up spurs a realization that every experience learned and every feat achieved in career building, flourish not just with passion and dream. It incidentally prospers through commitment and tenacity, by translating opportunities and ideas into action.
Apart from the usually featured love stories, the series draws attention to its healthy dose of non-romantic relationships. From self-love to selfless love, Start-Up also gives prominence to bromance and strengthening family affinity.
K-Drama Review: “Start-Up” Sparks Encouragement To Be Brave In Claiming True Love & Career Dreams
The Package
The fleeting romance of the lead couple in The Package radiates a resonating message that you can love instantaneously, fall out of it and love more at the right time. It is a romantic gift that is ironically spirited while running on a wistful narrative.
The supporting chronicles appear like puzzle pieces meant to complete the entire picture of the tale. It results in an excellent capture of the drama’s ultimate message – how personal relationships, romantic or otherwise, won’t reveal apprehensions due to a man’s self-sacrificing nature.
City Hall
With an uncomplicated premise, the writing is exceptionally thought-provoking for any woman experiencing challenges in finding her worth, not in the standard of what society dictates, but in the dreams, she has as a woman.
A memorable performance for Kim Sun Ah and Cha Seung Won who perfectly pictured a love declaration frame that is yet to beat the rest of the Korean romance dramas I have seen.
Image Credits: Netflix | tvN | SBS | MBC |JTBC
[wpedon id=”3227″ align=”center”]
