Audiences familiar with K-dramas know that several series are led by incredible women. Many popular K-dramas are filled with cheesy but lovable clichés or action plots that are led by men or women lacking depth, which doesn't always make way for strong and inspiring female leads. Still, there are a great number of series led by women, and the number of such shows seems to increase more and more as the years go by.
Though many of the K-drama's protagonists do find themselves in a romantic relationship, they aren't defined by their male counterparts and are just as complex characters as individuals. The women leading these series are entertaining and amazing for a variety of reasons. The women in The Glory, Happiness, and Strong Girl Bong-soon are physically tough and find themselves taking down others for drastically different reasons. In Agency and Memorials, the leading women are ambitious and career-driven. No matter their defining personality trait, each of the best women leading K-dramas is uniquely engaging and inspiring.
10 Love To Hate You (2023)
Yeo Mi-ran played by Kim Ok-vin

Due to its shorter season and quick pace, Love to Hate You is an easy K-drama to binge in a day. The series' entertaining characters and dynamic add to this, as audiences are likely to become absorbed in the enemies-to-lovers story unfolding in Love to Hate You. In the K-drama, Yeo Mi-ran (Kim Ok-vin) is a lawyer working with celebrities when she meets one of the biggest actors in Korea, Nam Kang-ho (Teo Yoo).
The two have had unpleasant dating experiences in the past, causing them to despise anyone of the opposite gender. However, both Mi-ran and Kang-ho learn love isn't as terrible as they thought when they begin falling for one another. As a character, Mi-ran is passionate and always does what she feels is right, especially when it comes to defending her clients. Known for series like Arthdal Chronicles and The Blade and Petal, Kim rarely gets the opportunity to show off her comedic talents, but she does so effectively in Love to Hate You.
9 Memorials (2020)
Koo Se-ra played by Nana

Most K-dramas with political themes have a dated setting or feature over-the-top storylines that heighten characters' acts of backstabbing and betrayal. However, one of the more understated and modern K-dramas with political elements is Memorials. The series is led by Nana, an actor known best outside of TV and films for being a former member of the girl group After School. In Memorials, Nana plays Koo Se-ra, a woman struggling in the workplace, having been fired multiple times due to being nosy and overly passionate.
However, one day, Se-ra decides she's had enough and chooses to step up her professional game by working in the District Assembly and running for office. Throughout the series' 16 episodes, audiences watch Se-ra navigate her fierce competition with ambition and resilience. Nana is a compelling actor to watch, and it doesn't take much for audiences to root for Se-ra and become invested in her journey.
8 Inspector Koo (2021)
Koo Kyung-yi played by Lee Young-ae

Following the tragic death of her husband, Inspector Koo's titular character, a once accomplished police officer, turns to alcohol and gaming to get through the days. However, Koo Kyung-yi (Lee Young-ae) isn't entirely without work as she gets a job as an insurance investigator. Kyung-yi quickly returns to crime-solving after she suspects someone is purposefully making murders look like accidents. As the protagonist, Kyung-yi is relatable and inspiring. She's not unlike any other grief-stricken or crime-solving woman seen in other TV shows.
Still, Kyung-yi's determination to get justice is a joy for audiences to watch. Inspector Koo does a great job at seamlessly blending its multiple genres, as the K-drama's mystery keeps audiences guessing, and its supporting characters provide the laughs. In addition to Inspector Koo, Lee is best known for her work in the historical K-drama Jewel in the Palace and the dark thriller film Lady Vengeance.
7 Sell Your Haunted House (2021)
Hong Ji-ah played by Jang Na-ra

An underrated fantasy K-drama, Sell Your Haunted House is centered around exorcist real estate agent Hong Ji-ah (Jang Na-ra). In the series, Ji-ah is still grappling with her mother's death 20 years later. Having inherited the power to perform exorcisms from her mother, Ji-ah's job is to clear out buildings where ghosts heavily reside. Ji-ah is accompanied by a male character throughout the show, but there's no hint of a romantic connection between them.
Sell Your Haunted House is instead more concerned with its fantasy and supernatural elements as Ji-ah and con artist Oh In-beom (Jung Yong-hwa) team up to solve the mystery behind their loved ones' deaths. As a performer, Jang balances the series' comedic tone well with her character's moments of vulnerability, particularly those relating to her mother's death. Before starring in Sell Your Haunted House, Jang had a role in other celebrated K-dramas, like Hello Monster and Confession Couple.
6 Fight For My Way (2017)
Choi Ae-ra played by Kim Ji-won

Considered to be both a K-drama about friendship and romance, Fight for My Way has an amazing woman at the center of it all. The overall premise of Fight for My Way sees a group of friends hoping to succeed in life, though their dreams feel nearly impossible at the moment. One of these friends is Choi Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won). In the series, Ae-ra works at a department store, but her dream is to be a news anchor one day.
Ae-ra does have a romantic connection with one of her friends, Ko Dong-man (Park Seo-joon), who dreams of being a professional martial artist. The two encourage and help one another achieve their goals, falling in love in the process. Still, Ae-ra is a fascinating character on her own. She faces humiliation and setbacks along the way, but none of it stops her from being determined to achieve success.
5 Agency (2023)
Go Ah-in played by Lee Bo-young

Many TV shows see protagonists break free from adversity and achieve their dreams, but very few series have a compelling and believable journey to get there. A K-drama that does both is Agency, in which its main character, Go Ah-in (Lee Bo-young), sets out on a path to become the first female executive member of an advertising agency. However, Ah-in's journey to success isn't so simple.
Agency was a hit with audiences when it was airing on TV, and there's no question as to why. For much of her life, Ah-in has had to face various hardships. Therefore, it's inspiring to see her make a name for herself and take control of her life. As an actor, Lee has starred in more TV shows than films, including Seoyoung, My Daughter and Mother. Both series earned Lee a handful of award nominations and a few wins as well for her performances.
4 Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022)
Na Hee-do played by Kim Tae-ri

The 1997 Asian financial crisis impacted the lives of many, including the characters within Twenty-Five Twenty-One. The series' story begins to unfold after the female lead's daughter uncovers her mother's old diary. Set in the late '90s, Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri) is a promising fencer whose dreams are halted due to the financial crisis. Though a romance begins to bloom between her and Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk), the two eventually drift apart.
Twenty-Five Twenty-One is a widely beloved K-drama by audiences due to its nostalgic setting and characterization of Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin. After being made available to stream on Netflix, the K-drama was among the streaming service's most-watched international shows for 10 weeks straight. Though she'd starred in other notable projects like Mr. Sunshine, following her performance in Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Kim earned greater recognition and a boost in popularity.
3 Happiness (2021)
Yoon Sae-bom played by Han Hyo-joo

Some of the best zombie TV shows are K-dramas, and Happiness is one of them. The outbreak in the series kicks off after users of a failed drug called "Next" slowly become zombies. Leading the series is Han Hyo-joo as Yoon Sae-bom. As a member of a Special Operation Unit, Sae-bom is smart and resilient, and after being scratched by an infected person, she discovers she's immune to the ravaging disease.
Sae-bom is one of the toughest women in K-dramas, and despite being set in a world overtaken by zombies, she's also impressively well-rounded. Much of this comes from Happiness' interest in exploring desire and human nature, making sure to dedicate enough time to the characters' experiences. Happiness' fresh take on the zombie subgenre, the way the series handles its characters, and Han's leading performance all have allowed the show to become a hit with audiences.
2 Strong Girl Bong-soon (2017)
Do Bong-soon played by Park Bo-young

Aside from being a charming and entertaining character, the lead in Strong Girl Bong-soon might be the strongest woman in all the K-dramas. In the series, the titular character (Park Bo-young) inherits a superhuman strength that's passed through strictly the women in her family. Despite her nonthreatening exterior, Bong-soon proves to be a useful resource in taking down a local kidnapper. Strong Girl Bong-soon has a bit of everything, including action, crime, romance, and comedy.
The fusion of genres also allows Bong-soon to be multidimensional as well, which is a rarity in K-dramas, as strong women are typically solely defined by their physical strength. Park, who got her acting start in 2006, is natural in the role. Seeing as her character finds herself in both comical and life-threatening situations, Park's performance is as layered as it needs to be to pull off such an inspiring character.
1 The Glory (2022-2023)
Moon Dong-eun played by Song Hye-kyo

Partially inspired by true events, The Glory was a hit series that earned a great amount of acclaim and recognition from critics and audiences alike. The series follows Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo), a former victim of bullying when she was a kid. Now, as an adult, Dong-eun works as a teacher and seeks to get revenge against her childhood bullies. The Glory's thrilling revenge-filled narrative has an important message at its core, as the series wishes to highlight the long-lasting impact of bullying.
For her performance in The Glory, Song earned high levels of praise from critics. Song's performance is moving and gives space for the K-drama's touching themes to shine through and linger with audiences for quite some time. Song was nominated for several crucial awards, winning some as well, including Best Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Asian Academy Creative Awards.