When the father starts, she pulls his hair, demands an apology, and teaches the wife a lesson. K-dramas often rely on a tried-and-true formula that has worked well for decades. At his childhood home, the scene unfolds into tragedy as the truthcomesto light between Moo-Young and his love. Kang Mi Rae (Im Soo Hyang) has always been self-conscious about her physical appearance. The show is about an art gallery curator named Sung Deok-Mi (Park Min-Young) who tries to live a double life. K-dramas rarely go past one season, or perhaps two if they're lucky. There are leads that would make any grown adult shiver with their deadly stare. Hyun-Jin fallsto the floor beside him to hold his hand one last time. The show's end had fans in shock and tears but it was expected from the start. The character gets applause for never backing down from a fight and putting herself at risk using her healing abilities. While thats somewhat true, it definitely isnt the only reason. She's literally afraid of no one and stands up for herself and, on occasion, others. Still riddled with guilt over her loss, she is closed off about revealing her past. It told the story of a bad boy scammerliving in Australia when he meetsSong Eun-Chae (Im Soo-Jung) who gets her items stolen by criminals. Are you in love? Where you can watch it: Netflix, Viu, iQIYI. Nothing is more inspiring than watching other successful, strong women. some really dramatic scene where the guy comes to the rescue. She is someone that's not to be messed with, especially with her past crimes. #5, Star of the Universe (I dropped this one), Meet Me @ 1006 (I dropped this one so I don't know how it ends). Park Bo. 1. A beloved audience fave, this sageuk drama won awards and topped ratings when it aired in 2016. When contacted again, she has the courage and strength to face him in person. Joon-Young comes to terms with his life and in the final scenes, he's with Noh Eul. Despite having her heart broken, she shows that she doesn't need a man to survive. The star of this 2022 Korean hit drama is Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin), an autistic lawyer thats working at a prestigious law firm. Her love for entertainment reaches a broad range of interests from 90s thriller movies, guilty pleasure teen dramas, action-packed MCU movies to popular K-dramas. Eun Suh in Autumn In My Heart (2000) This drama was the first installment of the iconic Endless Love series. The story would entrance any viewer as it depicts the tragic story between Joseon's first soprano and a playwright. Fans are often left with bittersweet emotions watching the characters go through many trials and tribulations together to only have a sad ending. Noh Eul (Bae Suzy) istasked to document the life of actor/singerShin Joon-Young (Kim Woo-Bin). (Viki). This comes from her background as an heiress and a successful businesswoman, as well as her own personal troubles. No, this K-drama has nothing to do with the Led Zeppelin song. The ending left viewers with a mediocre feeling. Ae-Shin (Kim Tae-ri) is a noblewoman, whose parents were assassinated for being freedom fighters. You'll most likely find her binge-watching a new television show or movies on Netflix into the early morning. Gritty and intense, My Name is full of unexpected twists and action sequences. Young-Woo is a praiseworthy protagonist who has been able to find success by paying her haters no mind and just focusing on winning her clients cases. They share one final moment before turning to the railings. Her character and drive make her captivating to watch. The heart-wrenching premise of Second 20s follows Ha No-ra a 38-year-old woman who gave up being a dancer at 19 after she was pregnant now close to divorce and diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. She showed us that we too can harness our strong emotions and use that to push ourselves forward and be the change you want to see in this world. She isn't shy either when it comes to getting what she wants. Part two of the drama is currently in production and is set to premiere in December 2022. She is expected to quietly wait for a marriage she doesnt want, but instead chooses to follow in her parents path. Actress Kim Go-eun stars as In-joo, the eldest sister whos an accountant. Soo-Jin learns that the student is being abused at home. What fans praise the K-drama for is its ability to not rely on common tropes or characterizations about women in a competitive field. However, Yoo Jung remains firm and does not budge, even though she and her family are threatened. Go Dok Mi (Park Shin Hye) is an introverted girl who spends most of her days avoiding people. Woo-Jin (Lee Jong-Suk) and Sim-Deok (Shin Hye-Sun) catch a ferry together using their pen names as an alias. And no movies. Da-hyun says firmly through her tears: I wasnt born to make you proud, Mom. In episode 11, Tae-yang finally decides to come clean and reveal the truth despite being on the rise to becoming a badminton star, saying she is unafraid of people tearing her apart and that she wants to be honest. He threatens her with the lives of her family, and even in such a terrifying situation, Yoo Jung remains unshaken and composed. After undergoing rigorous training to hone her fighting skills, she changes her identity and infiltrates the police force, in order to find the man who killed her father. We suggest that our users err on the side of caution and use spoiler tags abundantly. actress Kim Tae-Hee. (Viki), There are a lot of men and even more monsters in this gory apocalyptic series, but the most fearless, take-charge character is a firefighter played by Lee Si-young. By day Sung Deok-Mi (Park Min-Young) works as a curator at an art gallery, shes exceptional at her job and the epitome of professionalism. But as much as Ju Ji-Hoon is the star of this series, Bae Doona as the brainy physicians assistant is just as important. Anyone who witnessed Myung Hee lying alone in the dark forest in a white dress, quietly closing her eyes, couldnt help but cry. Fatefully, she meets Lee Gun (Jang Hyuk) one day, and the two have a one night stand. The show is so enjoyable, that many fans are calling for a Hollywood adaptation of Extraordinary Attorney Woo. One of the lead characters is Park Tae-Yang (Park Ju-Hyun), a badminton player who has wholly devoted her life to the sport. Viewers learn that her father was a Tae Kwon Do instructor and she was trained from a young age. Fans cried along with her when she visits a Goryeo exhibit and realizes it wasn't a dream at all. Not all couples stay together nor do the main characters finally get their shot at long-lasting love. However, as the series progresses, she realizes that she has some power over her own life and decisions, which makes her strive for independence. Its hard to fathom how one can cope with being in someone elses body, much less the body of a royal princess during historic times. 49 Days Lead "dies" at the beginning, spends the entire show trying to come back to life, only to die in the end. This down-to-earth female lead has superhuman strength despite being on the petite side, and her heart is no let-down either with her determination and lack of hesitation when it comes to defending others. Both characters storm the palace fighting off guards. (Additional reporting: Syarifah Nadhirah, Aisha Hassan from Asiaone). Inspiring, motivating and kinda makes you wish you were her. Song Naree Thai Drama - 2019, 15 episodes 4. Despite this, her relationship with Sung Joonbecomes more serious, and shereawakens the confidence she had within herself. Women cant become snipers, so she secretly trains and becomes a feared marksman (because she has to disguise herself as a man). The show revolved around Cha Young-Jin (Kim Seo-Hyung), a detective who is haunted by a mistake she made years ago. She makes sure that her work is impeccable and infallible but Deok-Mi hides the fact that shes a dedicated fan of a K-pop idol. Ariana K. Welsh is a college student who spends most of her time obsessing over K-dramas with her sister, dancing to loud music, and writing into the wee hours of the night. Her personality and skills put her as an equal force with her love interest, who's a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. 8 best hair and beauty looks from Hi, Bye Mama! Extraordinary you: A teen seeks to change the fate that's been set for her after gaining awareness that she's just a side character in a made-up world. Soo-Jin learns that the student is being abused at home. Song Sanaeha Thai Drama - 2021, 18 episodes 5. Problem is, its been five years and her husband has already remarried. RELATED:The 10 Best K-Dramas With More Than One Season, Ranked (According To IMDb). She gets a chance at a magazine company where she reunites with her first love Ji Sung Joon (Park Seo Joon). In this sports drama, lead character Park Tae-yang (Park Ju-hyun) struggles and punishes herself for an accident that happened to her ex-friend Jun-young three years ago. This results in her coming out of her shell and overcoming a lot of lifes obstacles while learning to accept herself for who she is. First, more realistic where the lead undubtedly dies, then we get a change of location/time, and the lead is alive, without any bridge/connection with the previous scene. If there was one K-drama that took the cake for having the most heartbreaking and gut-wrenching end, it's I'm Sorry I Love You. He subsequently dies leaving empress Ki to once again lose someone she loves and rule the kingdom alone. Ta Hwan (Ji Chang-Wook) realizes that he's been betrayed by someone close to him. Su Ryeons ending shocks the audience because she is the central character of the protagonists side, who is expected to be alive until the end. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. He dies smiling and thinking of Ae-Shin. The ending was bittersweet asSoo-Hyun exacts revenge against the person who hurt the woman he loves. She a police officer with a photographic memory. Lim Ju Gyeong (Moon Ga Young) is a high school student who has been bullied for not being the most attractive and popular girl in school. By the end, they part ways believing that it's not the right time for them to be together despite their love for one another. The drama centers mostly around two best friends,Seo-Hwi (Yang Se-Jong) andNam Seon-Ho (Woo Do-Hwan). As a person who cares more about practicality than virtue, Cha-Young has a competitive spirit, and does an amazing job as a lawyer in court than everyone else, despite having her flaws. 10 Must-Watch Korean Dramas With Smart And Strong Female Leads. She refuses to let anyone take what she's worked hard for. Romantic ," this time with two new students to teach what being a doctor truly means: Seo Woo Jin ( Ahn Hyo . In episode two, after Ye-sul finishes setting up a pop-up store to promote their campaign, Min-hoo questions why she didnt present an idea like that earlier to him. A trained boxer, Si-young is 100 percent believable as someone who can keep an apartment full of scared residents alive for a while, anyways. It affects her so much that she decides that getting plastic surgery is the only way that she can live her life. Content warning:This articlecontains discussions of suicide, terminal illness, and violence. This currently on-going (at the time of reporting) drama is an adaptation based on the famous 1868 novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott. Baek In-Ho (Seo Kang-Joon) doesn'tget the girl either as Hong Seol recuperates from a broken heart. She realizes that she has some baggage to overcome in order to heal. Willing to put her life on the line for her country, this woman fights for her beliefs to the very end and shows that whatever a man can do, she can do it better. Hae Soo wakes up in her own time thinking it to be a dream. Oh Yeon Hee - Penthouse They do promise that if in the future they come to meet by fate then they'll give it another go. He falls in love with a woman who is connected to the past he can't remember. The final scene of the show is one of the emails getting a response. Leaders in the tech world, these women give as good as they get. One of the most popular plot devices is the second lead syndrome, where two handsome men vie for the attention of one woman. Being theillegitimate daughter of theYoon family, she grew up feeling rather lonely and almost outcast within her own family. Our heroine, Hong Ye-seul (Seo Ji-hye), is a project manager of an advertising agency who tends to be a pushover. Dr. It stars Uee and Lee Soe-jin. Currently watching:Thirty-Nine, Forecasting Love and Weather, A Business Proposal, and Twenty Five, Twenty One All-time favorite drama:Secret Garden and Star In My Heart Looking forward to:Won Bins return to the small screen. Teen Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Vincenzo became a Netflix must-watch K-drama in 2021. With her passion for movies, television and entertainment, she's interviewed some great actors from Cress Williams of 'Black Lightning' to Tati Gabrielle from 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.' Reply to this comment once you have added appropriate spoiler tags for review by a mod. Some of these very serious issues include bullying and an obsession with physical appearances. The ending of the fantasy dramaA Korean Odyssey left viewers with a bittersweet feeling butultimately made sense for the story. Ae-Shin defies the odds of what being a woman is meant to be during her time period and breaks all stereotypes. Is it no wonder many fans were rooting for Chang-Wooks character to find romance with hers? (Netflix), Ha-na (Kim Se-jeong) and Mae-ok (Yeon Hye-ran) are demon fighters with supernatural strength. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. In The King: Eternal Monarch, Tae-Eul plays a police officer who has been obsessed with true crime stories ever since she was a kid. A version of this article first appeared in Singapore Womens Weekly and Asiaone. Three leading women working in competing successful web companies, and all in high positions. While the male lead is the catalyst for change, our leading lady teaches us that it is okay to accept compliments and learn how to become the star of your own life. Though she knows her investigation could make her own life miserable, she does everything in her power to root out the truth. After throwing a tantrum and cursing out a deity, Yu Ri is granted a shot at her old life to be human again. In the show, what really gave her praise was her ability to not back down. Yup, its corny. The young persons guide to conquering (and saving) the world. You'll most likely find her binge-watching a new television show or movies on Netflix into the early morning. Moo-Hyuk (So Ji-Sub) kills himself in a motorcycle accident to save his brother. NEXT: The 14 Best Medical K-Dramas (According To IMDb). One of the most difficult things in life is trying to prove ones worth, and Da-Hyun has successfully done that. In the 3rd and last season of Penthouse, lots of viewers persisted in the belief that the protagonists would have happy endings. Ji Hois acharacter who knows what she wants in life but is constantly put down from the obstacles that she comes across. In the fantasy-driven storyline, she keeps her head up as she learns that there's a parallel world. Let us slide into your DMs. While fans may not have initially liked the love interest Hong Seol (Kim Go-Eun) chose, fans were left heartbroken in the finale. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. Weekly Horoscope: Does It Feel Like Everyone's Unravelling? Fans give the character Kang Seo-Hae (Park Shin-Hye) some applause as the female lead. By the end of the series, she realizes who her heart is truly after, which brings her out of her shell completely. When she meets Enrique, he challenges her to come out of her shell and to deal with whatever issues are lying deep within. She holds her head up high and is proud of being able to raise a great child. Drama where the female lead dies or nearly dies? ICYDK, the dramas were far from the usual lighthearted rom-coms you might be familiar with. But come on, its part of the fun of Korean dramas. Fans saw the cold and dark grim reaper, Black (Song Seung-Heon), start to fall in love with Ha-Ram (Go Ara). To allow Seo-Hwi to see Bang-Won (Jang Hyuk), the prince,Seon-ho sacrifices himself leading him to be speared multiple times. Now she seeks revenge and to ruin the lives of the people who hurt her. These women show that not all K-drama female leads have to be a damsel in distress looking for her prince. Though born of a third-rate life, Ae-ra lives to the title of the show Fight For My Way by remaining righteous, self-sufficient and ambitious about becoming an announcer. I love you." 74 after painting her last portrait of her true love, the King, and after trying to give birth to her 2nd child, despite her terminal illness), "IRIS" (2009, action-espionage; ML dies, but it won't make you sob; it will make you mad against the drama's writers and producers), "Chuno, The Slave Hunters" (2010, action-historical; ML dies so that the FL and 2ML can escape from their attackers), "Saimdang" (2017, historical; FL dies so that she can join her one true love in spirit), "The Royal Tailor" (starring Park Shin-hye; ML dies). A lot of ladies choos the one that was showed later. But Deok-Mi hides the fact that shes a dedicated fan of a K-pop.! Seo Joon ) spoiler tags for review by a mod could make own. 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