While some K-dramas portray gender prejudices, others break gender standards by opposing the traditional ideas of femininity, as seen in ‘Coffee Prince,’ ‘Hyena,’ ‘My Name’ and more.
Photo: Netflix
By flipping conventional gender roles, the female protagonist’s unique portrayal as a tomboy, in contrast to many K-dramas where the plot revolves around a feminine makeover to attract attention, contributed to its appeal.
Photo: HanCinema
The series addresses the image of a tough woman who, despite having no biological connection to a child, overcomes all obstacles to keep the child safe – becoming the “mother” eventually.
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Jung Geum-ja, the slick lawyer in Hyena, plays hardball and walks a fine line between right and wrong and the law in pursuing material gain no matter what it takes. She is solid in her abilities, and never ashamed about what she accomplishes in a male-dominated culture.
Photo: HanCinema
The advent of the power girl, who can push the boundaries and take on challenges with ease, may be attributed to increasing recognition of unconventional roles for women and awareness of the polarizing nature of female attributes such as Yoon Ji-woo from My Name.
Photo: Netflix
Yeo Mi-ran in Love to Hate You, is intolerant of the shallow hypocrisy and pointless regulations of society when it comes to women. She fights for justice by employing the techniques she learned in martial arts.
Photo: Netflix