Top 28 Best Korean Dramas With Strong Female Leads

Discover the empowering world of strong female leads, showcasing dynamic and relatable women breaking stereotypes and inspiring viewers.

Korean dramas have taken the world by storm in the past few years. Because these shows have a unique mix of romance, comedy, and drama, they are very popular all over the world. People seem to watch more and more.

Most of the time, the characters in Kdramas are easy to understand and well-rounded, so viewers can root for them and feel like they know them. They can appeal to a wide range of people because they show a lot of different stories and characters.

Korean dramas can be watched on numerous streaming platforms such as Viki, Netflix, Viu, Disney+, and many more. Even these platforms are producing their own dramas that is responsible for more exposure.

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Strong Female Leads Dramas

Korean dramas are known for having female leads who are strong and active. These characters frequently feature women who are the main protagonists with their own stories and goals, not just love interests. The characters are strong, independent, and determined.

strong female lead korean dramas

The lead female character K-dramas are not only fun to watch, but they also give people a sense of power. They show women who are smart, strong, and able to do things. They want to get ahead in life and aren’t afraid to say what they think and stand up for themselves.

If you want to watch some dramas with a strong female lead or character, here is the list of some good ones. These are a must-watch for anyone who wants to be inspired and entertained at the same time.

1. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon

Hangul: 힘쎈여자 도봉순

Year: 2017

Do Bong Soon is a girl who doesn’t have a job but has superhuman abilities. Ahn Min Hyuk, the CEO of a gaming company hires her to be his bodyguard. As they get to know each other better, they realize that their relationship goes beyond work.

strong woman do bong soon kdrama 11

Rating:

4 star rating

Main Cast (Characters):

  • Park Bo Young as Do Bong Soon
  • Park Hyung Sik as Ahn Min Hyuk
  • Ji Soo as In Gook Doo
  • Jun Suk Ho as Secretary Kong

No. Of Episodes: 16 (65 min. each)

Streaming Options (region-specific):

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Viu button
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Short Review: The drama is popular for the cute romance and cheesy moments between the main leads. Their romance is what you should look for and Bong Soon who fights with her superhuman strength. A good fantasy romance drama to watch.

2. The Glory

A revenge story that begins with a high school student who had to drop out of school after suffering from brutal school violence. Years later, she starts her revenge on the perpetrators and bystanders of her bullying days.

the glory kdrama 12

Cast –

  • Song Hye Kyo as Moon Dong Eun
  • Lee Do Hyun as Joo Yeo Jung
  • Im Ji Yeon as Park Yeon Jin
  • Park Sung Hoon as Jeon Jae Joon

No. Of Episodes – 8

Watch On – Netflix

3. Vincenzo

Vincenzo, a mafia consigliere flees to South Korea to recover 1.5 tons of gold within the basement of Geumga Plaza. However, a company has illegally taken ownership of the building, and Vincenzo must use his skills to reclaim the building and recover his fortunes.

vincenzo kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Song Joong Ki as Vincenzo Cassano
  • Jeon Yeo Been as Hong Cha Young
  • Ok Taec Yeon as Jang Jun Woo
  • Kim Yeo Jin as Choi Myung Hee

No. Of Episodes – 16

Watch On – Netflix

4. Crash Landing On You

Se Ri goes for a short paragliding ride, a sudden tornado blows her off course, leading her to crash land in North Korea, where she meets an army officer, who agrees to help her return to South Korea. They fall in love, despite the dispute between their countries.

crash landing on you kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Hyun Bin as Ri Jung Hyuk
  • Son Ye Jin as Yoon Se Ri
  • Seo Ji Hye as Seo Dan
  • Kim Jung Hyun as Goo Seung Jun

No. Of Episodes – 16

Watch On – Netflix

5. My Name

Hangul: 마이 네임

Year: 2021

Yoon Ji Woo, who is part of a drug ring, joins the police to find out what happened to her father. She does this by becoming a mole for the drug group. She works in the police department’s unit that looks into drug crimes.

my name kdrama 11

Rating:

3 5 star rating

Main Cast (Characters):

  • Han So Hee as Yoon Ji Woo
  • Ahn Bo Hyun as Jeon Pil Do
  • Park Hee Soon as Choi Moo Jin
  • Kim Sang Ho as Cha Gi Ho

No. Of Episodes: 8 (50 min. each)

Streaming Options (region-specific):

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Short Review: The story’s direction and pace are interesting because they keep the intensity, tension, and suspense going all the way through. The plot devices and twists, as well as the ending, are well thought out and done well, so there aren’t any major problems.

6. Eve

The story of a woman who spent 13 years of her life plotting brutal revenge against South Korea’s richest elite. Lee Rael witnesses her father’s death. 13 years later, she becomes the key figure in a divorce worth 2 trillion won.

eve kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Seo Yea Ji as Lee Ra El
  • Park Byung Eun as Kang Yoon Gyeom
  • Yoo Sun as Han So Ra
  • Lee Sang Yeob as Seo Eun Pyung

No. Of Episodes – 16

Watch On – Viki

7. Why Her

Soo Jae is a talented lawyer and the youngest partner at a law firm. But she gets involved in a case and gets demoted as a professor at a law school. There she meets Gong Chan. He falls in love with her and would do anything for her.

why her kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Seo Hyun Jin as Oh Soo Jae
  • Hwang In Yeop as Gong Chan
  • Bae In Hyuk as Choi Yoon Sang
  • Heo Joon Ho as Choi Tae Gook

No. Of Episodes – 16

Watch On – Viki

8. Mr. Sunshine

A young boy born into a house servant’s family and travels to the United States during the 1871 Shinmiyangyo. He returns to his homeland later as a U.S. marine officer. He falls in love with an aristocrat’s daughter. At the same time, he discovers a plot by foreign forces to colonize Korea.

mr sunshine kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Lee Byung Hun as Choi Yoo Jin
  • Kim Tae Ri as Go Ae Shin
  • Kim Min Jung as Kudo Hina / Lee Yang Hwa
  • Yoo Yeon Seok as Gu Dong Mae / Ishida Sho

No. Of Episodes – 24

Watch On – Netflix

9. Mother

A temporary teacher at an elementary school realizes that one of her students is being abused at home by her family. She makes an impulsive decision to kidnap the child and attempts to become her mother.

mother kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Lee Bo Young as Kang Soo Jin
  • Heo Yeol as Kim Hye Na
  • Lee Hye Young as Kang Yeong Shin
  • Go Sung Hee as Shin Ja Young

No. Of Episodes – 16

Watch On – Viki

10. The Uncanny Counter

Hangul: 경이로운 소문

Year: 2020

The drama is about people possessing special abilities who hunt demons and are called Counters. They come to earth and work at a noodle restaurant to catch evil spirits who have come back to earth to find eternal life.

the uncanny counter kdrama 11

Rating:

4 star rating

Main Cast (Characters):

  • Cho Byeong Kyu as So Moon
  • Yoo Joon Sang as Go Mo Tak
  • Kim Se Jeong as Do Ha Na
  • Yeom Hye Ran as Chu Mae Ok

No. Of Episodes: 16 (70 min. each)

Streaming Options (region-specific):

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Short Review: The best thing about this drama was how well the characters got along with each other. The special skills make the story more exciting, and the strong acting by the cast makes the story more emotional. For fans of action and the supernatural, this is a must-see.

11. Juvenile Justice

A judge who hates juvenile offenders becomes the newly appointed judge of a juvenile court. A victim of juvenile crime in her youth, she faces various cases involving youths, which helps her discover what it truly means to be an adult.

juvenile justice kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Kim Hye Soo as Shim Eun Seok
  • Kim Mu Yeol as Cha Tae Joo
  • Lee Sung Min as Kang Won Joong
  • Lee Jung Eun as Na Geun Hee

No. Of Episodes – 10

Watch On – Netflix

12. Hotel Del Luna

Hotel del Luna is the eponymous hotel located in the middle of Seoul, which caters only to ghosts; the beautiful but ill-tempered CEO, Jang Man Wol is cursed to manage the hotel due to a terrible crime she committed, but cannot remember.

hotel del luna kdrama 11

Cast –

  • IU as Jang Man Wol
  • Yeo Jin Goo as Goo Chan Sung
  • Shin Jung Keun as Kim Sun Bi
  • Bae Hae Seon as Choi Seo Hee

No. Of Episodes – 16

Watch On – Netflix, Viki

13. Lawless Lawyer

Hangul: 무법 변호사

Year: 2018

The Lawless Law Firm is made up of Sang Pil, a former gangster turned lawyer who wants to get revenge for his mother, and Jae Yi, a lawyer with a good reputation. Together, they use the law to fight for justice against the corrupt judge Cha Moon Sook and her associates.

lawless lawyer kdrama 11

Rating:

3 5 star rating

Main Cast (Characters):

  • Lee Joon Gi as Bong Sang Pil
  • Seo Ye Ji as Ha Jae Yi
  • Lee Hye Young as Cha Moon Sook
  • Choi Min Soo as Ahn Oh Joo

No. Of Episodes: 16 (65 min. each)

Streaming Options (region-specific):

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Short Review: The drama has a unique plot and characters that are well-written. The lead actor gives a great performance, and the mix of court cases and personal problems keeps the audience interested. For fans of legal dramas and action shows, this is a must-see.

14. The World Of The Married

Ji Sun Woo, a revered family medicine doctor and associate director at a hospital are married to an aspiring director Lee Tae Oh with whom she has a son. Sun Woo thinks her family is perfect until she finds out that Tae Oh is having an affair with another woman.

the world of the married kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Kim Hee Ae as Ji Sun Woo
  • Park Hae Joon as Lee Tae Oh
  • Han So Hee as Yeo Da Kyung
  • Park Sun Young as Go Ye Rim

No. Of Episodes – 16

Watch On – Netflix

15. Squid Game

The story of people, who are otherwise failures in their life plays a mysterious survival game named ‘Squid Game’. The stake is high, ₩45.6 billion, so is the risk, life is at stake. The men in pink overalls and masks are watching every move. There will only be one winner.

squid game kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Lee Jung Jae as Seong Gi Hun
  • Park Hae Soo as Sang Woo
  • Heo Sung Tae as Duk Su
  • Wi Ha Joon as Joon Ho

No. Of Episodes – 8

Watch On – Netflix

16. Little Women

The drama is about three sisters with a close bond and friendship who grew up in poverty. It is the exciting story of the sisters as they get involved in a major incident and face off against the wealthiest family in the country.

little women kdrama 12

Cast –

  • Kim Go Eun as Oh In Joo
  • Nam Ji Hyun as Oh In Kyung
  • Park Ji Hoo as Oh In Hye
  • Wi Ha Joon as Choi Do Il

No. Of Episodes – 12

Watch On – Netflix

17. Twenty-Five Twenty-One

Hangul: 스물다섯 스물하나

Year: 2022

Set in 1998, the drama tells the stories of youth who find new direction and growth after having their dreams taken away. Yi Jin and Hee Do first meet when they are 22 and 18 years old and fall in love when they turn 25 and 21.

twenty five twenty one kdrama 11

Rating:

5 star rating

Main Cast (Characters):

  • Nam Joo Hyuk as Baek Yi Jin
  • Kim Tae Ri as Na Hee Do
  • Bona as Go Yoo Rim
  • Choi Hyun Wook as Moon Ji Woong

No. Of Episodes: 16 (70 min. each)

Streaming Options (region-specific):

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Short Review: The drama has an appealing theme, a story that is well told, great acting and clever staging and editing. Despite being one of the drama’s genre, romance is not the primary subject. It has to do with desire, youth, and friendship. The best friendship drama that is a must-watch.

18. Happiness

Hangul: 해피니스

Year: 2021

In the near future, a new apartment building has been built. The people who live there come from different places, but a new disease spreads quickly. The drama shows the subtle psychological battle and the way that people from different classes treat each other.

happiness kdrama 11

Rating:

4 5 star rating

Main Cast (Characters):

  • Han Hyo Joo as Yoon Sae Bom
  • Park Hyung Sik as Jung Yi Hyun
  • Jo Woo Jin as Han Tae Seok
  • Park Joo Hee as Ji Soo

No. Of Episodes: 12 (65 min. each)

Streaming Options (region-specific):

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Short Review: People show different sides of themselves in this drama. It shows how complicated our society is. This isn’t slow at all and keeps us interested. It’s just a simple zombie drama and several times, the suspense will make you gasp.

19. Itaewon Class

Park Saeroyi is expelled from school & then jailed for messing up with a bully. Seven years after his release, he opens a pub named “Danbam” to compete against the Jangga group, the biggest company in the food industry.

Read Itaewon Class Review

itaewon class kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Park Seo Joon as Park Saeroyi
  • Kim Da Mi as Jo Yi Seo
  • Kwon Na Ra as Oh Soo Ah
  • Yoo Jae Myung as Jang Dae Hee

No. Of Episodes – 16

Watch On – Netflix

20. Her Private Life

Deok Mi works as a curator at an art gallery. She is a huge fan of idol and secretly runs a fan website about him. She hides this from everyone. At least until Ryan Gold, the art gallery’s new director, enters into her life. When he uncovers Deok Mi’s secret, everything changes.

her private life kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Park Min Young as Sung Deok Mi
  • Kim Jae Wook as Ryan Gold
  • Ahn Bo Hyun as Nam Eun Gi
  • Jung Jae Won as Cha Shi Ahn

No. Of Episodes – 16

Watch On – Netflix, Viki

21. My Mister

The drama tells us the story of three middle-aged brothers, who are enduring the weight of their lives, and a strong, cold woman, who has been living a hard life of her own, as they come together in healing each other’s past scars.

Read My Mister Review

my mister kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Lee Sun Kyun as Park Dong Hoon
  • IU as Lee Ji Ahn
  • Park Ho San as Park Sang Hoon
  • Song Sae Byuk as Park Gi Hoon

No. Of Episodes – 16

Watch On – Netflix, Viki

22. Vagabond

Hangul: 배가본드

Year: 2019

The stuntman Cha Dal Gun’s nephew dies in a plane crash. He learns that the plane crash was caused by a huge government scandal, and he and a NIS agent named Go Hae Ri set out to find out the truth and bring those responsible to justice.

vagabond kdrama 11

Rating:

4 star rating

Main Cast (Characters):

  • Lee Seung Gi as Cha Dal Gun
  • Bae Suzy as Go Hae Ri
  • Shin Sung Rok as Gi Tae Ung
  • Moon Jung Hee as Jessica Lee

No. Of Episodes: 16 (70 min. each)

Streaming Options (region-specific):

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Short Review: The main characters in the drama give great performances and there are lots of exciting action scenes. Combining high-stakes action scenes with political intrigue and personal relationships makes this drama thrilling and interesting. Read Vagabond Review.

23. It’s Okay To Not Be Okay

The drama revolves around a community health worker at a psychiatric ward who lives with his brother having autism & a popular writer who is suffering from an antisocial personality disorder. They unravel many secrets, seek comfort from each other, and move forward in their lives.

its okay to not be okay kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Kim Soo Hyun as Moon Gang Tae
  • Seo Ye Ji as Ko Moon Young
  • Oh Jung Se as Moon Sang Tae
  • Park Gyu Young as Nam Ju Ri

No. Of Episodes – 16

Watch On – Netflix

24. Search WWW

The drama follows the lives of three women working at a search engine company – Bae Ta Mi, Cha Hyun, and Song Ga Kyung. As the three women navigate the cutthroat world of technology, they begin to bond and support each other through their struggles.

search www kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Im Soo Jung as Bae Ta Mi / Tammy
  • Lee Da Hee as Cha Hyun / Scarlett
  • Jeon Hye Jin as Song Ga Kyung
  • Jang Ki Yong as Park Morgan

No. Of Episodes – 16

Watch On – Netflix, Viki

25. Player

Hangul: 플레이어

Year: 2018

A con artist, a fighter, an expert hacker, and a skilled driver make up an elite team that works with a good prosecutor to solve crimes. Together, they get rid of illegal money and make sure that people who make money by breaking the law are caught.

player kdrama 11

Rating:

3 5 star rating

Main Cast (Characters):

  • Song Seung Heon as Kang Ha Ri
  • Krystal as Cha Ah Ryung
  • Lee Si Eon as Im Byung Min
  • Tae Won Seok as Do Jin Woong

No. Of Episodes: 14 (65 min. each)

Streaming Options (region-specific):

Viki button
Wetv button
Viu button
Iqiyi button
Prime video button
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Short Review: The drama is worth watching as it has a good storyline with a lot of action, high stakes, and complicated character growth. It’s a must-see because it is fast-paced and has a great cast with excellent acting and comedy.

26. Revenge Of Others

The series depicts Chan Mi, a shooting athlete who searches for the truth about her twin brother’s death, and Soo Heon, who starts revenge against an unfair world, getting caught up in a shocking incident that shook her life.

Revenge of Others kdrama 12

Cast –

  • Shin Ye Eun as Ok Chan Mi
  • Lomon as Ji Soo Heon
  • Seo Ji Hoon as Seok Jae Beom
  • Chae Sang Woo as Ki Oh Sung

No. Of Episodes – 12

Watch On – Disney+

27. Hyena

Yoon Hee Jae and Jung Geum Ja are lawyers who work for the top 1% of society. Jung Geum Ja is a lawyer, who is after money only. She wins her cases using any means necessary. Yoon Hee Jae is an elite lawyer, who is smart and confident at his job.

hyena kdrama 11

Cast –

  • Joo Ji Hoon as Yoon Hee Jae
  • Kim Hye Soo as Jung Geum Ja
  • Lee Kyung Young as Song Pil Joong
  • Kim Ho Jung as Kim Min Joo

No. Of Episodes – 16

Watch On – Netflix

28. Alchemy Of Souls

Hangul: 환혼

Year: 2022

Set in a fictional country called Daeho, Jang Wook of the noble Jang family has an unpleasant secret about his birth. He meets Mu Deok, an elite warrior trapped within a physically weak body who becomes his servant and secretly begins teaching him how to fight.

Alchemy of souls kdrama 11

Rating:

5 star rating

Main Cast (Characters):

  • Lee Jae Wook as Jang Wook
  • Jung So Min as Mu Deok Yi
  • Hwang Min Hyun as Seo Yul
  • Shin Seung Ho as Go Won

No. Of Episodes: 20 (80 min. each)

Streaming Options (region-specific):

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Free streaming sites button

Short Review: The personalities of the characters and the way they interact with each other are interesting and just right. The idea of alchemy and controlling earthly elements with the flow of energy, instead of just calling it magic, was a very new way to show fantasy. A high-rated fantasy drama that you should definitely watch.

Wrapping Up

So, these were some of the recommended dramas consisting of strong female main character who is not afraid of anything. The portrayal of strong female leads in Kdramas is a refreshing change from the normal ones.

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Hi! I'm Min Chae from South Korea. I love to watch Korean dramas in my free time and can talk about them for hours. My favorite actor is Gong Yoo :)

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