International Women’s Day 2023 is here and what better way to celebrate this day than to bring back the memory of some badass Kdrama female leads who have stolen our hearts over the years! While the cute and charming side of these amazing women in their unforgettable characters is mesmerising to us all, the crown of these queens has only gotten higher when they own the stage with their power.
So to remember these all-powerful women who have taken over the Kdrama industry with their amazing characters here’s a list of badass Kdrama female leads to bringing in a sense of power to every lady who deserves the best on this day!
10 Badass Kdrama Female Leads
Ko Moon-young
There is no better way to begin this list than with Ko Moon-young from It’s Okay to Not be Okay because she is definitely a character who has ruled every bit of this show with her powerful aura and an attitude that does not give a damn. Being the prince who saves the damsel in distress a.k.a the male lead and his brother, this woman knows she owns the screen and does not shy away from anything.
Seo Ye-ji plays the role of Ko Moon-young with all her heart, but what adds an additional charm to this character is the beautiful and fashionable outfits that bring out an aura like never before. Bringing bits of her painful past while also showing the slowly shifting emotions within the character, this is definitely a character who makes you attracted to watching the show itself.
Watch It’s Okay to Not be Okay on Netflix.
Also Read: The Nurse Teaser: Sneak Peek Into Late Night Hospital Hours That May Be Eerier Than They Appear
Gil Ra-im
For anyone who has watched Secret Garden, there is no doubt that Gil Ra-im stole your heart in the first few minutes (well at least until you realised that she is a girl), but this little crush definitely did not end there. This poor stuntwoman who works hard to achieve her goal each day is a real charmer and there is no doubt that her badass vibe is something that we all look back to even today.
Ha Ji-won plays the role of Gil Ra-im in the series and everything from her acting to her aura made us fall for this incredible woman whose light was definitely not one to miss. Her amazing performance has made her unforgettable to us all and is definitely someone we should all celebrate.
Watch Secret Garden on Netflix.
Jang Man-wol
Moving on, we now come to the owner of a very very old hotel in town, Jang Man-wol, the owner of Hotel del Luna. The diamond-loving and a very expensive lady has impeccable taste and a temperament like no other because she knows that she is here to rule and is already doing that.
IU plays the role of Jang Man-wol in Hotel del Luna and has once again left us all speechless with the versatility that she has brought with her performance. The extremely talented performer has never failed to impress her audience, be it in the K-pop or Kdrama world and we cannot help but applaud her with our hearts.
Watch Hotel del Luna on Netflix.
Hong Cha-young
Next on this list, we have the lady who stole the heart of a mafia consigliere Vincenzo, it is none other than the ambitious lawyer Hong Cha-young. If loving the consigliere wasn’t enough, she has made sure to own the screen with her wit, charm, and attitude which is here to lead the complex’s residents that everyone wants to destroy.
Jeon Yeo-been plays the role of Hong Cha-young in the series and there is no doubt that this has been one of her best performances yet. The witty charm that screams badass in many scenes and the power to fight alongside the dangerous Mr Cassano is clearly brought out by the actor and has left an everlasting impression on us all.
Watch Vincenzo on Netflix.
Also Read: Without U MV: YUJU Shows Heartbreak in Beautiful Pastel Hues
Naksu
Alchemy of Souls fans cannot digest anyone missing this name from a badass female leads list because Naksu is definitely a name that screams the definition of badass. From the scene of her assassination days to her teaching days, the days when she loved and killed someone, Naksu is a character that had many elements attached to her but badass is one that was a part of herself.
Jung So-min and Go Yoon-jung play Naksu throughout the series and the two beautiful actors have done an outstanding job with this character. They both bring out a very unique yet similar part of Naksu in them and this itself is something that is enough to leave us amazed.
Watch Alchemy of Souls on Netflix.
Jo Yi-seo
The manager of DanBam who changed everything for the better, Jo Yi-seo from Itaewon Class is a female lead who knows of her talent and will make use of it in every way possible, as long as she is interested. Though not easy to get to his side, Yi-seo did end up becoming one of the best decisions of Park Saeroyi’s life, however, it was her who chose him.
Kim Da-mi plays Jo Yi-seo in the series and has definitely managed to leave us all speechless with her free-spirited character and a performance that only had us wanting more. She has wonderfully and gracefully fit into her character and there is no doubt that she has brought out the best of Jo Yi-seo.
Watch Itaewon Class on Netflix.
Kim Sum
The developer of the social-connecting app which became the weapon for another to kill, Kim Sum from Somebody seemed like a meek character at the beginning, but this remained until the switch flipped and she became a force to reckon with. She really showed people that the silent ones are more badass than anyone and we have all been left speechless by her.
Kang Hae-lim plays Kim Sum in the show and she really brought forth one of her best performances through this show. Her expression spoke in a depth that left us stunned and her few lines were enough to bring out her badass side throughout the show. However, it is still the last scene that has remained in our memory and became a reason why she deserves a spot on this list.
Watch Somebody on Netflix.
Oh In-joo
The eldest of the Oh sisters, Oh In-joo from Little Women is definitely a woman with realistic ideals and is one who is ready to fight for her family. This eldest sister was quick to learn new ways of survival and was even able to adapt to the challenges in front of her with all her effort. And with her badass aunt to guide her through this, it didn’t take long for her to go from meek to badass.
Kim Go-eun plays the role of Oh In-joo in the series and she has effortlessly brought out all the emotions of this character, from naive to helpless and then to badass, she has really brought out all the colours of In-joo. And there is no doubt that we too felt all her emotions throughout the show which made her character more memorable.
Watch Little Women on Netflix.
Moon Dong-eun
One of the best characters of 2022 has to be the bullied Moon Don-run from The Glory who makes her return to the lives of her bullies for her revenge. The young woman whose scars make us all feel her pain, and her anger too is felt by us all, but the way she returns and scares her bullies is what we end up loving and no action of hers seems wrong.
Song Hye-kyo plays Moon Dong-eun in the show and there is no doubt that she has owned the show with her impeccable talent and aura that brought the character to life. Song Hye-kyo’s expressions really pull us into the show as she beautifully brings out the pain and revenge of Moon Dong-eun.
Watch The Glory on Netflix.
Yeo Mi-ran
2023 really began with a good start and Yeo Mi-ran from Love to Hate You is one such character who proves this right. The independent and strong woman who knows what she is doing is what we need because this is the reality, no damsel in distress and no forcibly empowered woman. She does what she needs to do and she does it right.
Kim Ok-bin plays the role of Yeo Mi-ran in the series and has left us speechless and laughing it all out with her role that really gets to us all. She brings out Yeo Mi-ran in the best way possible and gives us a female lead in just the way she is supposed to be, strong and in all her truth.
Watch Love to Hate You on Netflix.
Which of these is your favourite badass female lead? Let us know in the comments below!