From ‘Damsel in Distress’ to ‘Strong Female Lead’: the Evolution Of Female Representation in Korean Dramas
Abstract
This study examines the revolution in the representation of women in Korean dramas from 2010 to 2024, focusing on how female characters are portrayed across three different periods: 2010–2015, 2016–2020, and 2021–2024. Employing a qualitative approach with content analysis, six popular Korean dramas were selected for in-depth examination. The findings reveal a transformation in female representation—from passive figures conforming to patriarchal norms to active, complex characters with full narrative agency. In the early period, characters like Geum Jan-di and Cha Eun-sang were depicted as weak romantic objects reliant on male protagonists. During the transitional period, characters such as Kang Mo Yeon and Do Bong Soon began to exhibit empowerment, although still framed within aesthetics and narratives that compromise with patriarchy. In contrast, the contemporary period presents characters like Moon Dong-eun and Hwang Do Hee as agents of change who control the narrative, challenge gender stereotypes, and enact new forms of gender performativity. These findings suggest that popular media, including Korean dramas, can function as ideological spaces that both construct and deconstruct gender identities. This research contributes to media studies, popular culture, and gender studies in the postfeminist era.
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