From deadly to day care: Female leads take over action genre

A wave of dramas driven by formidable female leads is capturing widespread attention. Spanning action, psychological thrillers and dark crime stories, women are taking center stage and significantly broadening the scope of female-led narratives on TV.

Bo-na (Kong Hyo-jin) is a legendary hitwoman capable of taking out high-profile criminals with a single bullet in MBC drama “A Bona Fide Killer.” Known by the moniker “Kingfisher” for the way she perches in the shadows before striking, she accepts her latest contract with an unusual caveat.

When her superior asks when she plans to execute the target, Bo-na pauses before responding, “Let’s do it during the day.” The reason isn't tactical — it's because she has to pick up her 4-year-old daughter from day care.

Jung Eun-chae delivers a commanding performance in SBS’ “Flex X Cop 2” as Hye-ra, a former counter-terrorism officer appointed head of the Violent Crimes Unit.

As Yi-soo’s (Ahn Bo-hyun) former teacher at the police academy — the feared “demon instructor” — Hye-ra brings a distinct “master-apprentice” dynamic to the team.

She easily matches Yi-soo’s physical presence, delivering adrenaline-fueled action scenes such as disarming a bomb in the city center to pulling him out of the flames of a burning house.

Meanwhile, Disney+’s “A Shop for Killers Season 2” features women driving the conflict, positioning its leading female actors on opposite sides, taking on the roles of both protagonist and antagonist.

Jung Yun-ha commands the screen as Kusanagi, the cold, calculating head of the East Asia branch of the assassin syndicate Babylon. Jung brings a chilling charisma to the role, setting up a thrilling clash with Kim Hye-jun, who returns as Ji-an, the newly crowned head of titular shopping center.

Culture critic Jung Duk-hyun noted that the conflicts faced by female leads and villains today differ fundamentally from those of their male counterparts.

“In 'A Bona Fide Killer,' Kong's character deals with domestic crises that far outweigh her professional problems, and that stark contrast is precisely what feels so fresh to viewers. The jarring shift between cold-blooded assassin and everyday mother drives the show's core appeal,” he said.

He continued, “It feels like a female-led counterpart to hit action sagas like 'Agent Kim Reactivated.' Just as audiences rallied behind a mild-mannered banker unleashing his former special agent instincts to save his child, 'A Bona Fide Killer' delivers catharsis through an ordinary mom who casually eliminates monstrous criminals who have escaped legal punishment.”

Yun Suk-jin, professor of Korean language and literature at Chungnam National University, sees this as part of a deeper evolution in Korean television.

“Female leads have moved from passive figures reliant on men to self-reliant characters fighting for survival. Today, their agency extends straight into the public sphere as they step up to defend their families and society. Independent women are no longer a narrative novelty — they are the new baseline,” he said.

“Whether in 'Flex X Cop 2' or 'A Bona Fide Killer,' these women directly confront crimes that destroy homes and threaten social stability. The appeal transcends gender lines and audience demographics. It taps into a universal frustration: When the system fails to deliver justice, these women step in to do the job,” he added.