From day care to deadly: Female leads take over action genre
Summary
Female-led action dramas are drawing attention in Korean television, led by MBC’s A Bona Fide Killer, SBS’ Flex X Cop 2, and Disney+’s A Shop for Killers Season 2. The shows center on women who fight crime, lead violent units, or drive conflict on both sides of the law. Culture critic Jung Duk-hyun and professor Yun Suk-jin said the appeal comes from the contrast between domestic crises and public violence, and from women stepping into self-reliant roles.
Key Facts
- In A Bona Fide Killer, Bo-na, played by Kong Hyo-jin, is a hitwoman who chooses to carry out a killing during the day because she needs to pick up her 4-year-old daughter from day care.
- In Flex X Cop 2, Jung Eun-chae plays Hye-ra, a former counter-terrorism officer who becomes head of the Violent Crimes Unit.
- In A Shop for Killers Season 2, Jung Yun-ha plays Kusanagi, the head of the East Asia branch of the assassin syndicate Babylon, while Kim Hye-jun returns as Ji-an.
- Jung Duk-hyun said A Bona Fide Killer feels fresh because its assassin heroine is also an ordinary mother dealing with domestic crises larger than her professional rivalries.
- Yun Suk-jin said female leads in Korean television have moved from passive figures to self-reliant characters who fight for survival and defend families and society.
Kong Hyo-jin is seen in MBC drama "A Bona Fide Killer." Courtesy of MBC
Bo-na (Kong Hyo-jin) is a legendary hitwoman capable of neutralizing 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, then responds, “Let’s do it during the day.” The reason isn't tactical surveillance. It's because she has to pick up her 4-year-old daughter from the day care center.
A wave of dramas driven by formidable female leads is capturing widespread attention. Spanning action, psychological thrillers and dark crime, actresses are taking center stage and significantly broadening the scope of female-led narratives.
Beyond Kong, 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.
Jung Eun-chae is seen in a scene from SBS’ "Flex X Cop 2." Courtesy of SBS
As Yi-soo’s (Ahn Bo-hyun) former academy instructor — the feared “Demon Instructor” who once humiliated the chaebol heir with an effortless judo throw — Hye-ra brings a distinct “master-apprentice” dynamic to the team.
She easily matches Yi-soo’s physical presence, delivering adrenaline-fueled action such as disarming a time bomb in the city center to rescue him and pulling him through the flames of a burning two-story house.
Meanwhile, Disney+’s “A Shop for Killers Season 2” features women driving the conflict on both sides of the lawlessness, positioning female actors as both protagonist and primary 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 against Kim Hye-jun, who returns as Ji-an, the newly crowned head of the lethal shopping mall.
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 rivalries. That stark contrast is precisely what feels so fresh to viewers. This jarring shift between cold-blooded assassin and everyday mother drives the show's core appeal,” he said.
Jung Yun-ha is seen in a scene from Disney+’s "A Shop for Killers Season 2." Courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea
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 escaping 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 or 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.
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