7 Motivational K-Dramas With #GirlFailure Theme
K-dramaland characters who help us accept ourselves.
In case you missed it, #girlfailure is a term that replaced the #girlboss trend after women realized that the 'we can do it all' mentality was gradually driving them to severe burnout and anxiety. #Girlfailure is about taking care of yourself and accepting your flaws, imperfections, and failures.
As a female viewer, it's impossible not to relate to a character who doesn't know what she's supposed to be doing in life and embraces the mess she finds herself in, slowly working towards self-acceptance and happiness.
If you're intrigued, here are seven great K-dramas with female leads that represent the #girlfailure theme.
Pale Moon (2023)
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Viki
In her 40s, Yoo I-hwa seems to have achieved everything she wanted: a solid marriage and a comfortable life. But she feels unhappy, insecure and empty inside, which makes her start to make changes in her life. First, she gets a job in a bank, which turns out to be the fuel for drama.
Bora! Deborah (2023)
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IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Where to stream: Prime Video
In the beginning, protagonist Yeon Bo-ra is a perfect example of the #girlboss attitude. She is a successful influencer/relationship coach with a perfect relationship. But when her boyfriend is caught cheating on her, everything around starts to crumble and Bo-ra is left to deal with the imperfection of life and herself.
Still 17 (2018)
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Prime Video, Viki
Woo Seo-ri falls into a coma at 17 and wakes up at 30, losing 13 years of her life. Now she has to catch up with the world, which has been changing all these years. Most importantly, she must explore her new adult self and decide if her teenage dreams are what she wants now.
My Lovely Sam Soon (2005)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Where to stream: Prime Video, Viki, kocowa+
Kim Sam-soon, a passionate and clumsy pastry chef, begins the series with the goal of finding a new boyfriend after the old one dumps her in a very public setting, but comes to the realization that loving herself is her number one priority.
Because This Is My First Life (2017)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Apple TV, Viki
Yoon Ji-ho is a screenwriter's assistant who knows exactly what she wants - to write something new and creative. But her boss is not a fan of anything innovative, so he makes her work life miserable. The show also follows Ji-ho's female friends as they try to find their place under the sun, each in her own way.
My Liberation Notes (2022)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Where to stream: Netflix
Unfulfillment in life is the running theme of this slow-paced show, which focuses on three siblings (two of whom are women) and their dream of escaping their dead-end lives. When a mysterious, always drunk man moves into the neighborhood, one of the sisters decides to approach him.
Castaway Diva (2023)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Where to stream: Netflix
Seo Mok-ha has dreamed of becoming a pop star since she was a little girl, but a golden opportunity slipped through her fingers when she was stranded on a deserted island en route to an audition. Now, after years of total isolation, Mok-ha returns to society and must adjust to modern life as well as find her own place in it.