Tired of the same old trope of female characters being reduced to mere love interests or damsels in distress? Well, you’re not alone! In recent years, manhwa has seen an incredible surge in strong and empowering female characters that break away from outdated gender stereotypes.
The Trend
So, what led to this purpose in strong female characters in manhwa? There has been a change in societal views towards gender roles in South Korea. As more women enter the workforce and take on leadership roles, the media has begun to reflect this shift. Manhwa creators are recognizing the need for representation and are creating female characters that reflect the complexities and strengths of real women.
It's Refreshing!
But it’s not just about representation, these female characters are also simply just more interesting and refreshing to read about. They have unique personalities, motivations, and backstories that make them stand out from the typical cookie-cutter female characters of the past. They are not just there to be fan-service or to advance a male character’s story, but rather they stand their ground and follow their own path. (They also have the most gorgeous eyelashes that you too can flaunt.)
A Prime Exemplar
An example of a strong female character in manhwa is Park Hayan from Unholy Blood. She’s the main protagonist as well as the only living pureblood vampire left in her world. She’s faced with constant life-threatening situations as her blood is the most valuable thing to exist in her power-hungry world.
Her story starts off tragically as her parents were brutally murdered when she was just a little girl and she was forced to go into disguise. However, as the story unfolds, her identity is revealed and everything is at stake. The wrath of this goddess is released and she fights brilliant and bloody battles against those who dare challenge her. Park Hayan is just one of many incredible female characters in manhwa with the most compelling storylines and readers should continue to look forward to the new releases of these beautiful strong women in manhwa.
Another personal recommendation is The Remarried Empress which also features a very dominant, assertive, powerful woman. There are just so many empowering and cunning women in the manhwa AND manga world, who wouldn’t want to plaster them everywhere like with some Junji Ito Tomie Stickers and a Chainsaw Man Power Poster!
The uprising of strong female characters in manhwa is a well welcomed change that is long overdue, providing representation for women but also offering readers unique and compelling stories to follow. As South Korean media continues to evolve, we can look forward to this trend continuing and more strong female characters brought to creation and recognition.
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