Happy International Women's Day!

Check out our women's appreciation binge-list featuring all our favorite female leads -- strong, sweet, lovable, BOSS, funny -- from Viki's top dramas, curated just for you!

Viki Celebrates Women

JTBC

Do Bong Soon (Park Bo Young) is no ordinary woman. She is the latest in a long line of women who possess monumental strength. However, Bong Soon’s incredible powers can only be used for good. If she happens to use her abilities for selfish reasons or to harm others, she’ll end up like her mother, Hwang Jin Yi (Shim Hye Jin), who lost her powers forever.
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Although Do Bong Soon uses her bloodline’s remarkable force for good, her one true desire is to create a video game where she appears as the main character. While she struggles to find employment as a developer, Bong Soon’s abilities help her secure a position as the bodyguard for Ahn Min Hyuk (Park Hyung Sik), the chaebol heir and the CEO of the gaming company, Ainsoft.
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As Bong Soon helps her new boss track down someone making dangerous threats against him, she also strives to capture attention from her childhood friend and rookie police detective Guk Doo (Ji Soo), who’s searching for an insidious kidnapper. Between helping to solve both cases, Bong Soon finds great romance and humor along the way.

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon

Small but Mighty Team

In the fun, hijinks-filled romantic comedy "Wedding Impossible," struggling actress Na A Jeong (Jeon Jong Seo) agrees to a contract marriage with her lifelong friend, Lee Do Han (Kim Do Wan). In exchange for payment, she helps keep her friend’s biggest secret from his overbearing family. The only hitch? Do Han’s younger brother, Lee Ji Han (Moon Sang Min), refuses to accept her as his brother’s fiance and challenges her at every turn. With Ji Han determined to sabotage their “marriage” from the beginning, how long will it take for the truth to be revealed?

Adapted from the webtoon of the same name, written by Song Jung Won and illustrated by Lee Chung, “Wedding Impossible” is a 2024 Korean drama directed by Kwon Young Il.

Wedding Impossible

Shinichi Chiaki (Hiroshi Tamaki) and Megumi “Nodame” Noda (Juri Ueno), first met at university. Chiaki was an arrogant and condescending – but genial – musician with secret dreams of becoming one of the world’s leading classical music conductors. Nodame, meanwhile, was a scatterbrained pianist with little regard for musical theory. Over time, the duo eventually found love, despite their many differences.

Now, years later, Chiaki finds himself on the verge of his dream. After winning a highly prestigious music competition, he is appointed as the conductor of a French orchestra – ahead of a major performance. But when he arrives to check on the orchestra’s condition, he is shocked to find the entire outfit in disarray. Nodame, who fears that Chiaki’s new project will tear him away from her, vows to help him. The orchestra’s first performance is disastrous, and now Chiaki and Nodame must find a way to turn its fate around. Will they succeed – or will Chiaki’s big moment end in disappointment?

This film was based on a hit 2001 manga series named “Nodame Cantabile” that also spawned a popular live-action series of the same name in 2006. It is the precursor to 2010’s “Nodame Cantabile: The Movie 2.”

“Nodame Cantabile: The Movie 1” is a 2009 Japanese movie that was directed by Hideki Takeuchi.

Nodame Cantabile: The Movie 1

Tencent TV

As the chaotic era of the Northern and Southern dynasties comes to a close, a single prophecy sets in motion a chain of events that will change not only the lives of three sisters but history itself... 

“He who has Dugu, has the world”.

Daughters of a court official, Dugu Banruo (Ady An), Dugu Mantuo (Li Yi Xiao), and Dugu Jialou (Hu Bing Qing) were always destined for greatness. Blessed with beauty, intelligence, and connections, the Dugu sisters grew up knowing they were the subjects of a prophecy that could someday tear them apart. Determined to remain loyal to each other, they vowed to always put their relationship first. But time has a way of changing things, and vows are easily broken.

Eldest of the Dugu daughters, time saw Banruo grow into a wise and ambitious woman. Craving power above all else, she is willing to do whatever it takes to claim the title of empress, even if it means sacrificing everything she has to get there. Daughter of a concubine, Mantuo, has grown into a woman who craves wealth and power, believing they will let her escape the burden of her lowly birth. Youngest of the Dugu daughters, Jialou grows into a learned, gentle woman who yearns for nothing but peace.

As the struggle for supreme power escalates, all three Dugu sisters find themselves embroiled in a series of political alliances and upheavals that will alter the course of history forever.

"The Legend of Dugu" is a 2018 historical fiction drama directed by Hou Shu Pei and Lan Zhi Wei.

The Legend of Dugu

Nestled deep in the heart of Seoul’s thriving downtown sits a curious hotel, the like of which no one has ever seen before. Old beyond measure, the building has stood for millennia, an ever-present testament to the fact that things are not always what they seem. Running this hotel is Jang Man Wol (IU), a greedy, suspicious soul who has spent the past thousand years acting as the establishment’s CEO.

Cursed for a sin she can no longer remember committing, Man Wol is doomed to spend all of the eternity running this odd establishment, catering to the needs of a most peculiar clientele. Her only hope of escape is to find someone who has committed a worse sin than her own but after a thousand years, she’s beginning to lose hope.

However, things take an interesting turn when Goo Chan Sung (Yeo Jin Goo) shows up. Once the youngest assistant manager ever to work at a multinational hotel corporation, Chan Sung finds himself forced to manage the Hotel del Luna because of a deal his father made with Man Wol years ago. A stickler for rules and regulations, he’s a perfectionist to the extreme but that may be exactly what this odd establishment and its cursed CEO needs.

A tale of old curses, lost souls, and unexpected surprises, “Hotel Del Luna” is a 2019 mystery, romance, fantasy drama directed by Oh Choong Hwan.

Hotel Del Luna

🏨  Team Hotel Del Luna  🌕

TOKYO MX

Mizuki (Kawazu Asuka) is a former marathon runner who has to come to the end of her athletic career. She has to hang up her running shoes and find a job in the “real world.” She has been laser-focused on running her whole life, has developed very little in the way of social skills – and has totally neglected any thoughts of developing a love life. Her love for sweet food is the only thing that brings her joy...

She takes a job at a high-end hotel – and turns out to be hopeless at her new job. With no experience or natural talent for customer service, she makes gaffe after gaffe. One day, she crosses paths with Kaji (Nagatsuma Reo), a handsome dessert chef who works at the hotel – and has a reputation as a womanizer. Infuriated at how badly her post-running life is turning out, Mizuki vents at Kaji. But instead of angering him, this tirade inspires Kaji, who appoints her as his new taste taster. Is a honey-sweet romance on the cards – or is this duo about to run into trouble?

“Sugar Sugar Honey” is a 2024 Japanese drama series that was directed by Kato Ayaka.

Sugar Sugar Honey

🍭Sweet Lovers💞

MBC, KOCOWA

Yeo Hwa gets married into the Second State Councilor's family as the eldest daughter-in-law, the most prestigious family in Joseon. However, she becomes a widow as her husband dies on the day of her wedding. She ends up locked in the house in sorrow for her husband, dreaming of the world outside the gate. Ever since then, she has had a dangerous secret. She jumps from roof to roof at night wearing a mask and looks for people who need help. Her double life was perfect until she met Park Soo Ho, the intelligent yet stuffy officer of the Forbidden Guard Division. His attractive looks, ability, and outstanding swordcraft are second to none. Without knowing whether it is a coincidence or fate, things get complicated as Soo Ho keeps bumping into Yeo Hwa wherever she goes at night wearing the mask. Does this man know about her secret? Yeo Hwa's double life, which she has kept hidden so far, is about to be revealed!

Knight Flower

The Misterious Powerpuff Team

Coming from a poor family, Go Ah In (Lee Bo Young) grew up without any of the advantages that her wealthier peers took for granted. As a child, the only thing Ah In had going for her was a strong personal desire for success. Determined to succeed despite the odds, Ah In studied hard, graduated from university, and entered the workforce, ready to make her lifelong dreams come true.

Unfortunately, without any connections, Ah In was forced to start her professional career like so many others in her position. Taking a low-rung job at a large advertising agency, Ah In knows that climbing her way to the top is going to take a lot of hard work, but that never stops her from trying. With dreams of becoming the company’s first female lead executive, Ah In dives into her work, never once backing off from the challenges before her.

Focused solely on her career, Ah In earns a reputation as someone who only cares about money and success; but that’s just fine with her. Will An In’s unwavering dedication and hard work pay off in the end?

Providing a glimpse into one of the world’s most cut-throat industries, “Agency” is a 2023 South Korean drama directed by Lee Chang Min.

Agency

 ✨ The Marvellous ✨ Team 

Mango TV

Zheng Shu Yi (Bai Lu) is a hard-working reporter for one of China’s leading financial newspapers. She’s determined to land a front-page story, so is pulling out all the stops to land an interview with one of the most talked-about young CEOs in the land – Shi Yan (Dylan Wang). For his part, the businessman is looking to make a series of investments in promising startup firms as a way of giving back to the community.

A mixup occurs between the two, and their paths cross again. But as they (inadvertently) get to know one another, they start to realize their destinies may be intertwined. Shi Yan discovers that Zheng Shu Yi’s extensive reporting career means very few people know more about local startups. He agrees to let her write a series of stories about her company, causing them to meet again and again. But could this blossoming working relationship also lead them on the path to love?

“Only For Love” is a 2023 Chinese drama series that was directed by Guo Hu.

Only For Love

How to Tame a CEO Team👔 

Jiang Jie (Xie Bin Bin) is a talented young chef whose knife skills and cooking abilities have led him to the very pinnacle of traditional Chinese cuisine. His skills have landed him the coveted Five-Star Kitchen Knife, the ultimate prize for the nation’s cooks. He now works in a top-end hotel. But he secretly hungers for a showdown against an older chef whose skills are still legendary.

Meanwhile, that same older chef’s young female apprentice, Li Nai (Zhang Miao Yi), is hoping to help restore her master’s honor. She hatches a plan that involves landing a job in the hotel’s kitchen...so she can infiltrate Jiang Jie’s inner circle. But, little does she know, Jiang Jie also has a cunning plan to prove once and for all that he is peerless when it comes to Chinese cuisine! Who will win this battle of wits, hearts, and culinary wizardry?

“Sweet Trap” is a 2024 Chinese drama series that was directed by Deng Zhan Neng.

Sweet Trap

🔪 Knife Seizing Team 🍜

Having spent most of his life embracing the “YOLO” mindset, So Eun Ho (Lomon) was the last person on Earth anyone expected to join the grinding workforce. However, that’s exactly what he does when he lands a position as an intern at a Seongsu marketing agency.

The oldest intern at the agency, Eun Ho, with overwhelming cuteness and youthful appearance, quickly makes a name for himself. But not everyone at the agency appreciates his more easygoing and carefree attitude. As the youngest marketing team leader at the agency, Kang Na Eon (Kim Ji Eun) has had to make deep personal sacrifices to get to where she is today. Starting out as a recruiter, Na Eon has been relentless in her climb up the corporate ladder and her hard work has paid off. Successfully completing every project she takes on, Na Eon has become something of a legend in the industry, but her strong work ethic means she doesn’t take kindly to flippant interns like Eun Ho.

Despite their mutual hatred and innumerable differences, Eun Ho and Na Eon find their lives inexplicably entangled when an unexpected kiss lands their souls in the other’s body. Now forced to walk, quite literally, in each other’s shoes, will the two learn to appreciate and respect each other; and if they do, will that be the key that allows them to switch back?

A delightful romantic romp with a supernatural twist, “Branding in Seongsu” is a 2024 South Korean romantic comedy drama directed by Jung Hun-Soo.

Branding in Seongsu

💥 The Almighty ✨ Team

Eight years ago, Lin Xi (Victoria Song) and Xia Yi Cheng (Chen Xing Xu) were easily one of the happiest couples on the planet. But when Lin Xi’s mother voices her concerns over her daughter’s relationship and its effect on her career, Lin Xi is forced to make a difficult decision. Choosing to honor her mother’s wish, rather than follow her heart, Lin Xi breaks things off with Yi Cheng to pursue her career as a professional interpreter.

Now the youngest chief interpreter at Huasheng, Lin Xi has excelled in her career, but she’s not the only one to have spent the last eight years pursuing dreams. As the chief technical officer of a major communications company, Yi Cheng has worked hard to get where he is today. With both Lin Xi and Yi Cheng working in such vastly different fields, the two might have never crossed paths again, had fate not decided to intervene. With her company insistent on landing a contract with the company Yi Cheng works for, Lin Xi is assigned the job. Needless to say, she’s more than a little surprised when she comes face-to-face with her ex. With no choice but to close this deal, Lin Xi and Yi Cheng are forced to deal with each other, over and over again.&nbsp;

Having never quite gotten over Lin Xi, Yi Cheng would love nothing more than to exact his revenge but no matter how hard he tries, he just doesn’t have the heart to hurt the woman he once loved. Working side by side, the feelings the two still seem to harbor for each other begin to resurface, leaving both to wonder, could they possibly make things work this second time around?&nbsp;

A story of broken hearts, big dreams, and second chances, “Our Interpreter” is a 2024 Chinese romance drama directed by Zhang Tong.

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