While I do agree that there are female characters that are written like you said; weak, with no say, etc. in kdrama I have to disagree that there's a lack of amazing, strong females in dramaland. I think you have to watch more dramas and come back to this article. These are a few dramas with my favorite female characters:
Age of Youth: ALL the ladies. An amazing female driven drama that's full of female characters who are strong, vulnerable, stand for no shit, yet break down and cry sometimes but do it while having each other. It's one of my fave dramas of the year (and overall) and it's mainly because of the array of different female characters and their support for each other.
I Hear Your Voice: Hye Sung. Honestly just an amazing character.
Bridal Mask: Ueno Rie. One of the best female second leads. She's a complex character that you care and root for throughout.
Ex-girlfriend Club: all of the main girls. they're all funny, weird and interesting. Although their personalities might not appeal to everyone they're a bunch of strong characters
You From Another Star: Cheon Song Yi
Healer: Chae Young Shin
Heartless City: Lee Jin Sook
Signal: Cha Soo Hyun
The K2: Choi Yoo Jin
& I could go on. I stopped describing because I would just be saying "they're so amazing" for each character lol. but yeah. The characters you're looking and asking for are in kdramas. They're everywhere. I just think you need to keep watching dramas and you'll start seeing great female characters all the time.
Age of Youth: ALL the ladies. An amazing female driven drama that's full of female characters who are strong, vulnerable, stand for no shit, yet break down and cry sometimes but do it while having each other. It's one of my fave dramas of the year (and overall) and it's mainly because of the array of different female characters and their support for each other.
I Hear Your Voice: Hye Sung. Honestly just an amazing character.
Bridal Mask: Ueno Rie. One of the best female second leads. She's a complex character that you care and root for throughout.
Ex-girlfriend Club: all of the main girls. they're all funny, weird and interesting. Although their personalities might not appeal to everyone they're a bunch of strong characters
You From Another Star: Cheon Song Yi
Healer: Chae Young Shin
Heartless City: Lee Jin Sook
Signal: Cha Soo Hyun
The K2: Choi Yoo Jin
& I could go on. I stopped describing because I would just be saying "they're so amazing" for each character lol. but yeah. The characters you're looking and asking for are in kdramas. They're everywhere. I just think you need to keep watching dramas and you'll start seeing great female characters all the time.