Actress Kim Go-eun has been selected as a Bechdelian in the series category for 'Bechdel Day 2026.'
Kim Go-eun earned this recognition for her performances in three works: 'The King’s Affection,' 'The Price of Confession,' and 'Yumi's Cells 3.' All three productions were also included in the 'Bechdel Choice 10' for the series category this year.
Kim expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am always thankful for the opportunity to act in good works and meet great characters. It has been a joyful and meaningful time for me as an actress to encounter characters living different lives.”
She added, “I appreciate everyone who has viewed my works positively and selected me as a Bechdelian. I will continue to strive to present good performances through new characters and stories.”
Over the past year, Kim Go-eun has showcased her acting range by transitioning between various genres and characters. In 'The Price of Confession,' she transformed into a cold-hearted 'witch' devoid of emotions, while in 'The King’s Affection,' she depicted the love, friendship, and life struggles of a character over two decades. In 'Yumi's Cells 3,' she maintained the series' focus by guiding the intimate emotions and growth of a woman through its third season.
Na Won-jung, a judge from the series category and a reporter for JoongAng Ilbo, remarked, “Looking at Kim Go-eun's works over the past year, the term 'the eldest daughter of K-content' naturally comes to mind. She has expanded the range of characters a single actress can handle and has moved further ahead.”
He continued, “Her status as a leading star who can enhance production simply by being cast signifies that her challenges will contribute to the growth of Korean dramas and women's narratives. This is why Kim Go-eun's continuous transformation is welcomed.”
The fact that all three of Kim Go-eun's leading roles were selected for this year's Bechdel Choice 10 has also drawn attention. Lim Dae-hyung, a programmer for Bechdel Day 2026, described this as “not just a record of prolific output but an industrial signal.”
He noted, “The simultaneous selection of these three works, in connection with the choices of a star actor, holds significance beyond coincidence regarding the sustainability of women's narratives.”
In particular, 'Yumi's Cells 3' stands out as a female-led drama centered on women's psychology, successfully continuing to its third season while achieving both popularity and sustainability. Lim Dae-hyung evaluated it as “a case that demonstrates that women's narratives can possess competitiveness as long-term series rather than one-off projects or trends.”
Now in its seventh year, Bechdel Day is a content festival that highlights the values of gender equality and cultural diversity through films and series. Based on American cartoonist Alison Bechdel's 'Bechdel Test,' it expands on seven criteria tailored to the domestic content environment to select the 'Bechdel Choice 10' in the film and series categories each year. Among the creators involved in the selected works, Bechdelian titles are awarded to directors, writers, actors, and producers.
'Bechdel Day 2026' will take place from August 29 to 30 in the Yeonnam-dong area of Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, featuring screenings of the Bechdel Choice 10 selections, talks, and exhibitions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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