Letter from Seoul

From unnie to omma to ajumma: Korean women in real life

Actress Jung Yu-mi plays a woman in her 30s struggling to be a full-time mother and housewife in the film Kim Ji-young: Born 1982. PHOTO: LOTTE ENTERTAINMENT
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SEOUL – With her angelic eyes, dewy face and silky hair, the female juingong (Korean for protagonist) of K-dramas is always ready to take away breaths, melt hearts and captivate minds.

Her cheerful optimism wins the day, and she has a way of taming the most overbearing Korean oppa (older brother) and turning him into the most devoted lover.

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