Bechdel Day 2026 has unveiled its “Bechdel Choice 10” for the series category, with three Kim Go Eun-led projects making the list.
The annual festival, which highlights gender equality and cultural diversity in Korean film and television, selected Yumi’s Cells 3, You and Everything Else and The Price of Confession among this year’s standout series.
The full top 10 also includes Don’t Call Me Ma’am, As You Stood By, The Art of Sarah, We Are All Trying Here, Honour, Aema and Undercover Miss Hong.
Several selections were recognized for portraying the realities faced by contemporary women. Don’t Call Me Ma’am explores issues including career breaks caused by childcare, early menopause, marriage and workplace harassment among working women in their 40s.
As You Stood By, meanwhile, follows a domestic violence survivor navigating anger, anxiety and difficult choices. Movement CEO Jin Myung Hyun praised stars Jeon So Nee and Lee You Mi, saying, “The moments when the eyes of the two actresses, who could almost be called the navigation system of the series, meet the gaze beyond the frame are especially striking.”
Kim’s three entries drew particular attention for showcasing a range of female characters. Yumi’s Cells 3 was also recognized for reaching a third season with a woman at the center of the story, demonstrating that female-led narratives can have both commercial appeal and long-term staying power.
Director Lim Dae Hyung, a programmer for Bechdel Day 2026, said the expansion of women-centered stories was one of this year’s most notable trends. “It is especially significant that female-centered narratives have expanded in quantity this year,” he said, adding that more women are also taking leading roles in production and creative development.
At the same time, Lim cautioned against allowing that growth to become formulaic. “This year’s Bechdel Choice 10 captures women’s lives in different ways across generations, genres and time periods,” he said.
The selections were chosen from 102 series released between June 2025 and May 2026 across broadcast television, cable, streaming platforms and the web.
Based on American cartoonist Alison Bechdel’s Bechdel Test, the festival uses seven expanded criteria adapted for the Korean content industry.
Bechdel Day 2026 will be held in Seoul from August 29th to 30th.
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