Reincarnation has become a widely popular trope among korean manhwas. While some protagonists get lucky and find themselves in a position where they have both power and respect, others are thrown the short end of the stick and end up powerless or as disposable side characters.
Of course no one would want to accept such a tragic fate, but there are few who would dare to completely go against the fate set out for them. Here are some examples of female manhwa protagonists who decided to subvert fate with their own strength.
Untouchable Lady: These People Are No Longer Considered Family
Reincarnation is not an uncommon trope in manhwas but the same person reincarnating multiple times is certainly less popular. Untouchable Lady protagonist Hilise Inoaden has always craved the love of her family. Throughout her seven instances of reincarnation, she has always done what they asked and sought their approval even to the detriment of her own health. But each and every time, her family betrays her and throws her away like garbage.
In her seventh life, as she watches her brother Ricardo beg her to die in the place of their stepsister Gabrielle, Hilise completely loses any lingering attachment to the people she’s supposed to call family. In her next life, she vows to abandon them first. It is extremely satisfying to watch Hilise regain her own self-worth and use her powers for herself. It is just as gratifying to see how powerless her family actually is against her once she really puts her foot down.
Secret Lady: Standing Up Against Politics To Save The Family
Rozentine was born into a ducal family of strategists known as the Argens, but she holds a secret. She possesses the ability to see ghosts and retains memories of her previous life as Yoon Seol-woo, a korean girl in modern times who could also see spirits. This ability is considered outlawed in her current life but when her beloved sister becomes possessed by a ghost, Rozentine has no choice but to ally herself with the second prince, Prince Chartus, and save him from death with her ability.
The story of Secret Lady is thick with political tension and heavy with mystery. Coming from a family of strategists, Rozentine uses her wit and cunning to her full advantage as she tries to keep together the warm family she finally has in this life.
Doctor Elise: Modernizing Medicine In Ancient Times
In Doctor Elise, Song Ji Hyeon is a genius doctor and the youngest appointed lecturer at Seoul University. She retains memories of her previous life as Elise De Clorence, a love-obsessed woman -- but when an accident catapults her back into that life, Elise decides to turn her situation around and use her modern medical knowledge to better her current world.
Doctor Elise contains a protagonist who would usually be considered overpowered, but the story remains realistic. Elise may have the necessary medical knowledge but the path to becoming a doctor is not easy for a woman in ancient times. Other medical practictioners don’t simply trust her with all new methods and knowledge. This is definitely in line with how medicine has developed in modern times, not through the words of one person but through continued testing and research. New theories and medicine are rarely immediately accepted by the wider medical community, and Doctor Elise does a great job portraying that.
The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up At The Duke’s Mansion
After an unexpected accident, Eunha wakes up to find herself in the body of Raeliana McMillan, the eldest daughter of a Baron in the story of a novel. Unfortunately, Raeliana is just a simple side character who is destined to be poisoned by her own fiance. But Eunha does not want to die again; to escape her own death flag, she enters a six-month fake marriage contract with the novel's male lead, the coldhearted Duke Noah Wynknight.
Unlike many other reincarnation manhwas, the reason behind Eunha’s death in her first life wasn’t just because of a freak accident. The mystery of it is woven throughout the rest of The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion as she tries to subvert the fate set out for her in the original novel.
Watching female protagonists turn their fate around is a satisfying process to behold. Each of these manhwa characters are smart and courageous in their own way and are an inspirational show of personal strength.
