It's hard to separate the top ten characters from the actresses who played them because without an actress to breathe life into a character it's just words on paper.
But, given that, here are the female characters we liked a lot in 2013 and why.
She saw ghosts. Ghosts tortured Tae Gong Sil in "The Master's Sun" but she managed to overcome her fears and help both the living and the dead. Gong Hyo Jin played her with comic flair. She was all aegyo when she asked So Ji Sub to sleep with her, strictly to keep the ghosts away.
She had flaws. Jang Hye Sung in "I Hear Your Voice" was a great character for all her flaws. Idealistic but lazy and selfish, she becomes a better person as the drama progresses. Played by Lee Bo Young, you can't help but like her no matter how flawed she is.
She slept in her coat. Go Dok Mi in "Flower Boys Next Door" slept in her coat and still managed to have cute flower boys in love with her. That takes talent. Park Shin Hye made an adorable reclusive writer.
She created a new persona. Lee Seo Yoon a.k.a. Zoe Lou in "Missing You" was a glamorous shell of a woman. Played by Yoon Eun Hye, Lee Seo Yoon created a new persona for herself but it never completely veiled the terrors of her past.
She was bad. Seo Mi Do in "When A Man Loves" was a character viewers loved to hate. Kdrama viewers like a love triangle but when this character, bravely played by Shin Se Kyung, dared to date both men, viewers called her a player and worse.
She was so robotic viewers wondered if she was human. Park Bok Nyeo in "The Suspicious Housekeeper" was mysterious. Actress Choi ji Woo created a character whose robotic behavior was animated by terrifying memories.
She was pitiful. Kang Yoo Jung in "Secret" has to be the most downtrodden character in this year's dramas. She sacrificed and sacrificed without reward until she finally had enough and fought back. She's a classic kdrama heroine but, played skillfully by Hwang Jung Eum, the character had viewers waiting patiently for her revenge.
She was brave. Not only can Dam Yeo Wool in "Gu Family Book" fight like a man, but also the character is willing to throw her lot in with a guy who is half-gumiho and could kill her. Suzy Bae's character she was both a worthy opponent and someone you wanted to protect.
She protected others. Empress Ki has Dam Yeo Wool beat. She can also fight like a man but is skilled at uncovering palace intrigues. Played by Ha Ji Won, the character does everything she can to protect those around her. Power means nothing to her unless he can use it to do good.
She was refreshing. Han Se Kyung in "Cheomdamdong Alice" is a refreshing character. She doesn't start out wanting to be a Cheomdamdong wife, but when she finds that's what's needed, she does what it takes. Moon Geun Young's portrayal was honest and true.
