Bechdel Day () is an annual South Korean awards ceremony and event hosted by the Directors Guild of Korea (DGK) and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Film Council. Established in 2020, the event evaluates and honors gender equality in South Korean film and television, utilizing the Bechdel test alongside expanded criteria.
History In 2020, Gender Equality Week moved from July to the first week of September to commemorate the anniversary of "Yeoyeotongmun," Korea's first declaration of women's rights on September 1. That same year, the Directors Guild of Korea (DGK) launched Bechdel Day, an event inspired by American cartoonist Alison Bechdel's the gender Bechdel test.
The event annually honors standout creators, including directors, writers, actors, and producers, who contributed to these works as "Bechdelians." It also selects ten works with high gender equality standards as the "Bechdel Choice 10." In 2022, the scope expanded to include television series under the category "Bechdel Choice 5," before expanding to a full selection of ten series in 2023.
Criteria The initiative evaluates media using the "Bechdel Test 7," which builds upon the traditional Bechdel test by incorporating four additional criteria, as follows: There are at least two named female characters. The female characters have a conversation with each other. Their conversation is not solely about male characters. At least one key crew member (director, producer, screenwriter, or cinematographer) is a woman. The work features a solo female protagonist, or balances the roles and importance of male and female leads equally. The content is free from hatred or discriminatory views toward minorities. Female characters are portrayed without relying on stereotypes.
Bechdel day events +Bechdel day eventsEditionDateVenueProgrammerRef. 1st Online 2nd Online Yoon Dan-bi, Im Sun-ae 3rd Chungmu Arts Center Small Theater BlueLee Hwa-jeong 4th Indie Space, Seoul 5th 6th KU Cinematheque, Arts & Culture Center, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 7th Yeonnamjang, SeoulYoon Dan-bi, Lim Dae-hyung
Bechdel Choice 10 Edition Year Film Series 1st 2020 2nd 2021 3rd 2022 4th 2023 5th 2024 6th 2025 7th 2026
Bechdelian
Bechdelian in film — Director of the Year + Edition Year Winner(s) Film(s) 1st 2020 Kim Bora House of Hummingbird 2nd 2021 Hong Seong-eun Aloners 3rd 2022 Shin Su-won Hommage 4th 2023 July Jung Next Sohee 5th 2024 Lee Ji-eun Hill of Secrets 6th 2025 Lee Mi-rang About Her 7th 2026 Yoon Ga-eun The World of Love
Bechdelian in film — Producer of the Year + Edition Year Winner(s) Film(s) 1st 2020 Kim Ji-hye The House of Us 2nd 2021 Hong Seong-eun Aloners 3rd 2022 Park Eun-kyung Samjin Company English Class 4th 2023 Shin Hye-yeon, Kim Sung-hwan The Anchor 5th 2024 Kang Hye-jung Smugglers 6th 2025 Lee An-na Victory, High-Five 7th 2026 Ha Myung-mi Hallan
Bechdelian in film — Writers of the Year + Edition Year Winner(s) Film(s) 1st2020Lee Bo-ram, Kim Yoon-seokInnocent Witness2nd2021Park Ji-wanThe Day I Died: Unclosed Case3rd2022Chung Seo-kyung, Park Chan-wookDecision to Leave4th2023Kim Se-inThe Apartment with Two Women5th2024Kim Min-juA Letter from Kyoto6th2025Kim Soo-yeonMinimal Goodness7th2026Seo Ja-yeon
Bechdelian in film — Actresses of the Year + Edition Year Winner(s) Film(s) 1st2020Kim Hee-aeMoonlit Winter2nd2021Yeom Hye-ranBlack Light3rd2022Ha Yoon-kyungGyeong-a's Daughter4th2023Lee Ha-neePhantom5th2024Ra Mi-ranCitizen of a Kind6th2025Lee Hye-youngThe Old Woman with the Knife7th2026, Red Nails
Bechdelian in series — Directors of the Year + Edition Year Winner(s) Film(s) 3rd 2022 The Red Sleeve 4th2023Lee Jong-pil5th2024Jeon Go-woon, Lim Dae-hyungLTNS6th2025Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born 7th 2026 Lee Hae-young Aema
Bechdelian in series — Producers of the Year +EditionYear Winner(s) Series(s) 3rd2022Park Sung-hyeInspector Koo4th2023Cho Moon-jooLittle Women5th2024Baek Mi-kyungStrong Girl Nam-soon6th2025A Virtuous Business7th2026Honor
Bechdelian in series — Writers of the Year +EditionYear Winner(s) Series(s) 3rd2022Yoo Young-ahThirty, Nine4th2023Park Ba-raUnder the Queen's Umbrella5th2024Park Kyung-hwaThe Midnight Romance in Hagwon6th2025Park Ji-sookThe Tale of Lady Ok7th2026Song Hye-jinYou and Everything Else
Bechdelian in series — Actresses of the Year + Edition Year Winner(s) Film(s) 3rd2022Lee Young-aeInspector Koo4th2023Lim Ji-yeonThe Glory, Lies Hidden in My Garden5th2024Lee Ha-neeKnight Flower6th2025Park Bo-youngUnknown Seoul7th2026Kim Go-eunYou and Everything Else
References
External links