In 2023 and 2025, two South Korean films, 'Killer Bok-soon' and 'The Drug King', marked a departure from the traditional portrayal of female characters by presenting women assassins in their 40s and 60s. While the archetype of the female killer has appeared before in cinema, such as Uma Thurman's character in 'Kill Bill', these films challenge the norm by showcasing older women who navigate their violent paths not in typical youth but through the lens of maturity and accumulated life experiences.

Both narratives start from the premise of self-preservation leading these women to become killers, who then encounter a male mentor or romantic interest, creating complex relationships that reflect deeper emotional and thematic layers. The films parallel each other as both feature protagonists trying to break away from organizations that exploit them. At their cores, they depict a struggle for independence against a patriarchal framework, illuminating different aspects of women's fights against established societal orders.

Of particular interest is how both films play with the concept of time, employing it as a narrative device through which the characters strive to resolve their current conflicts. The female assassins utilize their experiences related to time to reshape their identities and reclaim their power, offering a commentary on the nature of growth and resistance within the context of established male-dominated systems. This emerging focus on older women's independence represents a notable evolution in storytelling, diverging from traditional portrayals of female empowerment in younger characters.