30 Best Historical K-Dramas, Ranked

Summary

• Historical K-dramas provide Western audiences with captivating stories set in unfamiliar South Korean periods.
• Thanks to streaming sites like Netflix, viewers worldwide can easily enjoy the best historical K-dramas.
• The diverse narratives of historical K-dramas offer unique entertainment not often seen in popular US and UK shows.

K-dramas come in many genres, and historical K-dramas give Western audiences stories set in unfamiliar and exciting South Korean periods. Period dramas have always been popular, but European and American history has been thoroughly explored on-screen. So has South Korea’s past, but it’s only in the last few years that historical K-dramas set during the Choson dynasty or the Later Three Kingdoms period began to captivate US viewers en-masse. The best historical Korean drama storylines can involve conspiracies of the throne, political unrest, and maybe even some love and comedy.

The historical K-drama is just as binge-worthy as any modern tale. Thanks to streaming websites like Netflix and Rakuten Viki, the best historical K-drama can be easily viewed by audiences all over the world. From the Netflix K-drama worldwide hitSquid Game to the thrilling adaptation Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area, K-dramas have provided viewers with a diverse kind of entertainment and allowed them to enjoy narratives not usually seen in popular shows from the US and the UK. These include historical K-dramas that feature rich Korean culture and traditions.

30 The Hymn of Death (2018)

A Tragic Romance Inspired By Real Events

• Currently unavailable to stream

This historical K-drama is set during a time that not a lot of K-dramas revisit: the 1920s. In the 1920s, Korea was still occupied and ruled by the Japanese. Most of the K-dramas that focus on the Japanese occupation of Korea take place in the 1930s and spotlight Korean rebel groups. The Hymn of Death, however, is a tragic romance that plays out over three episodes.

It is inspired by the real love story of playwright Kim Woo-jin (Lee Jong-suk) and the first professional soprano singer in Korea, Yun Sim-deok (Shin Hye-sun). While the story is romantic, these real figures both died in 1926, so the audience should know going in that there won’t be a neatly wrapped happy ending. The miniseries also serves as a good snapshot of the era because it’s easier to see how those who became famous were allowed more freedom by Japanese officials than the average Korean citizen.

“The Hymn of Death” is a song released in 1926 and is said to be Korea’s first popular song, capturing the attention of the entire country.

29 Capital Scandal (2007)

A Playboy Becomes A Freedom Fighter After Falling In Love

Instead of being set in Korea’s ancient history as so many historical K-dramas are, Capital Scandal is set in the 1930s during the Japanese occupation of Korea, specifically, in Korea’s capital city. The series follows a playboy (Kang Ji-hwan) who sets out to seduce a freedom fighter (Han Ji-min). While real feelings emerge, their relationship plays out against the backdrop of the changing Korean society. They both join revolutionaries fighting against the Japanese occupation of the country.

It must be noted that Capital Scandal is first and foremost a romance instead of a historical K-drama. That means, despite the important chapter of Korean history playing out on screen, the romance gets the spotlight. The series was highly acclaimed, winning six of the 10 KBS Drama Awards for which it was nominated. It also received three Baeksang Arts Award nominations.

28 Our Blooming Youth (2023)

A Rom-Com Meet Cute Gets A Historic Thriller Twist

Our Blooming Youth might not have been nominated for a slew of awards like some of the other historical K-dramas, but it’s got a great concept and the cast has great chemistry. The series takes a modern rom-com idea that’s been used more often in action-comedies than it has historical dramas to fuel its story.

Here, the crown prince is under suspicion of killing his brother, but he’s also been poisoned by the tip of an arrow and is worried about losing the use of his arm. At the same time, a young woman is on the run and framed for the murder of her entire family. When the two cross paths, they agree to help one another find the answers they’re searching for. What follows is something along the lines of a political thriller, but their romantic connection also makes them compelling to watch.

27 Faith (2012)

Sci-fi And Romance Collide With Korean History

History, romance, and science fiction collide in one of the best-known time-travel K-dramas. Because of one main character’s journey to the past, and that character being a plastic surgeon, it’s also recognized as a historical K-drama and a medical K-drama. The genre-bending series is also called The Divine Doctor after its main character.

A modern plastic surgeon is kidnapped and transported to the 14th-century Goryeo period in Korea. One of the royal guards is her abductor and insists that the doctor save the queen. As she works to survive in the past, she also begins to fall for the very guard who brought her there.

The series and its actors received several award show nominations following its run from the Baeksang Arts Awards, the Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards, and the SBS Drama Awards, among others. Faith ended up winning five of the 15 for which it was nominated.

26 Chicago Typewriter (2017)

1930s Resistance Members Are Reincarnated

Chicago Typewriter is not strictly a historical K-drama. Its story is split between two timelines – modern Korea and 1930s Korea. That means, of course, that the historical spotlight is on the Japanese occupation of the country, but just how that is explored is unusual here.

Three of the resistance fighters from the 1930s find themselves in the modern day. They are not there, however, because of the usual time travel trope, but because they have been reincarnated as a writer, a fan of the writer, and a ghostwriter. They each work to unravel the mysteries of their pasts and how their previous life might affect the modern day. It’s a fascinating story of connection and history.

Allowing the story to switch back and forth between the present and the past means that the audience gets to see the characters explored fully and uniquely. They all get their time to shine in the storyline.

25 The King In Love (2017)

Two Best Friends Fall In Love With The Same Woman

In the historical K-drama The King in Love, the future king in question has one close friend in his life and that friendship is thrown into turmoil when they both fall in love with the same woman. What makes it harder is that she loves both men. The Crown Prince Won and Wang Rin are the closest of friends, and they know they are the only people they can rely on in life. That is when San comes along and threatens to sever this close relationship.

This 40-episode series followed their friendship, trials, and tribulations, as they had to figure out what their future held. While it proved very popular, it fell a little short of other historical Korean dramas at awards time, winning only two awards at the MBC Drama Awards, one for Nam-Da-raum as the younger version of Crown Prince Wang Won and the other for Jeong Bo-Seok, as his father, King Chungnyeol.

24 Gunman In Joseon (2014)

A Story Of Revenge and Love

Gunman in Joseon is a historical K-drama that is part tragic revenge tale and part romantic drama. Park Yoon Kang is a young swordsman whose life is turned upside down when his father, the palace head guard, is murdered. He swears vengeance for his father’s death and sets out to save his enslaved sister. What really makes this stand out from other Korean dramas is that this young man gives up his swords and takes up a gun. After this, he soon becomes a hero to his people.

The story is unique, mostly because this was a time (1876) when guns were new weapons for this hermit kingdom and Park Yoon-kang brings them into the present-day in what can only be considered a Western movie for Eastern cultures. The historical K-drama took home three awards at the KBS Drama Awards and also won the Outstanding Korean Drama award at the 10th Seoul International Drama Awards.

23 Gyeongseong Creature (2023-)

Season 1 Explores Korea In 1945

The struggle against the monster and the medical experiments line up with the Korean citizens struggling to reclaim their own identity…

Netflix has already confirmed that the second season, which was filmed in 2024, of Gyeongseong Creature is set in the modern day. The first season, however, takes place in a unique time in Korean history. Set in 1945, the first season occurs during the end of the Japanese occupation of Korea instead of right in the middle of it as the other few historical K-dramas in this era do.

The series uses a real tragedy as a jumping-off point for a fantasy series. In Gyeongseong Creature, the Japanese medical officials who are part of the Korean occupation do experiments on people, creating monsters in a hospital where loved ones never see their relatives emerge. The series kicks off because Jang Tae-sang (Park Seo-joon) and Yoon Chae-ok (Han So-hee) are trying to find some of those missing people. What they discover instead is a creature they have to find a way to survive against.

The struggle against the monster and the medical experiments line up with the Korean citizens struggling to reclaim their own identity under Japanese occupation, making the fantasy story a great parallel to real-world events.

22 The Forbidden Marriage (2022)

A Matchmaker Defies A King’s Ban

At only 12 episodes, The Forbidden Marriage is one of the shorter historical K-dramas, but it’s also one with an interesting concept. Set during the Joseon Era, the heartbroken king decides to ban marriage. He does so after his wife dies by suicide, and he believes she was actually murdered. Despite his ban, a scam artist acts as a matchmaker, running a marriage compatibility service, completely ignoring his rules right up until she is caught and imprisoned.

The scam artist manages to make the king believe that she’s actually being possessed by the spirit of his dead wife, so he keeps her close, believing he’s got his wife back. While the idea seems ridiculous, the short series is incredibly funny. Of the seven MBC Drama Awards it was nominated for in 2022, The Forbidden Marriage won three, including acting awards for leads Kim Young-dae and Park Ju-hyun.

21 The Princess’ Man (2011)

A Romantic Tale Like Romeo & Juliet

The best way to describe this Korean drama is to compare it to
Romeo & Juliet.

The Princess’ Man is a shorter historical K-drama at 24 episodes and, unlike others in the genre, it doesn’t care as much about the politics and intrigue as others, as it focuses almost exclusively on the romantic aspects. The best way to describe this Korean drama is to compare it to Romeo & Juliet, a love story between the daughter of a grand prince who wants to become the king and the son of his greatest enemy.

The series was a huge hit when released with an average audience share of around 18.9% nationwide in South Korea. It was also a critical darling, winning seven awards with 15 total nominations at the KBS Drama Awards. This included the Top Excellence Award for Actor (Park Si-hoo) and Actress (Moon Chae-won) and the Best Couple Award.

20 Gu Family Book (2013)

A Fusion Of Martial Arts, Historical Romance And Supernatural Elements

Gu Family Book is a historical K-drama that veers into the supernatural romance aspects of the genre. This series focuses on the son of the guardian spirit of Jiri Mountain and a human, making them a half-human and half-mythical creature. Since his parents’ love story ended in tragedy, a family adopted him, and he was raised by these people while trying to learn more about his true nature.

Not only does this historical K-drama bring the supernatural into it, but it is also a fusion of martial arts epics and historical romantic dramas. It is also a touching story about love and finding oneself. The series was a huge hit when released, and ended up winning several awards for the actors and the series itself, including taking home four awards at both the MBC Drama Awards and the 2nd Asia Rainbow TV Awards.

19 Arang and the Magistrate (2012)

Romantic Fantasy Based On An Ancient Tale

Arang and the Magistrate is a historical K-drama that is not as concerned about actual history. This is a romantic fantasy K-drama that is based on an ancient dark folk tale called The Legend of Arang. The legend itself tells the story of a magistrate’s daughter who was murdered. Ever since her death, a beautiful ghost begins to haunt every magistrate who wants the position. However, things change when a very determined young man is about to take this position and ends up communicating with the ghostly girl.

This historical K-drama changes up the story to make it more of a romance, with 20 episodes. The ghost Arang has lost her memories and she can’t rest in peace until she learns how she died. Every magistrate that she appears to dies from fright, but the newest appointee can actually see, hear, and touch spirits, and he agrees to help her learn the truth, so she can move on. The historical K-drama won several awards including Excellent Korean Drama at the Seoul International Drama Awards.

18 Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Of Youth (2016)

A Group of Warriors Find Love and Friendship During The Silla Kingdom

The 2016 historical K-drama is a coming-of-age romance centered around a group of elite young men. The historical Korean drama takes place during the Silla Kingdom era between 57 BC and AD 935. The queen of the Kingdom of Silla sent her son away from the palace walls to stay safe from their enemies.

However, in the Korean period drama, he’s coming of age and waits along with other citizens for her to step down — but there’s trouble amidst. The queen worries about powerful nobles who once tried to take over the throne. She has a plan to form an elite group of warriors called, the Hwarang. They will surpass existing power factions and protect the throne. The young men are unaware that their future king is among them. While not the best historical K-drama, it maintained decent ratings throughout its 10 parts, but didn’t win any accolades.

17 Mr. Queen (2020)

A Controversial K-drama To Make Anyone Laugh

Mr. Queen is a controversial historical K-drama with comedy leanings that will have anyone on the floor laughing at its comical displays and dialogue. The 2020 time-traveling K-drama ties the present and the past all in one. An up-and-coming chef suffers an accident and wakes up in a different era. Not only does he wake up in the Joseon era, but also as a woman, and not just any woman, but the Queen.

The current King in Mr. Queen is a gentle and easy-going person but in reality, has a dark and secret side the Queen is starting to uncover. While there’s corruption in the kingdom, the Queen’s modern life and that of the Joseon era are melding. It makes for comical and awkward encounters. Mr. Queen was nominated for two awards, winning none, but what makes Mr. Queen far from the best historical K-drama is its controversial dealings with gender.

16 Queen For Seven Days (2017)

An Iconic Love Story Based on True Events

Queen for Seven Days is a historical K-drama that’s actually based on a true story, and the K-drama doesn’t have a happy ending. In the iconic love story, Lady Shin Chae-kyung (Park Min-young), the daughter of a powerful politician in the Joseon dynasty, falls in love with Prince Lee Yuk (Woo-jin Yeon), who is living under the iron thumb of his half-brother King Yeon San Gun (Dong-geon Lee). The two get married and the Prince ascends the throne, making Shin queen.

However, trouble arises among different political entities and in-fighting between the family, resulting in Shin being dethroned after only seven days. Though it’s not the best historical K-drama, Queen for Seven Days holds its own as a historical biopic of sorts, detailing a real sordid affair in Joseon dynasty history. The historical K-drama was nominated for four awards at the 31st KBS Drama Awards, winning one for actor Lee Dong-gun.

15 Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung (2019)

A 19th Century Historical Romance With Two Storylines

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung is a great K-drama for beginners and premiered on Netflix in 2019. The historical K-drama stars K-Pop Idol, Cha Eun-woo as Prince Dowon Yi-rim. While the drama may be tagged as a romance and comedy, there are a lot of historical facts to unpack. Two storylines take place in the show, though it’s not a time-traveling K-drama. Not the best historical K-drama, but it did well enough during awards season.

One timeline is set in “nowadays” in the early 19th century of Joseon, the other twenty years beforehand. One is more lighthearted with caricatures and jokes. The other is a series of flashbacks detailing the unjust rank of citizens and suppression. Interwoven is a love storybetween a free-spirited woman hoping to become a female historian and a prince working in secret as a romance writer. Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung not only features a K-pop idol but was also nominated for eight awards at the MBC Drama Awards, winning four, including one for Best Couple.

14 The King’s Affection (2021)

A Woman Becomes King

The King’s Affection takes on a historical Korean superstition. When a prince shares his space in his mother’s womb with a female child, he’s considered to be cursed. With that in mind, The King’s Affection starts off in a dark place, with the order to kill the future king’s twin sister just after her birth. Instead, the young princess is sent away to be raised by someone else, only to grow up to work as a maid in the palace and meet her brother and her mother years later.

In the grand tradition of women disguised as men in K-dramas, the estranged princess takes on her brother’s role following his death, disguising herself as him and becoming the king. Complicating matters is that she falls for one of the king’s tutors, and he has feelings for the king as well. The King’s Affection piqued the interest of critics and audiences alike, earning six KBS Drama Awards.

13 Empress Ki (2013)

A Korean Woman Becomes A Powerful Empress Of China

Empress Ki is a historical K-drama that was a domestic and overseas hit for its impressive performances and riveting story. The historical K-drama details the journey of a woman born in Korea as she becomes a powerful empress of China amidst love, war, and politics. Gi Seungnyang (or Ki Seung Nyang) rises to power despite the restrictions of the era’s class system. Though it’s not the best historical K-drama, it does stand out as a woman-led historical K-drama.

She comes to marry the Emperor of the Mongol Empire to become empress. However, underneath there are still feeling for her first love. Audiences will get caught up in the display of deep-rooted love from the Emperor as well as the Empress’s drive and ambitions. The women-led K-drama Empress Ki has decent awards stats, garnering nominations from the MBC Drama Awards, the Seoul International Drama Awards, and the Korea Drama Awards. Empress Ki lucked out, snagging seven awards in total.

12 The Red Sleeve (2021-2022)

A Bittersweet Love Story Told From A Female Perspective

Inspired by the novel of the same name, The Red Sleeve, like so many of the best historical K-dramas, is set during Korea’s Joseon Era. Here, the focus is on two members of the royal court who have particular aspirations, but find their stations sometimes in the way of what they want. One of those is the prince who longs to be a better and kinder king than his recently departed grandfather.

The other is one of the “court ladies” who appreciates the freedom her position can offer her but wants to be able to live her own life instead of being at the mercy of the court. The Red Sleeve is told from the woman’s perspective as the two fall in love, but find one another just out of reach. A favorite of the 2021 TV season, the series won eight MBC Drama Awards of the 12 for which it was nominated.

11 Jewel In The Palace (2003)

One Of The First K-dramas To Reach Global Prominence

Those who struggle to understand why K-dramas have gained such momentum in the West should check out the historical K-drama Jewel in the Palace, which is one of the earlier K-dramas that has earned prominence on the global stage. Set during the Choson Dynasty, Jewel in the Palace is actually based on the true story of a woman named Jang-Geum, who manages to become the first royal physician in all of Korea.

The show focuses on Jang-Geum’s struggles as a woman in a male-dominated society, making it another female-led K-drama. The historical K-drama’s relevant storyline, as well as its phenomenal actors, have helped it gain viewers all over the world. Despite not being the best historical K-drama, it does have cultural significance thanks to its effect on tourism in South Korea. As well, the series received a spinoff, a stage play, and a sequel.