Historic Dramas with Romance & Intrigue (2010 -2025)
This list features Korean & Chinese historical dramas set during dynastic periods (no fantasy) that combine two powerful elements:
✔️ A meaningful romantic storyline
✔️ An addictive mystery or political/suspense plot
From palace conspiracies and hidden identities to slow-burn love stories, these dramas keep viewers hooked with both emotional depth & story tension.
🗳️ Vote for the 2010 -2025s K&C-dramas that blended romance and intrigue best.
📌No fantasy, no supernatural—just smart, emotional, well-crafted historical storytelling, even if fictional but realistic.
NikiRamat Jun 5, 2025
-
![The Rise of Ning]()
Despite being the first-born daughter of an official, Luo Yi Ning grew up being mistreated by her father's concubine. With help from Luo Shen Yuan, Yi Ning's estranged half-brother, she moves back ...more -
![The Prisoner of Beauty]()
Xiao Qiao, a clever girl from the Qiao family, marries Wei Shao, the sharp and kind master of the Wei family, as part of a family alliance. With bad blood between their ...more -
![The Double]()
Xue Fang Fei, the daughter of a wealthy magistrate, loses everything after a major upheaval. She’s saved by Jiang Li, the daughter of the Secretariat Director, and takes on Jiang Li’s identity ...more -
![Legend of Zang Hai]()
Zang Hai was originally the son of the Imperial Astronomer. However, when he was young, he witnessed the murder of his entire family. Deciding on the path of revenge, Zang Hai withdrew ...more -
![In Blossom]()
In the sinful city of Heyang, very well-liked Pan Yue married Yang Caiwei, who was despised by everyone. However, Yang Caiwei was murdered on their wedding day. The suspected culprit was none ...more -
![Kill My Sins]()
The wandering physician Ye Ping An, entangled in an old and secretive case, arrives in Chang'an. Accused of mystical medical interventions, she manipulates minds and evokes fear, while the low-born magistrate Yuan ...more -
![The King's Affection]()
Set during the Joseon Dynasty, the story follows twins born to the Crown Princess Consort, who orders the death of the daughter due to superstition. To save her, the baby girl is ...more -
![Story of Kunning Palace]()
Jiang Xue Ning’s obsession with becoming empress strains her friendship with Yan Lin and leads to the arrest of Official Zhang Zhe. After a brief reign, guilt takes hold as rebels, led ...more -
![Youthful Glory]()
In the eleventh year of Chengkang, Prince Jiang Xu of Dingbei, who had guarded the border for eight years, returned to the Daxian Dynasty to investigate the case of embezzlement of military ...more -
![The Princess's Gambit]()
Princess Jiang Tao Hua of Zhao seeks freedom from Empress Lu’s control by proposing a political marriage to the state of Wei. But upon arriving, she’s attacked and falsely accused of an ...more -
![The Crowned Clown]()
Amid political chaos and threats against King Lee Hun, a clown named Ha Sun, who closely resembles the king, is brought into the palace as his double. Orphaned during an epidemic and ...more -
![My Dearest]()
A love-story between a noblewoman and a mysterious man who shows up in her hometown set in the 1600s during the Qing invasion. Yoo Gil Chae is a pretty, bubbly, and a ...more -
![Dear Hongrang]()
In the late Joseon Dynasty, a family rises to wealth through the art trade. However, a mysterious event unfolds when the son, Hong Rang, returns after a decade-long disappearance with no memory ...more -
![The Red Sleeve]()
In 18th-century Korea, Prince Yi San is a perfectionist haunted by his father's murder. He's set to inherit the throne once his cruel grandfather, the current king, passes away. Despite the emotional ...more -
![My Country: The New Age]()
Set during the transition from the Goryeo to the Joseon period, two friends become enemies due to differing views on "my country." Seo Hwi, a skilled warrior and son of a renowned ...more -
![Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung]()
The story takes place at the beginning of the 19th century. Goo Hae Ryung is an intern to become a palace historian. However, it was not acceptable for women to write historical ...more -
![The Story of Ming Lan]()
Set in the Northern Song dynasty, the story follows Sheng Ming Lan, an unfavored concubine-born 6th daughter of an official. After losing her mother at a young age, Ming Lan is raised ...more -
![Bossam: Steal the Fate]()
Ba U, a degenerate man involved in gambling, stealing, and fighting, hides his true identity while making money through Bossam, a remarriage custom in Joseon where widows were kidnapped to marry. During ...more -
![The Tale of Lady Ok]()
Set during the Joseon period, Ok Tae Yeong is a legal expert. She is smart, has an excellent work ethic, and is athletic. Even in difficult situations, she doesn’t hesitate to help ...more -
![The Scandal of Chun Hwa]()
Set in the fictional country of Dongbangguk. Hwa Ri is youngest princess of the royal family. She grew up with an independent mindset. When she reaches the age to marry, she decides ...more -
![Gunman in Joseon]()
In the time of enlightenment of 19th-century Joseon. It stars a hero who is the son of Joseon’s greatest swordsman. He loses his father, and his younger sister gets sold as a ...more -
![Love in the Moonlight]()
To protect herself and her family, Hong Ra On disguises herself as a man and counsels men on dating. Due to a love letter she wrote for a client, she meets Crown ...more -
![Haechi]()
Set during the Joseon Dynasty period, four people from different walks of life come together to make Prince Lee Geum the King and reform the Saheonbu. The four people are Lee Geum, ...more -
![The Secret Romantic Guesthouse]()
Yoon Dan Oh had enjoyed a comfortable life as the beloved youngest daughter of a well-off family, but no longer. Now the family breadwinner, she runs the Ihwawon Inn. Current guests are ...more -
![Are You the One]()
The clever and decisive Liu Mian Tang, as the first lord of Yang Shan, led the people of Yang Shan to punish the wicked, promote goodness, and uphold justice. However, she suffered ...more -
![Empress Ki]()
Genghis Khan built an empire that spanned vast regions in East Asia and East Europe. And there was one woman who held immense power in the Yuan Dynasty, which Genghis Khan founded, ...more -
![The Rise of Phoenixes]()
Feng Zhi Wei is the unfavored daughter of the Qiu Family, who has to flee due to unfortunate circumstances. Owing a favour to the 6th prince Ning Yi, Zhi Wei cross-dresses as ...more -
![The Matchmakers]()
Sim Jung Woo is an intelligent and handsome young man. He was the youngest to place first in the state examination, but he was picked to become the princess' husband. During their ...more -
![The King's Face]()
"The King's Face" tells the story of Prince Gwang Hae, an illegitimate son of King Seon Jo, who suffers since his childhood with the indifference of his father and the constant feeling ...more -
![Under the Power]()
Lu Yi is a cold, ruthless and authoritative high-ranking officer of the Ming Dynasty's Jinyiwei (also known as the Brocaded Guards for their elaborately embroidered uniforms). The Jinyiwei are part of the ...more -
![Queen for Seven Days]()
This drama is about the love story between King Jung Jong and his Queen Dan Kyung, who was crowned and deposed within the span of a week due to rival political factions ...more -
![The Autumn Ballad]()
It tells the story of Qiu Yan, a witty young girl, and Liang Yi, a cold-faced duke. They go from battling each other with wits and boldness to understanding and accompanying each ...more -
![The Legend of Hao Lan]()
During the Warring States Period, Li Hao Lan is forced out of her own home and sold as a slave despite being the daughter of the Public Censor of Zhao. Purchased by ...more -
![Secret Door]()
Secret Door follows the conflict between King Yeong Jo and Crown Prince Sa Do in the longest reign in Joseon history, 52 years. King Yeong Jo pursues strong royal authority, while Crown ...more
