Best Joseon Era Historical-Costume K-Drama
Rank your favourite dramas set in the Joseon Dynasty (1388-1910). Feel free to add to the list...
Asianatica Mar 25, 2026
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![Mr. Queen]()
Jang Bong Hwan, a South Korean chef, ends up in the body of Queen Kim So Yong after a serious accident, transporting him to Korea’s past. Queen So Yong’s husband, King Cheol ...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 -
![Kingdom]()
As the Joseon King succumbs to smallpox the rumors of his death begin. The Cho Clan, which is the clan of the pregnant Queen and her father, together with the the Chief ...more -
![Under the Queen's Umbrella]()
Within the palace exist troublemaking princes who cause nothing but headaches for the royal family and are about to be turned into proper crown princes. Their mother, Im Hwa Ryeong, is the wife ...more -
![Mr. Sunshine]()
Mr. Sunshine centers on a young boy born into a house servant's family who travels to the United States during the 1871 Shinmiyangyo (U.S. expedition to Korea). He returns to his homeland ...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 -
![The Tale of Nokdu]()
Jeon Nok Du lives on an island with his father and older brother. He is smart and a good swordsman. Since he was little, his father did not let him study or ...more -
![Bon Appetit, Your Majesty]()
Set in a dazzling blend of past and present, the story follows Chef Yeon Ji Yeong, a perfectionist French-trained chef at the peak of her culinary career, who is suddenly transported back ...more -
![Kingdom Season 2]()
Following the events in season one, waves of the undead threaten to reach the capital. In an attempt to save the people during the plague and regain his right to the throne, ...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 -
![My Dearest Part 2]()
Jang Hyun, a cold-hearted man, finds purpose in life after meeting the charming Gil Chae, who is in love with her engaged fiancé, Yeon Jun. Yeon Jun, a Sungkyunkwan student, struggles with ...more -
![100 Days My Prince]()
Yi Yul, Crown Prince of Joseon, is a perfectionist who disregards most royal palace nobles. His cold and demanding demeanor masks deeply rooted loneliness. He comes to pass a law stating that ...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 -
![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 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 -
![The Emperor: Owner of the Mask]()
The story of a crown prince named Lee Sun who fights the Pyeonsuhwe society that holds absolute power over the kingdom and also controls the water supply by privatizing it. The drama ...more -
![Knight Flower]()
Cho Yeo Hwa has been a widow for 15 years. Her in-laws are the most prestigious noble family in the kingdom. During the day, she leads the life of a widow devoted ...more -
![Splash Splash Love]()
Dan Bi is a high school senior who has given up on math. On the day she is about to take the KSAT for college, she is transported back into the past ...more -
![Moon Embracing the Sun]()
Thirteen-year-old Heo Yeon U, the daughter of a high-ranking official, meets Crown Prince Yi Hwon at her brother's civil service exam celebration, and they fall in love. Yeon U is chosen as ...more -
![To My Beloved Thief]()
Born from a tryst between a nobleman and a slave woman, Hong Eun Jo is no stranger to the plight of the average person, especially after her father fell ill. By day, ...more -
![The Haunted Palace]()
Yun Gap is a government officer who works in the palace. He has a good reputation and has a handsome appearance. One day, Yun Gap's body becomes possessed by an Imoogi creature. ...more -
![The Forbidden Marriage]()
King Lee Heon of Joseon has been grieving the death of his beloved wife for seven years. Despite efforts to have him remarry, he remains in mourning, leading to the nation’s geumhonryung ...more -
![Dong Yi]()
Dong Yi worked in the royal palace as a lowly water maid. King Sok Jong then selected her as his concubine. She would then give birth to Yeong Jo, the second son ...more -
![Lovers of the Red Sky]()
During the Joseon Dynasty, Hong Chun Ki, a blind woman who miraculously gained sight, becomes a rare female painter and is accepted to the top art college. She meets Ha Ram, a ...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 -
![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 -
![Our Blooming Youth]()
Min Jae I, a gentle and poised daughter of a prominent family, is engaged to the son of a powerful State Councillor. Devoting herself to learning everything she needs to know to ...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 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 Princess's Man]()
Princess Se Ryung is the headstrong and forward-thinking daughter of Grand Prince Su Yang, who is determined to be King. She falls in love with the son of his mortal enemy, and ...more -
![The Rebel]()
In the Joseon Dynasty, Hong Gil Dong, a hero to the people and enemy to the elite, faces King Yeonsangun, who is despised by his subjects despite his royal lineage. Born a ...more -
![Grand Prince]()
Centered around one woman who gets caught up in a bloody romance with two princes. It tells the story of a man who would kill even his younger brother to have the ...more -
![Secret Royal Inspector & Joy]()
A secret royal inspector, Ra Yi Eon, dreams of a quiet life but finds himself uncovering corruption as part of covert missions. Joining him is Kim Jo Yi, a forward-thinking woman advocating ...more -
![Iljimae]()
Set during the Joseon Dynasty, Yong acted as a hooligan in the marketplace by day, but at night, he was a thief who robbed corrupted government officials to give to the poor. ...more -
![Jewel in the Palace]()
About 500 years ago during the time of Chosun Dynasty, Korea boasted a rigidly hierarchical and male dominated social structure. Based on a true story about a legendary girl, Jang Geum, who ...more -
![Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist]()
Yoo Se Poong’s legendary abilities as a physician are well-known in the royal palace. Nonetheless, he was expelled from the royal court when his involvement in a conspiracy against the royal family ...more -
![Moon River]()
It tells the story of the soul exchange between a prince who has lost his smile and a saddle-carrying merchant who has lost her memory. Joseon Crown Prince Yi Gang, who lost ...more -
![Joseon Attorney: A Morality]()
Kang Han Su, a cunning lawyer who exploits clients for personal gain, gains a reputation as a hero among the public. Over time, he matures into an ethical lawyer, with his client ...more -
![The First Night with the Duke]()
University student K is an ordinary young woman, but one day, she finds herself in her favorite romance novel set during historical times. She has now become the minor character Cha Seon ...more -
![Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency]()
Lee Soo, once an ordinary blacksmith, unexpectedly becomes the king of Joseon at twenty-three. Struggling with the palace's restrictions, especially in matters of the heart, Lee Soo's dream of marrying his childhood ...more -
![Bloody Heart]()
A fictional historical drama set when Yi Tae, the eldest son of King Sun Jong, ascends to the throne of Joseon. After his father deposed the previous king with Park Gye Won’s ...more -
![Tree with Deep Roots]()
Early in his reign, King Se Jong accidentally causes the death of his in-laws and their slaves in an attempt to save them from his brutal father, King Tae Jong. Two young ...more -
![Queen: Love and War]()
Kang Eun Bo is determined to avenge her twin sister’s murder in the ultra-conservative Joseon Dynasty. The only way to do so is to earn the royal title of Queen, which requires ...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 -
![Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist Season 2]()
Once a royal physician, Yoo Se Poong was ousted from the palace after his involvement in a conspiracy surrounding the royal family. With nowhere else to go, Se Poong eventually found himself ...more -
![The Murky Stream]()
A gripping tale of twisted fates unfolds in lawless Joseon, where the once-pristine Gyeonggang River has turned into a murky stream. Jang Si Yul, a man who buries his past to survive ...more -
![Check in Hanyang]()
Yongcheonru is the grandest guesthouse in Joseon. Their motto is that the customer is the king. Yeongcheonru has four new interns and they have their own reasons why they work there. Lee ...more -
![The Nokdu Flower]()
Set during the Donghak Peasant Revolution (1894-1895), two half-brothers find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Baek Yi Kang, the son of a wealthy but notorious local official and a woman ...more -
![Secret Royal Inspector]()
Set at the end of the Joseon era, Seong I Gyeom, a recent top scorer in the state exam, lacks ambition despite his success. After being caught gambling, he is assigned as ...more -
![The Scholar Who Walks the Night]()
In Joseon Dynasty, immaculately dressed in scholarly robes, the young nobleman Kim Sung Yeol lives as a vampire to keep his promise to his friends. When Sung Yeol still was a human, ...more -
![Moonshine]()
An extended period of prohibition in the Joseon era proved that the restriction of alcohol was no match for human desire. Laws against imbibing, buying or making alcohol created different challenges for ...more -
![Sungkyunkwan Scandal]()
Kim Yun Hee is a smart, responsible young woman with an independent drive. Since her father passed away, she has worked to support her family but has also managed to do well ...more -
![Kangchi, the Beginning]()
Choi Kang Chi is a half-human and half-mythical-creature who was adopted by the lord of the Hundred Years Inn. He was the son of Gu Wol Ryung, the guardian spirit of Jiri ...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 -
![Jang Ok Jung]()
It tells the story of Jang Hui Bin, one of the most famous royal concubines in the Joseon Dynasty, who was behind the deposition of King Suk Jong’s wife, Queen In Hyeon. ...more -
![Captivating the King]()
Prince Yi In, held hostage by the Qing Dynasty, is betrayed by his brother, King Yi Seon, who once cherished him. Heartbroken, Yi In endures emotional torment. He encounters an enigmatic baduk ...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 -
![Bridal Mask]()
Lee Gang To is an ambitious and callous Korean officer employed by the Japanese colonists. Despite his mother's disapproval of his work and his own brother's antagonistic history with the Japanese, Gang ...more -
![Tale of Arang]()
It tells the story of a cynical and not-so-friendly government official named Eun O, who wanders the whole nation to look for his mother, who disappeared because of his mistake. Eun O ...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 -
![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 -
![Goddess of Fire]()
Joseon-era pottery was notable for its best quality and advanced baking method in the late 16th century. Baek Pa Seon, the woman of fire, was Joseon's first female potter and was regarded ...more -
![Six Flying Dragons]()
A fictional, historical drama about the ambition, rise and fall of real and fictional characters based around Yi Bang Won. Yi Bang Won was the third king of the Joseon Dynasty in ...more -
![Live Up to Your Name]()
Heo Im, who is born in a concubine family in the Joseon era and has very outstanding medical skills, is frustrated about his career as he fails to climb to higher positions ...more -
![The Queen Who Crowns]()
Queen Won Gyeong, born to Min Je in the Goryeo period, comes from a prestigious family of high-ranking officials. She marries Yi Bang Won (Prince Jeong An), son of King Tae Jo, ...more -
![The Slave Hunters]()
Chuno follows the story of Lee Dae Gil, a man of high birth, whose family was ruined when Won Ki Yoon, a slave, burnt down his house and escaped with his sister, ...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 -
![Jumong]()
Ju Mong was the founder of Goguryeo in 37 BC. He was the son of General Hae Mo Su and Lady Yu Hwa and was raised by King Geum Wa, who took ...more -
![The Royal Gambler]()
Baek Dae Gil and King Yeong Jo enter a match. Baek Dae Gil bets his life and King Yeong Jo bets the entire Kingdom of Joseon on the outcome. Baek Dae Gil ...more -
![Business Proposal]()
Sin Ha Ri, a single woman, has a crush on her male friend but is heartbroken to learn he has a girlfriend. She meets her friend Jin Yeong Seo, the daughter of ...more -
![Lee San, Wind of the Palace]()
This drama details the life of King Jeong Jo, Joseon's 22nd monarch, who is remembered in Korean history as one of Korea's greatest kings, one who loved the people and reigned for ...more -
![Hwang Jin Yi]()
This story is about the life of Joseon dancer, musician and poet, Hwang Jin Yi, who seeks perfection in her art relentlessly and the hardship facing women due to their lowly social ...more -
![My Sassy Girl]()
A respected scholar inadvertently becomes the protector of a mischievous princess. Gyeon Woo enjoys the fame of “Joseon’s National Treasure” as a renowned scholar of his generation. When the king asks him ...more -
![Mirror of the Witch]()
The story is about a young man finding his way and love for a forgotten princess. Heo Jun faces discrimination as an illegitimate son and gives up on his natural talents, intelligence, ...more -
![Hong Gil Dong, the Hero!]()
Hong Gil Dong was the illegitimate son of a high-ranking minister. A local monk took him under his wing and taught him martial arts. Hong Gil Dong was inspired to fight against ...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 -
![Warrior Baek Dong Soo]()
Set in the Joseon Dynasty during King Jeong Jo's reign, the story is centered around the events involving Crown Prince Sa Do's conspiracy. Warrior Baek Dong Su was a real-life legend who ...more -
![The Flower in Prison]()
A story about Ok Nyeo, a talented girl born and raised in prison who gains great skill and wisdom through her encounters with extraordinary people from all walks of life. She becomes ...more -
![The Three Musketeers]()
Set in the Joseon Dynasty period (during the confusion of justification and the period of espionage and transition from ming to ping), when the public desire for social reform was at a ...more -
![Time Slip Dr. Jin]()
Jin Hyuk is a genius neurosurgeon with a cold and severe attitude in his interactions with other people due to his personal pursuit of perfection. Through a mysterious power, Jin Hyuk finds ...more -
![Missing Crown Prince]()
A Joseon-era version of a romantic comedy about a crown prince who is mistakenly kidnapped by the family of the woman who he has been pledged to marry. While on the run ...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 -
![Twenty Five Twenty One]()
During the South Korean financial crisis, teen fencer Na Hee Do's high school team is disbanded, but she overcomes obstacles to join the national team. Meanwhile, Baek Yi Jin's life is turned ...more -
![The King's Woman]()
This drama centers around Lady Kim, a scheming concubine, and the events from the reign of King Seon Jo to Prince Gwang Hae, which were filled with acts of immorality and bloodshed; ...more -
![My Dearest Nemesis]()
In high school, Baek Su Jeong developed a crush on an online player named "Black Dragon," only to be humiliated when he turned out to be an awkward middle schooler. Sixteen years ...more -
![The Great Seer]()
The Great Seer began during the reign of King Gong Min. But despite being about seers, geomancers, divinators and the like, this drama is less about the fantasy and more about the ...more -
![Can This Love Be Translated?]()
Follows interpreter Ju Ho Jin and top star Cha Mu Hui as their working relationship turns into a precarious emotional entanglement. Ju Ho Jin's professional rule is to stay neutral and invisible, ...more -
![Painter of the Wind]()
Sin Yun Bok is a talented painter who disguises herself as a boy to search for her father's murderer and meets a master painter who guides her into being a great painter. ...more -
![Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo]()
Bok Joo is a weightlifter who is pursuing her dream of winning the gold medal but she then finds romance for the first time in her life. While she is a woman ...more -
![The King's Doctor]()
Born into a low caste, Baek Gwang Hyeon first started working as a horse doctor, then worked his way up to become a famous veterinarian. Eventually, he became a doctor appointed to ...more -
![True Beauty]()
"True Beauty" is a romantic comedy about a high school girl, Lim Ju Gyeong, who rises to pretty girl fame after she masters the art of make-up from YouTube. She turns into ...more -
![The Great King, Sejong]()
Born as the third prince, Chung Nyeong, was far from ascending the throne. His early years were turbulent as Korea faced political tensions from both within and abroad and facing abduction as ...more -
![Damo]()
This series and our heroine took place in the Joseon Dynasty. Chae Ok was separated from her brother when her father, a nobleman, was accused of treason. She managed to make her ...more -
![Cruel Palace - War of Flowers]()
A legendary femme fatale, So Yong uses her natural beauty, sensuality, and wit to win the King’s love and become part of his royal concubine. King In Jo indulges himself in So ...more -
![Queen Insoo]()
Queen Insu (1437~1504) was the wife of king Deok Jong and a daughter of Hanh Wak, the second state councilor. Since the 2nd year of Sung Jong's reign, she was called Queen ...more -
![The Fugitive of Joseon]()
A Joseon-era medical practitioner, Royal Physician Choi Won, is caught in a plot to poison King In Jong while struggling to save his daughter, Choi Rang, from a terminal illness. With his ...more -
![Jang Young Shil]()
The drama series follows the life of Jang Yeong Shil: a scientist, technician and inventor during the Joseon period. Jang Yeong Shil was born in the lower class nobi. King Se Jong ...more -
![Saimdang, Memoir of Colors]()
Seo Ji Yun, an art history lecturer aiming for a professorship, is assigned by her mentor, Min Jeong Hak, to write a thesis on a valuable painting, "An Gyeon’s Mount Geumgang." Her ...more -
![The Jingbirok: A Memoir of Imjin War]()
The drama will be a telling of historical events with the scholar as the central character. Ryu Seong Ryong was an official who served during King Seon Jo’s reign in the late ...more -
![The Merchant: Gaekju 2015]()
In late Joseon, a poor man named Cheon Bong Sam inherits a decrepit inn and honestly works his way up to becoming a powerful merchant. As tradesmen clash against the bureaucratic powers ...more
