List of K-Dramas/Movies based on Joseon Kings

This list includes both series and movies ordered in chronological order according to the importance of the kings who appear in the drama. Some dramas have multiple kings appearing in them. I have mentioned which kings are portrayed in them.

List of Joseon kings:
Taejo: Yi Seong-gye later Yi Dan (1392–1398)
Jeongjong: Yi Bang-gwa later Yi Gyeong (1398–1400)
Taejong: Yi Bang-won (1400-1418)
Sejong: Yi Do (1418–1450)
Munjong: Yi Hyang (1450-1452)
Danjong: Yi Hong-wi (1452-1455)
Sejo: Yi Yu (1455–1468)
Yejong: Yi Gwang (1468–1469)
Seongjong: Yi Hyeol (1469–1494)
Yeonsangun: Yi Yung (1494-1506)
Jungjong: Yi Yeok (1506–1544)
Injong: Yi Ho (1544–1545)
Myeongjong: Yi Hwan (1545–1567)
Seonjo: Yi Yeon (1567–1608)
Gwanghaegun: Yi Hon (1608–1623)
Injo: Yi Jong: (1623–1649)
Hyojong: Yi Ho (1649–1659)
Hyeongjong: Yi Yeon (1659–1674)
Sukjong: Yi Sun (1674–1720)
Gyeongjong: Yi Yun (1720–1724)
Yeongjo: Yi Geum (1724–1776)
Jeongjo: Yi San (1776–1800)
Sunjo: Yi Gong (1800–1834)
Heonjong: Yi Hwan (1834–1849)
Cheoljong: Yi Byeon (1849–1864)
Gojong: Yi Myeong-bok (1864–1897 (Emperor: 1897–1907) )
Sunjong: Yi Cheok (1907–1910)

Please share things that can be added or need correction in the comments!
If you know a drama/movie set in a certain time during the Joseon Dynasty or mentions a certain Joseon king, please tell me and I'll add it with a note. :)

- Index:
Bold: This king is the main role.
Underline: This king is not the main role, but the story is set mostly in his time or he has a more important character than the other kings.
Nothing: This king is in the cast, but does not seem to have a major role.
Italic: There is no king mentioned in the cast, but the story takes place during the reign of this king. (Italic doesn't seem to work) :(

List of Joseon K-dramas/movies not based on real kings.

Last updated: 14/04/2025

movietourist313 Jan 11, 2025

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101. The Night Owl

Korean Movie - 2022

8.5

Injo
(With: Crown Prince Sohyeon > son of King Injo)
102. The Three Musketeers

Korean Drama - 2014, 12 episodes

Injo
Main cast: Crown Prince Sohyeon > son of King Injo
103. Secret Royal Inspector & Joy

Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

Injo
(With: Crown Prince Sohyeon > son of King Injo)
104. My Dearest

Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

Injo
(With: Crown Prince Sohyeon > son of King Injo)
105. My Dearest Part 2

Korean Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

Injo
(With: Crown Prince Sohyeon > son of King Injo)
106. Iljimae

Korean Drama - 2008, 20 episodes

9.5

Injo
107. Strongest Chil Woo

Korean Drama - 2008, 20 episodes

Injo
108. Intruder at Midnight

Korean Movie - 1969

During the reign of King Injo.
109. Cruel Palace - War of Flowers

Korean Drama - 2013, 50 episodes

Injo, Hyojong
110. The Slave Hunters

Korean Drama - 2010, 24 episodes

Injo, Hyojong
111. Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River

Korean Movie - 2016

8.5

Taejo, Hyojong
112. One Sided Love Princess

Korean Movie - 1967

Hyeongjong
113. Horse Doctor

Korean Drama - 2012, 50 episodes

Injo, Hyojong, Hyeongjong, Sukjong
114. Jang Hee Bin

Korean Drama - 2002, 100 episodes

Hyeongjong, Sukjong, Gyeongjong, Yeongjo
115. Jang Ok Jung

Korean Drama - 2013, 24 episodes

Hyeongjong, Sukjong
116. Jang Hee Bin

Korean Movie - 1961

Sukjong (?)
117. Femme Fatale, Jang Hee Bin

Korean Movie - 1968

Sukjong
118. Jang Hee Bin

Korean Drama - 1971, 154 episodes

Sukjong
119. Jang Hee Bin

Korean Drama - 1981, 60 episodes

Sukjong
120. Queen In Hyeon

Korean Drama - 1988, 71 episodes

Sukjong, Gyeongjong
121. Jang Hee Bin

Korean Drama - 1995, 63 episodes

Sukjong
122. Dong Yi

Korean Drama - 2010, 60 episodes

Sukjong, Gyeongjong, Yeongjo
123. Queen In Hyun's Man

Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes

8.5

Sukjong
124. The Royal Gambler

Korean Drama - 2016, 24 episodes

Sukjong, Gyeongjong, Yeongjo
125. Haechi

Korean Drama - 2019, 48 episodes

9.5

Sukjong, Gyeongjong, Yeongjo
126. The Royal Tailor

Korean Movie - 2014

8.0

Gyeongjong, Yeongjo
127. 1724 Hero

Korean Movie - 2008

Year 1724: Gyeongjong, Yeongjo
128. The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong

Korean Drama - 1988, 62 episodes

Yeongjo, Jeongjo
(Main role: Crown Prince Sado, son of king Yeongjo, husband of Lady Hyegyeong)
129. King of the Wind

Korean Drama - 1998, 34 episodes

Yeongjo
(Main role: Crown Prince Sado, son of king Yeongjo)
130. Secret Door

Korean Drama - 2014, 24 episodes

8.5

Yeongjo, Jeongjo
(Main role: Crown Prince Sado, son of king Yeongjo)
131. The Throne

Korean Movie - 2015

10

Yeongjo, Jeongjo
About Crown Prince Sado (son of king Yeongjo, father of future king Jeongjo) > will not become king.
132. Drama Special Season 6: Crimson Moon

Korean Special - 2015, 1 episode

Yeongjo, Jeongjo
(Main role: Crown Prince Sado, son of king Yeongjo, father of future king Jeongjo)
133. Memoirs Written in Silence

Korean Drama - 1972, 130 episodes

(Main role: Crown Prince Sado and Lady Hyegyeong)
During the time of Yeongjo and Jeongjo?
134. Oh, Heaven!

Korean Drama - 1988, 190 episodes

Yeongjo, Jeongjo
(Main role: Crown Prince Sado, son of king Yeongjo, father of future king Jeongjo, and his wife Lady Hyegyeong)
135. The Lady from Angukdong

Korean Drama - 1979, 160 episodes

Yeongjo, Jeongjo
(Main role; Crown Prince Sade and his wife lady Hyegyeong)
136. The Tragic Prince

Korean Movie - 1956

Yeongjo (and Crown Prince Sado)
137. Inspector Park Moon Soo

Korean Drama - 2002, 15 episodes

Yeongjo
138. The Age of Blood

Korean Movie - 2017

Yeongjo
139. The Singer

Korean Movie - 2020

Yeongjo
140. The Princess and the Matchmaker

Korean Movie - 2018

8.5

According to Wikipedia, the king in the cast is king Yeongjo.
141. Warrior Baek Dong Soo

Korean Drama - 2011, 29 episodes

Yeongjo, Jeongjo
142. The Grand Heist

Korean Movie - 2012

No king is mentioned in the cast, but the story takes place in the late 18th century, during the last years of King Yeongjo’s reign.
[Also has Baek Dong-soo as main role]
143. Hong Guk Young

Korean Drama - 2001, 40 episodes

Yeongjo, Jeongjo
144. The Red Sleeve

Korean Drama - 2021, 17 episodes

9.5

Yeongjo, Jeongjo
145. Yi San

Korean Drama - 2007, 77 episodes

8.5

Yeongjo, Jeongjo
146. Eight Days Mystery of Jeong Jo Assassination

Korean Drama - 2007, 10 episodes

Yeongjo, Jeongjo
147. Drama Special Season 15: The History of Us

Korean Special - 2024, 1 episode

Yeongjo, Jeongjo
148. The Great Merchant

Korean Drama - 2010, 30 episodes

Based on the life of Kim Man-deok (1739-1812), a Korean merchant and businesswoman of Joseon.
No king is named in this drama, but she lived during the reigns of Yeongjo, Jeongjo, and Sunjo.
149. The Painter of the Wind

Korean Drama - 2008, 20 episodes

Jeongjo
150. The Fatal Encounter

Korean Movie - 2014

9.0

Jeongjo
151. The Eternal Empire

Korean Movie - 1995

Jeongjo
152. Pa Mun

Korean Drama - 1989, 28 episodes

Jeongjo
153. Conspiracy in the Court

Korean Drama - 2007, 8 episodes

Jeongjo
154. Portrait of a Beauty

Korean Movie - 2008

Jeongjo
155. Sungkyunkwan Scandal

Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes

8.0

Jeongjo
156. Ambition

Korean Drama - 1994, 80 episodes

Jeongjo
157. The 8-Day Festival

Korean Movie - 2014

Documentary on Jeongjo's 8-day festival.
158. The Torchlight

Korean Movie - 1963

Set during Jeongjo's reign.
159. Detective K: Secret of Virtuous Widow

Korean Movie - 2011

Jeongjo
Year 1782
160. Detective K 2: Secret of the Lost Island

Korean Movie - 2015

Jeongjo
Year 1795
161. Detective K 3: Secret of the Living Dead

Korean Movie - 2018

Jeongjo, Sunjo
18th century
162. The Book of Fish

Korean Movie - 2021

9.5

Jeongjo, Sunjo
163. Sangdo

Korean Drama - 2001, 50 episodes

No Joseon king is mentioned.
Tells the story of the legendary Korean merchant in the Joseon Dynasty, Im Sang Ok (1779-1855).
Jeongjo, Sunjo, Heonjong, Cheoljong
164. Love in the Moonlight

Korean Drama - 2016, 18 episodes

8.5

Sunjo
(Main role: Crown Prince Hyomyeong/Lee Yeong, son of King Sunjo > will not become king in his life)
165. FengShui

Korean Movie - 2018

Sunjo, Heonjong
166. Heung Boo: The Revolutionist

Korean Movie - 2018

Heonjong
167. A Birth

Korean Movie - 2022

Heonjong
168. A Crimson Mark

Korean Movie - 2004

Not sure if this is about king Heonjong?
169. KUNDO: Age of the Rampant

Korean Movie - 2014

No kings mentioned, but based in the year 1859, which is during king Heonjong's reign.
170. A Reluctant Prince

Korean Movie - 1963

Heonjong, Cheoljong (?)
171. Mr. Queen

Korean Drama - 2020, 20 episodes

9.0

Cheoljong
172. Cheol Jong and Bok Nyeo

Korean Movie - 1963

Cheoljong
173. King Maker: The Change of Destiny

Korean Drama - 2020, 21 episodes

8.5

Cheoljong
174. Daewongun

Korean Drama - 1990, 32 episodes

Cheoljong, Gojong (?), Sunjong
About Yi Ha Eung, a descendent of King Yeongjo and regent to King Gojong.
175. Empress Myeongseong

Korean Drama - 2001, 124 episodes

Gojong
176. Gabi

Korean Movie - 2012

Gojong
177. Independence Association and Young Lee Seung Man

Korean Movie - 1959

Gojong
178. The Sword with No Name

Korean Movie - 2009

Gojong
179. Jejoongwon

Korean Drama - 2010, 36 episodes

Gojong
180. Gunman in Joseon

Korean Drama - 2014, 22 episodes

Gojong
181. The Map against the World

Korean Movie - 2016

Gojong
[Crown Prince Sado has a bit part?}
182. Mr. Sunshine

Korean Drama - 2018, 24 episodes

Gojong
183. The Last Princess

Korean Movie - 2016

Gojong, Sunjong
184. The Nokdu Flower

Korean Drama - 2019, 48 episodes

Gojong
(Set during the Donghak Peasant Revolution (1894-1895))
185. Brilliant Dawn

Korean Drama - 1995, 100 episodes

Gojong
186. The Sino-Japanese War and Queen Min the Heroine

Korean Movie - 1965

Gojong
187. The Sound of a Flower

Korean Movie - 2015

Gojong
188. The Youth

Korean Movie - 1955

Gojong/Sunjong (?)
Set in the latter years of the Korean Empire , Daewongun is also mentioned.
189. The Hymn of Death

Korean Drama - 2018, 6 episodes

10

No Joseon king is mentioned, but it still has the Joseon dynasty tag, because both main characters were born during Gojong's reign.
This story is based on a true story.
It is mostly set during the Japanese colonial rule.
190. Different Dreams

Korean Drama - 2019, 40 episodes

No Joseon king is mentioned, but it still has the Joseon dynasty tag.
Based on a real person: Kim Won-bong, who was born during Gojong's reign.
It is mostly set during the Japanese colonial period.