Best Korean historical drama (sageuk)
What's the best Korean historical show in your opinion? Must be traditional hanbok costume drama.
Feel free to add to the list...
Asianatica Oct 30, 2025
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![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 -
![Alchemy of Souls]()
In the fictional country of Daeho, young mages struggle to overcome twisted fates caused by the forbidden "alchemy of souls," a spell that swaps souls between bodies. Naksu, an elite assassin, finds ...more -
![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 -
![Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo]()
When a total eclipse of the sun takes place, Go Ha Jin is transported back in time to the start of the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea during King Taejo's rule. She wakes ...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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow]()
12. Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow
Korean Drama - 2022, 10 episodes2,353 points by 25 votersJang Uk returns from death, and three years later, the story of the mages unfolds anew. Jang Uk becomes a hunter of the soul-shifters when a young woman, a prisoner in her ...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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![River Where the Moon Rises]()
Born a princess of Goguryeo, Pyeong Gang survives an early crisis and grows up as the warrior Yeom Ga Jin, unaware of her past. When she meets On Dal, a gentle soul ...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 -
![The Great Queen Seondeok]()
The story of a beautiful queen, who has to give up her love to save the people. A biopic of Queen Seon Deok, who was born a princess and later became the ...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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938]()
An unexpected case leads Lee Yeon back in time to 1938, where he reencounters Ryu Hong Ju. Once a guardian spirit of the mountain in the west, she's now the owner of ...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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 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 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 -
![Hwarang]()
The names of just a few Hwarangs are recorded in history. Not many people these days truly know about Hwarangs. How did they start? How did beautiful looking young men become at ...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 -
![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 -
![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 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 -
![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 -
![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 Great Doctor]()
A 21st-century plastic surgeon, Eun Su, gets kidnapped and brought 700 years into the past for her healing powers. Goryeo era bodyguard to the king, General Choi Yeong, is smart but a ...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 -
![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 -
![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 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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![Gu Family Book]()
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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![Queen Woo]()
Woo Hui is the queen of Goguryeo. A crisis ensues when her husband, the king of Goguryeo, dies suddenly. Woo Hui becomes the target of princes and the 5 tribes who all ...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 -
![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 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 -
![Arang and the Magistrate]()
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 -
![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 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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![Korea-Khitan War]()
A historical drama that deals with the second and third periods of the Goryeo-Khitan War. King Hyeon Jong of Goryeo and his political teacher, Commander-in-Chief Kang Gam Chan, united the people of ...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 Land of Wind]()
The drama about the life of Jumong's grandson, Moo Hyul, who was born with a curse to kill his parent, siblings, son and destroy Goguryeo. (Source: DramaWiki) ~~ Adapted from the manhwa ...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 -
![Love Song for Illusion]()
Crown Prince Sajo Hyun secretly works as a fashion designer in a downtown boutique, hiding his royal identity. He's haunted by a deep childhood wound from his harsh father, Sajo Seung. Hyun ...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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![Queen and I]()
Kim Bung Do is a scholar who had supported the reinstatement of Queen In Hyeon when Jang Hui Bin's schemes resulted in her being deposed and replaced as King Seok Jong's queen ...more -
![Drama Special Season 14: TV Cinema - Behind the Shadows]()
75. Drama Special Season 14: TV Cinema - Behind the Shadows
Korean Special - 2023, 1 episode164 points by 2 votersIt features a gay storyline set in the Joseon Dynasty and explores the complexities of love, friendship, and social conventions. Yoon Ho, Jae Woon, and Seol were childhood friends who hung out ...more -
![Jang Ok Jung]()
This drama tells the story of Jang Hee Bin, one of the most famous royal concubines in the Joseon Dynasty who was behind the deposition of King Sook Jong’s wife, Queen In ...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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![The King in Love]()
Wang Won’s father is the king of Goryeo while his mother is the Yuan emperor’s daughter. He was born with many gifts as he has good looks, the wisdom of a snake, ...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 -
![My Only Love Song]()
Song Soo Jung is a top star and she is very arrogant. She classifies people by how much money they have. Suddenly, she goes back in time to the Goguryeo era and ...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 -
![Tamra, the Island]()
Set in the 17th Century, Jang Beo Jin is a young female diver on Tamra Island. She doesn't particularly enjoy her situation and dreams of one day leaving the island. One day, ...more -
![Shine or Be Mad]()
Wang So, a Goryeo prince, was born with the name, “Shine.” Sin Yul is a woman hailing from the Balhae kingdom and believed to have the powers of an oracle. A prince ...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 -
![Song of the Bandits]()
An action melodrama in which the people who have been deprived of their livelihoods blow a refreshing shot for their family and colleagues, set in the 1920s during the Japanese colonial period. ...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 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 -
![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 -
![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 -
![Jeong Do Jeon]()
In the late 14th c, Goryeo, abuse of power and corruption made people leave the government offices and only the corrupted people are left in the high offices. When there seems to ...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 -
![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 -
![The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won]()
A work that sheds new light on the figure of Lee Bang Won, a leader who took the lead in the founding of the nation. (Source: Naver) -
![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 Legend]()
This drama portrays the life of the 19th king of Goguryeo, Hwanwoong, who was sent from the heavens to make the world a better place. He falls in love with Saeoh and ...more -
![Emperor of the Sea]()
Jang Bo Go was a slave from Shilla (a Korean dynasty that lasted from 57 B.C. until 935 A.D.) He was sold in China during the Tang Dynasty, where he was trained ...more
