We all love a good historical K-drama now and again. The genre is a fascinating intersection between education (at times) and entertainment, providing both immersive insight into a far-reaching time along with its complexities that make for tales of all manner. In the many years of the K-drama industry, producers and creators have often leaned on bygone eras for their rich and wide-reaching appeal.
However, it takes true talent and a crystal clear vision to produce something that will stand the test of time. From genre-splicing fantasy worlds of magic and time travel to complex inner-palace politics and intrigue, NME picks the 10 best historical K-dramas from to explore and enjoy across streaming services such as Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime Video and more.
Here are the 10 best historical K-dramas to add to your watchlist:
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
Time travel plays quite the part in this heartbreaking series that follows Go Ha-jin, a 21st-century woman who falls into a pond and finds herself in the Goryeo Dynasty, nearly a thousand years before present day. She awakens in the body of Hae-soo, who looks exactly like her, and ends up getting entangled in the complicated family and political dynamics of princes vying for the throne.
This enchanting blend of romance, history and fantasy will cause such painful heartbreak that you will remember its sting for years after – it’s no wonder that this classic series continues to influence present and future K-dramas. Beyond its cultural impact, the series also boasts a star-studded cast, an ambitiously complex yet well-paced plot and beautifully written dialogue.
Cast: IU, Lee Joon-gi, Kang Ha-neul, EXO’s Baekhyun
Episodes: 20
Where to watch: Prime Video, Viki
My Dearest (2023)
Amid the chaos and destruction of the Qing invasion of the Joseon Dynasty, an unexpected and tumultuous romance blooms between noblewomen Yoo Gil-chae and Lee Jang-hyun, a mysterious man with a shrouded past. As the war causes widespread displacement, Gil-chae grows from a once-arrogant woman into a resilient leader, while Jang-hyun is forced to confront his past as it catches up with him, while figuring out his own emotional turmoil that comes with romantic love.
My Dearest is an excellent example of compelling storytelling, well-rounded character development and exceptional performances by its two leads. The show, although longer than most K-dramas, is also an enthralling look at how the immense social upheaval, identity crises and deep-rooted trauma caused by the Qing Invasion. There’s also the turbulence of shifting power dynamics, and how the war reshaped the Joseon Dynasty for centuries to come.
Cast: Namgoong Min, Ahn Eun-jin, Lee Hak-joo, Lee Da-in
Episodes: 21
Where to watch: Prime Video via KOCOWA, Viki
Pachinko (2022 to present)
Pachinko follows multiple generations of a Korean family, starting in the 1910s when Korea was occupied by Japan. It takes us into the lives of the Zainichi population and on into the 1980s and the flashy financial playgrounds of New York and Tokyo. At its heart is Sun-ja, who we meet in three incarnations – a young girl, a young adult and an old lady – with each version offering great insight into her character, from the shrewd perceptiveness of her youngest self to the elder’s longing for her home country.
The Apple TV+ adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s 2017 novel of the same name was (and continues to be, as its second season has shown) a masterclass in crafting a series around a sensitive time in recent history. More than being an eye-opening watch, the series gracefully slips back and forth through timelines without getting muddled or convoluted, while its cast delivers some of the best performances on TV in recent memory.
Cast: Youn Yuh-jung, Kim Min-ha, Jin Ha, Lee Min-ho
Episodes: 16 across two seasons
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist (2022 to 2023)
Yoo Se-poong, affectionately known as Poong, is a physician with textbook talent. His skills get him so far, in fact, that he becomes the royal palace physician – that is, until he’s framed for the king’s assassination and is exiled. He soon finds himself in the rural Gyesu Village, where he attempts to start life again through work at the local clinic. Here, though, he is pushed toward a more emotionally fulfilling trajectory, where he learns not only more about medicine, but also how to connect with his patients on an emotional level.
Period K-dramas need not always be emotionally hefty and intellectual. Poong, The Joseon Psychiatrist uses its historical setting to tackle more contemporary-appropriate themes of mental health and moral quandaries around the medical practice, providing new perspective by revisiting the old. The best part is its top-notch humour – we thank the writers for not holding back on the jokes that regularly remind us not to take this show too seriously.
Cast: Kim Min-jae, Kim Hyang-gi, Kim Sang-kyung
Episodes: 12
Where to watch: Netflix, Viki
River Where the Moon Rises (2021)
Set in the tumultuous time of the Goguryeo Kingdom, River Where The Moon Rises is an affecting, tear-jerker of a love story between Princess Pyeonggang and On-dal. The series is a reimagination of the classic folk tale about the same princess, who was raised as a soldier and has dreams of becoming Goguryeo’s ruler. Along the way, she crosses paths with a commoner man named On-dal, who falls so head over heels in love with her that he transforms into a respected military leader to prove his worth to the Princess.
River Where The Moon Rises is a heart-wrenching, poetic story about the limitations of love, ambition and social class that translates even to the modern day. It pays homage to a classic cultural folktale, while continuing to draw aspects and inspiration from Korea’s rich history and culture. Also, it gets extra points as s one of few historical K-dramas that aren’t set in the Joseon Dynasty.
Cast: Kim So-hyun, Na In-woo, Lee Ji-hoon, Choi Yu-hwa
Episodes: 20
Where to watch: Apple TV+, Viki, Viu
Secret Royal Inspector & Joy (2021)
This charming comedy centres on Ra Yi-eon, a laid-back, carefree government officer in the Joseon era who has dreams of running his own dumpling restaurant. His life takes an unwanted turn when he is suddenly appointed as a secret inspector for the palace after the previous investigator mysteriously disappeared. He teams up with Kim Jo-yi, a newly divorced woman with time on her hands, on a series of investigations to uncover corruption occurring in local provinces.
Secret Royal Inspector & Joy is a unique take on both historical and mystery shows. It is undoubtedly entertaining, with its fusion of crime, romance and feel-good humour. Above all, though, the K-drama stands out for its lightheartedness. The characters are written with quirks that feel down-to-earth, with actors who have the charisma and know-how to bring out the best of characters that could have been overdone in the wrong hands.
Cast: Ok Taec-yeon, Kim Hye-yoon
Episodes: 16
Where to watch: Netflix, Viki
The Crowned Clown (2019)
Drawing inspiration from the 2012 film Masquerade as well as Mark Twain’s classic The Prince and the Pauper, The Crowned Clown is primarily a fictional historical piece where King Lee Hun is faced with death threats following widespread political instability and unrest. To avoid assassination, he enlists a clown named Ha-sun, who bears an uncanny resemblance to him, to act as his double on the throne.
As Ha-sun is thrown into a role with so much weight and risk with virtually no support, he unexpectedly proves himself to be a compassionate leader who rules with wisdom, later winning over the affections of Queen Yoo So-woon. Yeo Jin-goo’s phenomenal performance in a dual role aside, The Crowned Clown’s balanced mix of palace intrigue, richly developed characters, romance and humour makes it stand out from the crowd.
Cast: Yeo Jin-goo, Lee Se-young, Kim Sang-kyung
Episodes: 16
Where to watch: Apple TV+, Prime Video, Viki
The King’s Affection (2021)
The plot of The King’s Affection is simple: A female twin assumes the identity of her dead brother, who happens to be the Crown Prince. As she endeavours to manoeuvre her way through the sophistications of being royalty and complex courtly affairs while keeping the truth about her gender under wraps, she develops feelings for her tutor and their relationship blurs the line between their professional relationship, friendship and romance.
The King’s Affection more than proves why it has been one of the most talked-about K-dramas in recent years. The series takes an unprecedented but intriguing approach on gender roles in the era, while incorporating beautiful visual style, immersive performances by its cast, and even tackles of modern themes and struggles. It is a must-watch for anybody who enjoys the historical K-dramas.
Cast: Park Eun-bin, Rowoon, Nam Yoon-su
Episodes: 20
Where to watch: Netflix
The Red Sleeve (2021 to 2022)
Set in 18th century Joseon, The Red Sleeve follows the poignant love story between Yi San, a young prince next in line for the throne, and Sung Deok-im, a common yet determined court lady. San tries to grapple the weight of both his father’s tragic death and the pressure of living up to a king’s legacy on his shoulders, but as he does, he gets entangled with Deok-im, who herself faces ceilings in her role as a royal consort.
This historical K-drama is a masterstroke in capturing themes of love, sacrifice and personal freedom and weaving a holistic story out of these crucial messages. The series has also been acclaimed for its rich character development, picturesque cinematography style and a hauntingly beautiful score to pair. And if that’s not enough to convince you, the on-screen chemistry between Lee Jun-ho and Lee Se-young are the stuff of dreams.
Cast: Lee Jun-ho, Lee Se-young, Kang Hoon
Episodes: 17
Where to watch: Netflix, Viki
Under the Queen’s Umbrella (2022)
Queen Im Hwa-ryeong has to learn to navigate her way through court politics in Under the Queen’s Umbrella, with its deadly combination of bitter power struggles, underhanded schemes and treasonous whispers, all for the sake of protecting her sons and securing the throne. This stirring series artfully blends political intrigue, family dynamics and personal growth as the Queen is faced with the selfish ambitions of the Queen Dowager and other rival factions of the court.
Acclaimed for its exploration of the quiet feminism of the era and motherhood, this female-led series offers a fresh take on the historical K-drama genre with a compelling characterisation of a complex, intelligent lead known for her wit, strategy and a moral compass. On top of that, Under the Queen’s Umbrella also has easy-to-follow pacing, good plot twists and emotive performances – everything you’d look for in an addictive K-drama.
Cast: Kim Hye-soo, Kim Hae-sook, Choi Won-young
Episodes: 16
Where to watch: Netflix, Viki