With their period costumes and sweeping sets, these historical K-dramas will transport you to Korea’s past without you ever having to leave your sofa.
Sumptuous costumes, court intrigue, impossible romances and heroic destinies: historical K-dramas, known as sageuk in Korean, continue to win over a growing international audience. In the wake of the success of Western period series, Korean productions offer a singular immersion into the history of the Joseon kingdom and even earlier dynasties, often blending political drama, heightened emotion and spectacular re-creations.
Historical K-dramas you need to have seen at least once
My Dearest (2023)
Set during the Manchu invasions of Joseon in the 17th century, the series follows Yoo Gil-chae (Ahn Eun-jin), a proud, independent noblewoman convinced she will never fall in love. Her life is turned upside down when she meets Lee Jang-hyun (Namkoong Min), a mysterious man who has returned after years away. As conflict rages and war forces them apart time and again, their relationship evolves against a backdrop of violence, exile and survival.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZlxbotr8Ms
Dear Hongrang (2025)
In a wealthy merchant family during the Joseon dynasty, the heir vanishes mysteriously as a child. Years later, a young man (Lee Jae-wook) returns, claiming to be the missing son, but with no memory of his past.
His half-sister, Jae-yi (Jo Bo-ah), convinced that something is wrong, sets out to uncover the truth. Amid family secrets, manipulation and social tensions, the story turns into a historical thriller.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfCrKi-ifl4
Empress Ki (2013)
Born in Goryeo, Ki Seung-nyang (Ha Ji-won) is sent as a tribute woman to the court of China’s Yuan dynasty. Thanks to her intelligence and determination, she rises through the ranks of power to become empress.
But her ascent is marked by political rivalries, wars and personal sacrifices, especially in her relationship with two rival sovereigns. The series unfolds as a sweeping historical fresco blending romance, strategy and ambition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHW8Cjtsu8Y
Love in the Moonlight (2016)
Hong Ra-on (Kim Yoo-jung) makes a living by giving men romantic advice, all while hiding the fact that she is a woman. After a misunderstanding, she is recruited as a eunuch at the royal palace, where she grows close to Crown Prince Lee Yeong (Park Bo-gum).
As their relationship deepens, political tensions begin to threaten the throne, forcing the prince to face his responsibilities as the kingdom’s future king.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yfv8T3rChs
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
During a solar eclipse, Go Ha-jin (IU), a young woman from the 21st century, is mysteriously transported back to the Goryeo dynasty. She wakes up in the body of an aristocratic young woman and soon finds herself entangled in the rivalries between the many princes of the royal family.
As political intrigue and power struggles intensify, she develops a complex relationship with Prince Wang So (Lee Joon-gi), a man feared for his cruelty but deeply scarred by his past.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ljxyaAIphc
Queen Woo (2024)
After the sudden death of the king of Goguryeo, Queen Woo (Jeon Jong-seo) must remarry within 24 hours to secure the kingdom’s stability and prevent a civil war. She finds herself at the heart of a power struggle between rival political factions seeking to control the succession.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTwfjSws7kA
The Tale of Nokdu (2019)
Jeon Nok-du (Jang Dong-yoon), the son of a noble family, decides to investigate an assassination attempt targeting his relatives. To uncover the truth, he disguises himself as a woman and infiltrates an all-female village, where he meets Dong Dong-joo (Kim So-hyun), a young woman who dreams of becoming a musician but is forced to work as a courtesan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xa7Jw1ND98
Do you like K-dramas? These articles should interest you:
- 7 historical K-dramas with bold heroines and impossible love affaires (it’s high time you watch them if you haven’t already)
- The 12 best K-dramas of 2025 (it’s high time to watch them if you haven’t already)
- This historical K-drama is already shaping up to be the Korean Bridgerton, blending political intrigue with period costumes