Historical Kdramas can be some of the most beautiful shows to watch because they take you to a different time, with different cultural norms, beautiful clothes and a drama with so much depth and genuineness that it leaves you thoroughly engaged. The best historical Kdramas are those that can nail all three attributes while also giving us either romance or comedy to keep the drama company, leaving us spellbound and wanting more.
Historical Korean dramas, often referred to as sageuk, is, thus, a beautiful blend of history, storytelling, culture, and emotion, with captivating cinematography, including elaborate sets to round the story out. Among all the amazing dramas out there, thus, these best historical Kdramas will leave you engaged from start to end.
5 Best Historical Kdramas
Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016)
Starring Park Seo-joon, Go Ara and Park Hyung-sik in lead roles, the series takes place during the Silla dynasty and is about an elite group of young men called Hwarang, who are tasked to protect the royal throne from those who are trying to take it away from them. While growing together, they go through many ups and downs together and become close to each other but there’s a shocking secret that might just destroy this newfound camaraderie.
Right off the bat, the talented and youthful cast of the series is its immediate USP and catches your eye. Their talented portrayals of their characters and the way in which they show their characters’ depths are absolutely mesmerizing. On top of that, the coming-of-age aspect of the story, in spite of being in a historical setting, is relatable and makes you feel like the struggles of the youth are similar regardless of which era they are set in. On that note, the relationships and friendships that the characters develop make you feel close to them as people and root for them thoroughly. Lastly, the historical setting is made more beautiful thanks to its cinematography and the action sequences just tie everything together beautifully.
Kingdom (2019)
A little different from the other entries on this list, this horror-thriller series starring Ju Ji-hoon, Ryu Seung-ryong, Bae Doona, Kim Sang-ho, Kim Sung-kyu, Kim Hye-jun and others, tells the story of a zombie plague that is ravaging the countryside during the reign of Crown Prince Lee Chang and a political conspiracy that threatens his throne.
Set in the Joseon period, the series brings a fresh twist to the zombie genre by setting it in a timeframe that one wouldn’t expect. The life and times of the Joseon era coupled with the zombie plague make for a unique narrative that will subvert anyone’s expectations. Plus, the fast-paced and suspenseful plot, as expected from a zombie thriller series, will keep you on the edge throughout its runtime. The strong characters and their well-written stories make you root for them and their struggles as they try to overcome the obstacles in their lives and overcome this rather terrifying ordeal.
However, not all of Kingdom is about the zombies. The political climate also makes for a tense watch that threatens the characters in different ways. The high-quality production value just makes the experience even better and you can’t look away from the screen for even a minute.
Mr. Queen (2020)
Starring Shin Hye-sun and Kim Jung-hyun in lead roles, the series follows a man who suddenly finds himself in the body of Queen Cheorin in the Joseon era and is catapulted directly into King Cheoljong’s life, a kind-hearted man with a dark secret, and that of his mother as he tries his best to go back to his actual life.
The series shines because of its humour and satire. With a gender-bending storyline, there will obviously be some moments of fun but the series never lets up the humour and brings it back into the storytelling in many different ways. The character dynamics are fantastic and everyone has something beautiful going for them. Lastly, the romantic relationship between the protagonists will make your heart warm and fuzzy, although the different aspects of the relationship will also keep you hooked.
Lovers of the Red Sky (2021)
Starring Kim Yoo-jung and Ahn Hyo-seop in lead roles, the story follows the romance between a gifted painter and a visually impaired soldier with opposite fates whose life turns into upheaval when they get sucked into the politics of the royal court as they fight demons who are out to destroy everyone’s lives.
Taking place in the Joseon Dynasty, the unique premise sets the drama apart – it adds mysticism and fantasy to its storytelling and pulls us to the story in a very different way. This also results in some very interesting plot twists that will leave anyone intrigued and on the edge. The fantastic acting and beautiful characters are another reason why you wouldn’t be able to look away. Plus, who can forget the sweet romance? It’s warm, it’s cute and it’s everything that we love watching in a drama!
The Red Sleeve (2021)
Based on the novel of the same name and starring a talented cast like Lee Jun-ho, Lee Se-young and Kang Hoon in lead roles, the story focuses on the romance between the King of Joseon, who places his duty to his country above all else, and the royal court lady, who wants to protect her life and freedom and doesn’t want to give it all away by being tied to the king and taking on the responsibilities that come with it.
The Red Sleeve stole hearts with its emotional and heartwarming story and complex characters who have much more to them as individuals than just the king or the queen etc. The characters, their ambitions, struggles and thoughts are nothing short of what real people feel and, shown from Seong Deok-im’s perspective, it gives a woman’s account so beautifully that you can’t help but be mesmerised by the story and find yourself losing your heart to Deok-im’s struggles.
Apart from her, the other characters, their relationships and everything else that comes with interacting with others are spelt out so beautifully that it’s hard to not love or feel for the story. The emotional depths explored in this K-drama are nothing short of impressive. Another beautiful thing about the story is its attention to detail and the subtle social commentary that will resonate with contemporary audiences.
Which of these dramas do you love the most? Let us know in the comments below!
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