Best Historical Korean Dramas of All Time
Korean historical dramas mix palace politics, war, and quiet human stories set in the Joseon era and beyond, with lavish costumes and some of the best writing on television. This list brings together 10 of the best historical Korean dramas on DramaHog.
How we picked: we started from what viewers rate highest on fan-rating charts and what critics and audiences around the world keep praising, then our editors put the final 10 in order by overall impact, rewatch value and how well each story holds up. Every entry links to its own page with the full story, cast and details, and the list will keep changing as new dramas earn a place.
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1
Mr. Sunshine
미스터 션샤인
Born into slavery in Joseon, Choi Yu-jin escapes to America as a child and returns years later as an American soldier during the country’s troubled final years before colonial rule.
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2
Alchemy of Souls
환혼
Set in the fictional country of Daeho, the story follows young mages whose lives are twisted by a forbidden spell called the alchemy of souls, which allows souls to switch bodies.
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3
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
달의 연인 - 보보경심 려
During a total solar eclipse, Go Ha Jin is suddenly transported back in time to the early days of the Goryeo Dynasty during the reign of King Taejo.
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4
Moon River
이강에는 달이 흐른다
This story follows an unexpected soul swap between a prince who has forgotten how to smile and a spirited merchant who has lost her memories. Crown Prince Yi Gang has lived in sorrow…
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5
Made in Korea
메이드 인 코리아
Set in 1970s Korea, Made in Korea Season 1 follows Baek Ki Tae, an ambitious KCIA agent living a dangerous double life.
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6
To My Beloved Thief
은애하는 도적님아
A romantic comedy set in the Joseon era about a woman who becomes a thief by accident and a royal officer who chases her, only for their souls to switch.
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7
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty
폭군의 셰프
The story follows Chef Yeon Ji Yeong, a talented French-trained chef at the top of her career, who is suddenly pulled from the modern world and dropped into the royal palace of the past.
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8
Typhoon Family
태풍상사
The story takes place in 1997 when South Korea is hit by a major economic crisis. Kang Tae Pung grows up comfortably thanks to his father, who runs a small company called Typhoon Trading.
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9
100 Days of Deception
100일의 거짓말
It's 1932 in Gyeongseong, the colonial-era name for Seoul, and Lee Ga-kyung is the city's most gifted pickpocket.
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10
The Scandal
스캔들
In Joseon-era Korea, the composed noblewoman Lady Cho and the notoriously reckless aristocrat Cho Won strike a wicked bargain: they'll toy with the hearts around them purely for sport.
Cast, story & details →
Questions about this list
What is the best historical Korean drama?
Opinions differ, but our editors put Mr. Sunshine at the top of the list, followed by Alchemy of Souls and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. You can open any entry to read the story, see the cast and check when and where it aired.
Where can I watch these K-dramas?
Streaming rights change from country to country and over time, so each drama page shows the network it originally aired on. Many of these series are available on services such as Netflix, Viki, Disney+, iQIYI or Prime Video depending on where you live.
How is this list ranked?
It is an editors’ list, not a vote. We started from fan-rating charts and long-running critical praise, then ranked the final 10 by overall impact, rewatch value and how well each story holds up. As DramaHog members rate dramas, community ratings will play a bigger part.
Episode, cast and poster data from TVmaze. Descriptions are written by DramaHog.