(

Hangul The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, . Hangul may also be written as following South Korea's standard Romanization. ( ) in South Korea and Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea, is the modern official writing system for the Korean language. The let ...

: 사극,

Hanja Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom. (, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, wh ...

: 史劇; ) in

Korean Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula * Korean cuisine * Korean culture * Korean language **Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl **Korean dialects and the Jeju language ** ...

denotes

historical drama A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romance film, romances, adventure f ...

s, including traditional

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

plays,

films A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...

. In English language literature usually refers to historical films and television series (of South Korea). In North Korea, South Korean historical dramas are generally called 고전 영화 (

: 古典映畫, RR: ''Gojeon Yeonghwa'') or classic film. The first known historical film, ''The Story of Chun-hyang'' filmed in 1923, was directed by a Japanese filmmaker. The first Korean sound film was also . The heyday of Korean cinema began in the 1950s and lasted until the 1980s, with many films released, like Lee Gyu-hwan's Chunhyang adaptation in 1955. In the 1960s, historical

melodrama A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or exces ...

s were significant, as well as

martial arts film Martial arts films are a subgenre of action films that feature numerous martial arts combat between characters. These combats are usually the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often are a method of storytelling and character expres ...

s. In the 1970s, due to the popularity of television, cinema started to decline, and in the 1980s it encountered a crisis, which prompted filmmakers to try to win viewers back with erotic pieces. From the 1990s,

Im Kwon-taek Im Kwon-taek (born December 8, 1934) is one of South Korea's most renowned film directors. In an active and prolific career, his films have won many domestic and international film festival awards as well as considerable box-office success, and h ...

's movies, as well as '' The Legend of Gingko'' and ''

The Eternal Empire ''The Eternal Empire'' () is a 1994 South Korean film directed by Park Jong-won. It was chosen as Best Film at the Grand Bell Awards. Plot A historical drama depicting political intrigue and power struggles in the early 19th century. Cast *Ahn ...

'' are significant works. From the 2000s, films started flourishing, between 2012 and 2015 Korean cinema produced five that broke the 10 million viewership record. As of 2016 June, the highest grossing South Korean film is also a historical drama: '' The Admiral: Roaring Currents''. The first television series, a , of South Korea aired on state channel KBS in 1962, titled . In the 1970s, in contrast to the previous decade, historical TV series portrayed national heroes like

Yi Sun-shin Admiral Yi Sun-sin (April 28, 1545 – December 16, 1598) was a Korean admiral and military general famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon Dynasty. Over the course of his career, Admiral Yi fough ...

Sejong the Great Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450), personal name Yi Do (Korean: 이도; Hanja: 李祹), widely known as Sejong the Great (Korean: 세종대왕; Hanja: 世宗大王), was the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Initial ...

. The characteristic series of the 1980s was ('500 Years of Joseon'). The 1990s were dominated by contemporary dramas with regards to popularity and viewership ratings, despite having produced a number of quality . The 2000s saw the birth of the "fusion " genre, which changed the historical series genre in South Korea. Some of the significant works from this period are '' Hur Jun'', '' Damo'', ''

Dae Jang Geum ''Dae Jang Geum'' (; literally "The Great Jang-geum"), also known as ''Jewel in the Palace'', is a 2003 South Korean historical drama television series directed by Lee Byung-hoon. It first aired on MBC from September 15, 2003 to March 23, 20 ...

'' and ''

Queen Seondeok Queen Seondeok of Silla ( ko, 선덕여왕 ; 595~610 – 17 February 647/January 8, Lunar Calendar) reigned as Queen Regnant of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 632 to 647. She was Silla's twenty-seventh ruler, and its first re ...

''. Popular themes of include elements from

Korean folklore Stories and practices that are considered part of Korean folklore go back several thousand years. These tales derive from a variety of origins, including Shamanism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and more recently Christianity. Many folk traditions dev ...

and

mythology Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrat ...

, famous or notorious princes, kings, national heroes and famous women.

History

Beginnings

The first film which can be regarded a was ''The Story of Chun-hyang'', directed by Japanese filmmaker Koshu Hayakawa (早川孤舟) in 1923. The story of Chunhyang is a popular element of

, recurring in Korean cinema, as well, having produced more than a dozen adaptations both in films and television series. Some cinematic milestones are also related to it, for example Lee Myeong-woo's () in 1935 was the first Korean sound film. From 1940, the number of Korean films declined, due to the Japanese colonialist policies forbidding films other than propaganda movies. Many filmmakers fled the country, those remaining had to join the pro-Japanese camp. After the

second world war World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

ended, filmmakers rather celebrated independence and did not make historical pieces. After the

Korean war , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

romanticism Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century, and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate ...

was the ruling school of 1950s historical movies in South Korea, often focusing on female characters. The roots of this can be traced back to theatres: grand

changgeuk ''Changgeuk'' or ''ch'angguk'' is a traditional Korean opera, performed as a play but in the Korean folk song style known as ''pansori''. It is therefore also called ''Korean pansori opera'' in English. Generally, a ''changgeuk'' play will include ...

s, or folk operas, had been popular, so much so, that they began to be adapted to film. Since these stories focused on human nature, human fate and feelings, actual historical backgrounds were irrelevant. These stories usually preferred the period of the

Three Kingdoms of Korea Samhan or the Three Kingdoms of Korea () refers to the three kingdoms of Goguryeo (고구려, 高句麗), Baekje (백제, 百濟), and Silla (신라, 新羅). Goguryeo was later known as Goryeo (고려, 高麗), from which the modern name ''Kor ...

, factual details of which were scarce, thus attention to historical factual accuracy could be avoided. In 1956, () adapted the story of

Prince Hodong and the Princess of Nakrang A prince is a Monarch, male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary title, hereditary, in s ...

, Korea's very own

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

tale. The period from the 1950s to the 1980s are considered the heyday of ''Chungmuro'', or the Korean

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

, when more than 100 films were produced annually. The need for historical films was boosted by the success of such works as Lee Gyu-hwan's Chunhyang adaption (1955),

Kim Ki-young Kim Ki-young (October 10, 1919According to official documents, Kim was born in 1919. However, Kim insisted he was actually born in 1922. – February 5, 1998) was a South Korean film director, known for his intensely psychosexual and melodr ...

's '' Yangsan Province'' or Jeon Chang-geun's (King Gojong and martyr An Jung-Geun; 1959).

1960s

successes of the 1960s were adaptations of works that had previously been successful in other art forms, for example as radio plays, theatrical plays,

operas or novels. Examples include (; 1961), (, 'Eunuch'; 1968) or ''Women of Yi Dynasty'' (, ; 1969). The atmosphere this time was more conservative than in the 1950s, partially due to

Park Chung-hee Park Chung-hee (, ; 14 November 1917 – 26 October 1979) was a South Korean politician and army general who served as the dictator of South Korea from 1961 until his assassination in 1979; ruling as an unelected military strongman from 1961 ...

's dictatorship. Conforming to the circumstances, historical melodramas were preferred, but there were exceptions like

Jeong Chang-hwa Chang-Wha Chung (born November 1, 1928) is a South Korean film director, producer and screenwriter. Chung made his directorial debut with ''The Final Temptation'' (1953) and gained attention only when he released ''A Sunny Field'' in 1960. Dur ...

's martial arts films, inspired by the

Shaw Brothers Shaw Brothers (HK) Ltd. () was the largest film production company in Hong Kong, and operated from 1925 to 2011. In 1925, three Shaw brothers— Runje, Runme, and Runde—founded Tianyi Film Company (also called "Unique") in Shangh ...

. This is the period when

Joseon Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

became the focus of attention, depicting the relationship between kings and officials, determining the nature of historical films for the next decades. Viewers were now more interested in actual historical events than in mystified, old legends. Previously, people were searching for familiar themes in , due to modern inventions being relatively new to Korea at the time. By the 1960s, however, they got used to modernities, thus filmmakers turned to decadent themes or novel stories. Yoon Yeo-jeong at the 2016 Women In Film Korea Festival and Kim Taer-ri at the 2016 Women In Film Korea Festival

Yoon Yeo-jeong at the 2016 Women In Film Korea Festival and Kim Taer-ri at the 2016 Women In Film Korea Festival

The first historical television series in South Korea was aired in 1962 on state channel KBS, titled (), directed by Kim Jae-hyeong (), set in the era of

Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...

1970s

As television sets started to be rolled out en masse, the number of television series also grew. Just like in cinema, however, the policies of the ruling regime affected them as well. Thus dramatic historical figures were replaced by national heroes like general

. of the time mixed legends and reality, the major cause of which was the enormous demand for TV series. Historical factual accuracy would have required scriptwriters to research historical documents written in

hanja Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom. (, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, wh ...

characters, which, considering the demand and the daily episodes, would have been impossible. Also, legends were easier to be dramatized. As television dominated, cinema declined, and out of all the historic films of the period only two could achieve success at the box office: Lee Gyu-ung's () and yet another

Chunhyangga ''Chunhyangga'' is the most famous ''pansori'' (musical story telling) in Korea, having had considerable popularity in the country for the past century. ''Chunhyangga'' is considered to be the best ''pansori'' musically, and as a work of literature ...

adaptation, this time by Lee Seong-gu. Critics applauded other works, like ''Gate of Woman'' (, , 1972), ''An Executioner'' (, , 1974), ''Concentration of Attention'' (, , 1976) or ''A War Diary'' (, , 1977).

1980s

The characteristic classic TV series of the 1980s was (, '500 Years of Joseon'), which ran for eight years, airing 11 separate TV series with over 800 episodes altogether, depicting the history of

. The series referenced official historical documents (albeit liberally to some extent) and often included debated events and themes. It was directed by

Lee Byung-hoon Lee Byung-hoon (born October 14, 1944) is a South Korean television director and producer. Lee is best known for directing period dramas, notably ''500 Years of Joseon'' (1983-1990), '' Hur Jun'' (1999) and ''Dae Jang Geum'' (2003). Career Lee ...

, who later also helmed the popular hallyu series ''

''. The state channel KBS aired '' Gaeguk'' (, 'Foundation of the Kingdom') which depicted King Taejo's usurpation of the

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...

throne in an overtly positive light, reminiscent of

Chun Du-hwan Chun Doo-hwan (; or ; 18 January 1931 – 23 November 2021) was a South Korean army general and military dictator who ruled as an unelected strongman from 1979 to 1980 before replacing Choi Kyu-hah as president of South Korea from 1980 to 19 ...

's rise in politics. The diverse programming on television devoured viewers from attending cinemas, and the film industry had but one way out: show a genre that could not be accessed through television. This is why they turned to making

erotic films Sex in film, the presentation of aspects of sexuality in film, specially human sexuality, has been controversial since the development of the medium. Films which display or suggest sexual behavior have been criticized by religious groups or hav ...

, a good portion of which were set in historical times. Movies like '' Eoudong'' (1985) or ''Does the Cuckoo Cry at Night'' (, , 1985) were also popular at the box office. Although erotic movies were popular, the genre saw a decline in South Korean cinema generally.

1990s

At the beginning of the 1990s, historical films were scarce, except for

Bae Chang-ho Bae Chang-ho (born May 16, 1953) is a South Korean director and screenwriter. Filmography *''People of Kkobang Neighborhood'' (1982) - director, screenwriter *''Iron Men'' (1983) - director, screenwriter *''Flower on the Equator'' (1983) - dir ...

's (, 'Dream'; 1990). ''

'' (), which received outstanding critics, was released in 1995. The film is significant for its different take on the popular story of

Crown Prince Sado Crown Prince Sado (Hangul: 사도세자, Hanja: 思悼世子; 13 February 1735 – 12 July 1762), personal name Yi Seon (Hangul: 이선, Hanja: 李愃), was the second son of King Yeongjo of Joseon. His biological mother was Royal Noble ...

, focusing on the political aftermath of his death, rather than the pain of the prince himself. Although it did not do well at the box office, the film received eight awards at the

Grand Bell Awards The Grand Bell Awards (), also known as the Daejong Film Awards, is an awards ceremony presented annually by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea for excellence in film in South Korea. The Grand Bell Awards retains prestige as the oldest co ...

, including Best Film and Best Director.

's period films are also noteworthy, as well as '' The Legend of Gingko'' from 1996. The 1990s saw a number of on television, like (, 1994), (, 1995), ''

Tears of the Dragon "Tears of the Dragon" is the first single from Bruce Dickinson's second solo album, '' Balls to Picasso'', released on 28 May 1994. Allmusic called "Tears of the Dragon" a "magnificent" track, "by far the album's best song". Track listing CD ...

'' (, 1996–1998) or ''King of the Wind'' (, 1998). However, viewership ratings could not match up to that of contemporary

Korean drama Korean dramas (; RR: ''Han-guk deurama''), more popularly known as K-dramas, are television series in the Korean language, made in South Korea. They are popular worldwide, especially in Asia, partially due to the spread of Korean popular cultu ...

s, only a few could reach 30%, while for example the modern themed ''

Eyes of Dawn ''Eyes of Dawn'' () is a South Korean television series starring Choi Jae-sung, Chae Shi-ra and Park Sang-won. Directed by Kim Jong-hak and written by Song Ji-na based on the 10-volume novel of the same name by Kim Seong-jong (published in 1981 ...

'' recorded 58.3%, '' Sandglass'' broke 50.8%.

Since 2000

At the beginning of the 2000s, were preferred by older generations. Young people chose to watch contemporary series, which they could better relate to. were often complicated, archaic in language use, and mainly employed older actors — thus were less appealing to younger generations. A change in attitude is attributed to producer and director

, who entrusted the script of '' Hur Jun'' to a young, up-and-coming scriptwriter, Choi Wan-gyu. Instead of dry historical facts and distant wars, the series focused on emotions and relationships, revolving around the legendary

royal physician. A new genre, "fusion " was born, changing the structure and format of Korean historical television series. In 2003, actress

Ha Ji-won Jeon Hae-rim (; born 28 June 1978), better known by her stage name Ha Ji-won () is a South Korean actress. She is best known for the historical dramas '' Damo'' (2003), ''Hwang Jini'' (2006), and '' Empress Ki'' (2013), as well as the melodra ...

starred in '' Damo'', the first

HDTV High-definition television (HD or HDTV) describes a television system which provides a substantially higher image resolution than the previous generation of technologies. The term has been used since 1936; in more recent times, it refers to the g ...

format Korean TV series. The drama merged characteristics of trendy modern dramas with Hong Kong style

wire-fu Wire fu is an element or style of Hong Kong action cinema used in fight scenes. It is a combination of two terms: " wire work" and "kung fu". Wire fu is used to describe a subgenre of kung fu movies where the stuntmen's or actor's skill is augm ...

action scenes, narrating a fictional story set in a real historical time. Kim Soo-hyun as Lee-hwon (Moon Embracing the Sun) 02

As fusion conquered televisions, they started to infiltrate cinema, as well. This can be attributed partially to the success of television dramas and partially to the international success of such Chinese historical epics like ''

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'' is a 2000 wuxia film directed by Ang Lee and written for the screen by Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus, and Tsai Kuo-jung . The film features a cast of actors of Chinese people, Chinese ethnicity, including Ch ...

'', ''

Hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or Physical strength, strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ...

'' or the American ''

Gladiator A gladiator ( la, gladiator, "swordsman", from , "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gla ...

'', prompting the need to produce such works at home, as well. In 2003, ''

Untold Scandal ''Untold Scandal'' (; lit. "Scandal: The Love Story of Men and Women in Joseon") is a 2003 South Korean romantic drama film directed by E J-yong, and starring Bae Yong-joon, Jeon Do-yeon, and Lee Mi-sook. Loosely based on the 1782 French novel '' ...

'' with drama icon Bae Yong-joon was released, but the real turning point in historical films came in 2005 with ''

The King and the Clown ''The King and the Clown'' (, lit. ''The King's Man'') is a 2005 South Korean historical drama film, starring Kam Woo-sung, Lee Joon-gi, and Jung Jin-young. It was adapted from the 2000 stage play, ''Yi'' ("You") about Yeonsangun of Joseon, a Jose ...

'', breaking box office records selling more than 12 million tickets. Period films are also successful in the 2010s in South Korea, between 2012 and 2015, five out of all the films surpassing 10 million viewers were '','' and the record keeper (as of 2016 June) is also a historical piece: '' The Admiral: Roaring Currents'' sold 17.61 million tickets. The most popular ones are also of the fusion type, mixing historical facts with fictional people or events. Such works include for example, ''

The Face Reader ''The Face Reader'' (; lit. "Physiognomy") is a 2013 South Korean film starring Song Kang-ho as the son of a disgraced noble family who goes around Joseon and a ''gwansang'' expert. He is able to assess the personality, mental state and habits of ...

'' or '' Masquerade''. Apart from so-called palace dramas, spectacular action-filled like ''

War of the Arrows ''War of the Arrows'' (), alternately titled ''Arrow: The Ultimate Weapon'', is a 2011 South Korean period action film starring Park Hae-il, Ryu Seung-ryong and Moon Chae-won. Set after the Second Manchu invasion of Korea (Qing invasion), the fil ...

'', ''

The Grand Heist ''The Grand Heist'' (; lit. "Gone With the Wind") is a 2012 South Korean historical comedy film about a gang of 11 thieves who try to steal ice blocks from the royal storage, ''Seobingo'', during the last years of the Joseon era. It was released ...

'' or ''

Pirates Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, v ...

'' are also successful in the 21st century. Film series have also appeared, like the ''Detective K''-series, placing a crime investigation story into

settings. Erotic period films experience a renaissance in South Korean cinema, with pieces like ''

Forbidden Quest ''Forbidden Quest'' () is a 2006 South Korean period drama film about a scholar during the Joseon Dynasty who begins to write erotic novels, and becomes the lover of the King's favorite concubine. The film has not been released in Europe or Amer ...

'', ''

The Servant A servant is a person working within an employer's household. Servant or servants may refer to: Places * Servant, Puy-de-Dôme, France Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''The Servant'' (1963 film), a British drama * ''The Servant'' (1989 ...

'' or ''

Empire of Lust ''Empire of Lust'' (; lit. "The Age of Innocence") is a 2015 South Korean period film starring Shin Ha-kyun, Jang Hyuk, Kang Han-na and Kang Ha-neul. Plot Kim Min-jae ( Shin Ha-kyun), is a brilliant general who's distinguished himself by protect ...

''. ''

Sungkyunkwan Scandal ''Sungkyunkwan Scandal'' () is a South Korean historical drama starring Park Yoo-chun, Park Min-young, Song Joong-ki, and Yoo Ah-in. Directed by Kim Won-seok and written by Kim Tae-hee, it is based on Jung Eun-gwol's bestselling 2007 novel '' T ...

'' (2010), ''

Moon Embracing the Sun ''Moon Embracing the Sun'' (, also known as ''The Moon that Embraces the Sun'' or ''The Sun and the Moon'') is a 2012 South Korean television drama series, starring Kim Soo-hyun, Han Ga-in, Jung Il-woo, and Kim Min-seo. It aired on MBC from Jan ...

'' (2012) and ''

Love in the Moonlight ''Love in the Moonlight'' () is a South Korean television series starring Park Bo-gum, Kim Yoo-jung, Jung Jinyoung, Chae Soo-bin, and Kwak Dong-yeon. It is a coming-of-age story and youth romance set during 19th-century Joseon Dynasty based on ...

'' (2016) were all adapted from popular novels. They were initially targeted to a younger demographic but has since received mainstream and international success. The productions have also put the spotlight to then emerging actors

Song Joong-ki Song Joong-ki (; born September 19, 1985) is a South Korean actor. He rose to fame in the historical coming-of-age drama ''Sungkyunkwan Scandal'' (2010) and the variety show '' Running Man'' (2010–2011) as one of the original cast members. S ...

Yoo Ah-in Yoo may refer to: * Yoo (Korean surname), also spelled Ryu or Yu, a Korean family name * YOO, the IATA code for Oshawa Airport See also * You, a pronoun {{Disambig ...

Kim Soo-hyun Kim Soo-hyun (; born February 16, 1988) is a South Korean actor. One of the highest-paid actors in South Korea, his accolades include four Baeksang Arts Awards, two Grand Bell Awards and one Blue Dragon Film Award. From 2012 to 2016 and in ...

Park Bo-gum Park Bo-gum (; born June 16, 1993) is a South Korean actor. He gained recognition for his diverse range of roles in film and television, notably, a psychopathic lawyer in '' Hello Monster'' (2015), a genius Go player in ''Reply 1988'' (2015– ...

and

Kim Yoo-jung Kim Yoo-jung (; born September 22, 1999) is a South Korean actress. She debuted as a model for a confectionery brand at the age of four. After her acting debut in 2003, she became one of the best known child actresses in Korea since then, aft ...

. Large-scale ''s'' have been rarely produced, but when they were launched, they often caught the attention of the public. Most of them have been fantasy-based, telling the audience a unique story of kings and queens who lived in the ancient era. The most well-known one so far has been The Legend (2007), which featured the Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon. In 2018,

Studio Dragon Studio Dragon Corporation () is a South Korean drama production, marketing and distribution company under CJ ENM's E&M division. It was established on May 3, 2016, as a spin-off from E&M Media Content. The company joined the KOSDAQ index of Ko ...

announced it is working on ''

Arthdal Chronicles ''Arthdal Chronicles'' () is a 2019 South Korean television series written by Kim Young-hyun and Park Sang-yeon and directed by Kim Won-seok, under the production banner of Studio Dragon and KPJ, starring Jang Dong-gun, Song Joong-ki, Kim J ...

'', a new fantasy casting

and Kim Ji-won. The drama started its first shooting on 1 June and recorded 8% personal best rating. On March 5, 2017,

Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...

announced that it had given the production a series order for a first season of

Kingdom Kingdom commonly refers to: * A monarchy ruled by a king or queen * Kingdom (biology), a category in biological taxonomy Kingdom may also refer to: Arts and media Television * ''Kingdom'' (British TV series), a 2007 British television drama s ...

. Alongside the series announcement, it was confirmed that Kim Seong-hun would direct the series and that Kim Eun-hee would be credited as the writer. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of

AStory AStory () is a Korean drama production company founded in 2004 by Lee Sang-baek together with his friends, drama writer Choi Wan-kyu (최완규 (작가) and director , in Seoul. List of works As production company Scripted Non-scripted A ...

. Moreover, famous actors confirmed that they would join the

web television Streaming television is the digital distribution of television content, such as TV shows, as streaming media delivered over the Internet. Streaming television stands in contrast to dedicated terrestrial television delivered by over-the-air aer ...

series with plenty of

political Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies ...

supernatural Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...

and

thrilling ''Thrilling'' is a 1965 Italian comedy film. The film is split into three distinct segments, each directed by a different director; namely Carlo Lizzani, Ettore Scola and Gian Luigi Polidoro. Cast Il vittimista * Directed by Ettore Scola * N ...

scenes. Those include

Ju Ji-hoon Ju Ji-hoon (born May 16, 1982) is a South Korean actor and model. His first leading role was in the 2006 hit drama ''Princess Hours''. His other notable works include ''The Devil'', '' Antique'', ''Mask'', '' Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds'' ...

Ryu Seung-ryong Ryu Seung-ryong (born November 29, 1970) is a South Korean actor. Ryu began his acting career in theater, subsequently becoming one of the most versatile supporting actors in Korean film and television. In 2013, he headlined '' Miracle in Cell N ...

Bae Doona Bae Doona (; born October 11, 1979; also credited as Doona Bae), is a South Korean actress and photographer. She became known outside Korea for her roles as a political activist in Park Chan-wook's ''Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance'' (2002), archer ...

Jeon Seok-ho Jeon Seok-ho (born May 2, 1984) is a South Korean actor. He is known for his role in ''Kingdom'' as the incompetent magistrate. He starred in TV series such as '' Misaeng: Incomplete Life'' (2014), ''The Good Wife ''The Good Wife'' is an Ame ...

, Kim Hye-jun and

Heo Joon-ho Huh Joon-ho (, born April 14, 1964) is a South Korean actor. His name was previously officially romanized as Hur Joon-ho and is sometimes romanized unofficially as Heo Joon-ho. His father was Heo Jang-kang, a well-known Korean actor. Huh bega ...

. Director Park In-je joined the production and directed the second episode and onward from season two. On January 25, 2019, the first season of the series, consisting of six episodes, was released for streaming on

. The second season, also consisting of six episodes, was released on March 13, 2020.

Lists

The following are notable Korean period drama series:

KBS

* ''

Empress Myeongseong Empress Myeongseong or Empress Myungsung (명성황후 민씨; 17 November 1851 – 8 October 1895In lunar calendar, the Empress was born on 25 September 1851 and died on 20 August 1895), informally known as Empress Min, was the official wife ...

'' (2001–2002) * ''Royal Story: Jang Hui-bin'' (2002–2003) * ''

Emperor of the Sea ''Emperor of the Sea'' (; literally "Sea God") is a South Korean television drama series starring Choi Soo-jong, Chae Shi-ra, Song Il-kook، Soo Ae and Chae Jung-an It aired on KBS2 from November 24, 2004 to May 25, 2005 on Wednesdays and Thur ...

'' (2004–2005) * ''

Hwang Jini Hwang Jini or Hwang Jin-Yi (; 1506 – 1560), also known by her gisaeng name Myeongwol ("bright moon", ), was one of the most famous gisaeng of the Joseon Dynasty. She lived during the reign of King Jungjong. She was noted for her exceptiona ...

'' (2006) * ''

Conspiracy in the Court ''Conspiracy in the Court'' (; lit. ''Seoul's Sad Song''), is a 2007 South Korean historical drama broadcast on KBS2. The mystery thriller revolves around a murder case set in Hansung, the capital of Korea during the latter years of the Joseon dy ...

'' (2007) * ''

'' (2010) * ''

The Princess' Man ''The Princess' Man'' () is a 2011 South Korean television series, starring Park Si-hoo, Moon Chae-won, Kim Yeong-cheol, Song Jong-ho, Hong Soo-hyun and Lee Soon-jae. It's a period drama about the forbidden romance between the daughter of Gra ...

'' (2011) * ''

Jeon Woo-chi Jeon Woo-chi (, 14?? ~ 15??) was a Taoist scholar during the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He is known by many as the most prominent "sorcerer" in Korean history, and a representative trickster from old Korean literature. His art name was Woosa (), w ...

'' (2012–2013) * ''

Gunman in Joseon ''Gunman in Joseon'' () is a 2014 South Korean television series starring Lee Joon-gi, Nam Sang-mi, Jeon Hye-bin, Han Joo-wan, and Yu Oh-seong. It aired on KBS2 from June 25 to September 4, 2014 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 22 episod ...

'' (2014) * ''

The King's Face ''The King's Face'' (; Hanja: 王의 얼굴) is a 2014 South Korean television series starring Seo In-guk, Jo Yoon-hee, Lee Sung-jae, Kim Gyu-ri and Shin Sung-rok. It aired on KBS2 from November 19, 2014 to February 5, 2015 on Wednesdays and Thurs ...

'' (2014–2015) * '' The Merchant: Gaekju 2015'' (2015–2016) * ''

'' (2016) * '' Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth'' (2016-2017) * ''

Queen for Seven Days ''Queen for Seven Days'' () is a South Korean television series starring Park Min-young as the titular Queen Dangyeong, with Yeon Woo-jin and Lee Dong-gun. It aired on KBS2 every Wednesday and Thursday at 22:00 ( KST) from May 31, 2017 to August ...

'' (2017) * ''

The Tale of Nokdu ''The Tale of Nokdu'' () is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Jang Dong-yoon, Kim So-hyun, Kang Tae-oh, and Jung Joon-ho. It is based on the webtoon by Hye Jin-yang which was published in 2014 on Naver Webtoon. It aired on KBS2 ...

'' (2019) * ''

Royal Secret Agent ''Royal Secret Agent'' () is a South Korean historical comedy, detective television series. The series is directed by Kim Jung-min and stars Kim Myung-soo, Kwon Nara, Lee Tae-hwan, Lee Yi-kyung, and Jo Soo-min. Written by Kang Min-sun and Par ...

'' (2020-2021) * ''

River Where the Moon Rises ''River Where the Moon Rises'' () is a 2021 South Korean television series starring Kim So-hyun, Na In-woo, Lee Ji-hoon and Choi Yu-hwa. Based on the 2010 novel ''Princess Pyeonggang'' by film director and screenwriter Choi Sagyu, it aired on ...

'' (2021) * ''

Bloody Heart ''Bloody Heart'' () is a 2022 South Korean television series starring Lee Joon, Kang Han-na, Jang Hyuk, Park Ji-yeon, Heo Sung-tae, and Choi Ri. It aired from May 2 to June 21, 2022 on KBS2's Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:30 ( KST) time slot f ...

'' (2022)

Daeha Drama

* ''

Daemyeong ''Daemyeong'' () is a 1981 South Korean television series starring Kim Dong-hoon, Kim Heung-ki, Seo Young-jin, Won Mi-kyung, Kim Sung-won and Baek Il-sub. It aired on KBS1 from January 5, 1981 until December 28, 1981 every Mondays for 52 episodes ...

'' (1981) * ''Wind and Cloud'' (1982) * ''

Foundation of the Kingdom ''Foundation of the Kingdom'' () is a 1983 South Korean historical television series. It aired on KBS1 from January 2, 1983 to December 18, 1983. The series revolves around the fall of Goryeo and the foundation of Joseon. Cast Kingdom of Goryeo ...

'' (1983) * ''Independence Gate'' (1984) * ''Dawn'' (1985) * ''Windfall'' (1986-1987) * ''Yi-hwa'' (1987) * ''Land'' (1987-1989) * ''And So Flows History'' (1989-1990) * ''Dawn of the Day'' (1990) * ''The Royal Way'' (1991) * ''Flowers That Never Wilt'' (1991-1992) * ''Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms'' (1992-1993) * ''The Break of Dawn'' (1993) * ''Kim Gu'' (1995) * ''Dazzling Dawn'' (1995-1996) * ''

'' (1996-1998) * ''

The King and the Queen ''The King and the Queen'' () is a 1998–2000 South Korean television series starring Im Dong-jin and Chae Shi-ra, along with Han Hye-sook, Lee Jin-woo and Ahn Jae-mo. It aired on KBS1 from June 6, 1998, to March 26, 2000, on Saturdays and Sund ...

'' (1998-2000) * ''

Taejo Wang Geon ''Taejo Wang Geon'' (; ) is a 2000 Korean historical period drama. Directed by Kim Jong-sun and starring Choi Soo-jong in the title role of Taejo of Goryeo, King Taejo. The drama aired from April 1, 2000 to February 24, 2002 in a total of 200 e ...

'' (2000-2002) * ''

The Dawn of the Empire ''The Dawn of the Empire'' () is a South Korean historical television series which aired on KBS1 from March 2, 2002 to January 26, 2003 for 94 episodes every weekend at 21:45 ( KST). It revolves around the reigns of the second, third and fourth ki ...

'' (2002-2003) * ''

Age of Warriors ''Age of Warriors'' () is a South Korean historical television series. It aired on KBS1 from February 8, 2003, to August 15, 2004, every Saturday and Sunday at 21:45 ( KST) for 158 episodes. The series is set during the military rule over Goryeo ...

'' (2003-2004 * ''

Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin ''Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin'' (; lit. "The Immortal Yi Sun-sin") is a South Korean television series based on the life of Yi Sun-sin, starring Kim Myung-min in the title role. It aired on KBS1 on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:45 from September 4 ...

'' (2004–2005) * ''

Seoul 1945 ''Seoul 1945'' () is a 2006 South Korean period television series starring Ryu Soo-young, Han Eun-jung, So Yoo-jin, Kim Ho-jin, and Park Sang-myun. It aired on KBS1 from January 1 to September 26, 2006 on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:30 for 71 ep ...

'' (2006) * ''

Dae Jo-yeong Dae Joyeong (died 719) (; or in Korean) or Da Zuorong (大祚榮, 大祚荣, in Chinese), also known as King Go (; in Korean; Gao in Chinese), established the state of Balhae, reigning from 699 to 719. Life Early life Dae Joyeong wa ...

'' (2006–2007) * ''

The Great King, Sejong ''The Great King, Sejong'' () is a 2008 South Korean historical television series depicting the life of the fourth monarch of Joseon, Sejong the Great (played by Kim Sang-kyung). Considered one of the greatest kings in Korean history, Sejong c ...

'' (2008) * ''

Empress Cheonchu ''Empress Cheonchu'' (; also known as ''The Iron Empress'') is a 2009 South Korean period television series based on the title character, an actual historical figure and her lifelong struggle to protect the country her ancestors built. The grand ...

'' (2009) * ''

The King of Legend ''The King of Legend'' (; literally ''King Geunchogo'') is a 2010 South Korean historical drama based on King Geunchogo of Baekje. Besides historical information from Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa, it was also inspired by a novel written by Lee M ...

'' (2010–2011) * ''

Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror ''Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror'', also known as ''King Gwanggaeto the Great'', is a historical drama based on the life of the nineteenth monarch of Goguryeo, Gwanggaeto the Great. The drama was based on two sources, ''Gwanggaeto the Great'' b ...

'' (2011-2012) * ''

Dream of the Emperor ''Dream of the Emperor'' () is a South Korean television series that aired on KBS1 from September 8, 2012 to June 9, 2013 on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:40 for 70 episodes. Plot Kim Chun-chu is the grandson of King Jinji, but when his grandfat ...

'' (2012-2013) * ''

Jeong Do-jeon Jeong Dojeon (Korean: 정도전, Hanja: 鄭道傳, 1342 – October 6, 1398), also known by his pen name Sambong (Korean: 삼봉), was a prominent Korean scholar-official during the late Goryeo to the early Joseon periods. He served as the first ...

'' (2014) * '' The Jingbirok: A Memoir of Imjin War'' (2015) * ''

Jang Yeong-sil Jang Yeong-sil (; ; 1390 – after 1442) was a Korean mechanical engineer, scientist, and inventor during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). Although Jang was born as a peasant, King Sejong allowed Jang to work at the royal palace. Jang's invent ...

'' (2016) * ''

The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won ''The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won'' () is a South Korean television series starring Joo Sang-wook in the title role. With this series, KBS is reviving the historical drama series after 5 years, as the last KBS historical series ''Jang Yeong-si ...

'' (2021-2022)

MBC

* '' Hur Jun'' (1999) * ''

Sangdo, Merchants of Joseon ''The Merchant'' () is a South Korean historical television drama, based on ''The Merchant of Joseon'', a novel written by Choi In-ho (2000). It tells the story of Im Sang-ok (1779–1855), a legendary merchant who lived in the Joseon Dynasty ...

'' (2001) * '' Damo'' (2003) * '' Dae Jang Geum: Jewel in the Palace'' (2003) * ''Shin Don: Powerful Servant of Koryo（2005) * '' Jumong: Prince of Legend'' (2006–2007) * '' The Legend'' (2007) * ''

Lee San, Wind of the Palace ''Yi San'' (), also known as ''Lee San, Wind of the Palace'', is a 2007 South Korean historical drama, starring Lee Seo-jin and Han Ji-min. It aired on MBC from September 17, 2007 to June 16, 2008 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55. The serie ...

'' (2007) * '' The Great Queen Seondeok'' (2009) * '' Dong Yi: The Jewel in the Crown'' (2010) * '' Gyebaek, Warrior's Fate'' (2011) * ''

'' (2012) * ''

Arang and the Magistrate ''Arang and the Magistrate'' (; also known as ''Tale of A-rang'') is a 2012 South Korean historical television drama (''sageuk''), starring Lee Joon-gi, Shin Min-ah, and Yeon Woo-jin. The period horror-romance is based on the folklore of Arang, ...

'' (2012) * ''

God of War A war god in mythology associated with war, combat, or bloodshed. They occur commonly in both monotheistic and polytheistic religions. Unlike most gods and goddesses in polytheistic religions, monotheistic deities have traditionally been po ...

'' (2012) * ''

The King's Doctor ''The King's Doctor'' (; lit. ''Horse Doctor'') is a 2012 South Korean television series depicting Baek Gwang-hyeon (1625–1697), Joseon Dynasty veterinarian, starring Cho Seung-woo and Lee Yo-won. It aired on MBC from October 1, 2012 to Mar ...

'' (2012) * ''

Gu Family Book ''Gu Family Book'' (; also known as ''Kang Chi, the Beginning'') is a 2013 South Korean television series starring Lee Seung-gi and Bae Suzy. The fusion martial arts action historical drama is about a half-man half-monster who is searching for ...

'' (2013) * ''

Goddess of Fire ''Goddess of Fire'' (; lit. ''Goddess of Fire, Jung Yi'') is a 2013 South Korean television series starring Moon Geun-young, Lee Sang-yoon, Kim Bum, Park Gun-hyung, Seo Hyun-jin, Jun Kwang-ryul, Jeong Bo-seok, Byun Hee-bong, Han Go-eun, and Lee K ...

'' (2013) * '' Empress Ki'' (2013) * ''

The King's Daughter, Soo Baek-hyang ''The King's Daughter, Soo Baek-hyang'' () is a Korean-language historical drama depicting the life of Soo Baek-hyang, the daughter of King Muryeong of Baekje. It was aired on MBC TV from September 30, 2013, to March 14, 2014, on Monday and Fri ...

'' (2013-2014) * ''

Diary of a Night Watchman ''Diary of a Night Watchman'' () is a 2014 South Korean television series starring Jung Il-woo, Ko Sung-hee, Jung Yun-ho and Seo Yea-ji. It aired on MBC from August 4 to October 21, 2014 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 22:00 for 24 episodes. Plo ...

'' (2014) * ''

Shine or Go Crazy ''Shine or Go Crazy'' () is a 2015 South Korean television series based on the novel of the same name by Hyun Go-woon about the romance between a Goryeo prince and a Balhae princess. Starring Jang Hyuk, Oh Yeon-seo, Lee Hanee and Lim Ju-hwan, it ...

'' (2015) * ''

Splendid Politics ''Splendid Politics'' () is a 2015 South Korean television series starring Cha Seung-won, Lee Yeon-hee, Kim Jaewon, Seo Kang-joon, Han Joo-wan and Jo Sung-ha. It aired on MBC from April 13 to September 29, 2015 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 22:00 ...

'' (2015) * ''

The Scholar Who Walks the Night ''The Scholar Who Walks the Night'' () is a 2015 South Korean television series based on the manhwa of the same name written by Jo Joo-hee and illustrated by Han Seung-hee. Starring Lee Joon-gi, Lee Yu-bi, Shim Chang-min, Lee Soo-hyuk, and Kim So ...

'' (2015) * ''

Flowers of the Prison ''Flowers of the Prison'' () is a 2016 South Korean drama television series starring Jin Se-yeon, Go Soo, Kim Mi-sook, Jung Joon-ho, Park Joo-mi, Yoon Joo-hee, , Jun Kwang-ryul and Choi Tae-joon. It is MBC's special project drama to commemorat ...

'' (2016) * '' Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People'' (2017) * '' The Emperor: Owner of the Mask'' (2017) * ''

The King in Love ''The King in Love'' () is a South Korean historical drama directed by Kim Sang-hyeop with screenplay by Song Ji-na, Park Chan-kyung and No Sun-jae, based on the novel of the same name by Kim Yi-ryung. It stars Im Si-wan, Im Yoon-ah and Hong Jong ...

'' (2017) * ''

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung ''Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung'' () is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Shin Se-kyung, in the title role as a free-spirited female historian, and Cha Eun-woo, as a prince working underground as a romance novelist. It is also a ...

'' (2019) * ''

The Red Sleeve ''The Red Sleeve'' () is a South Korean television series starring Lee Jun-ho, Lee Se-young, and Kang Hoon. It aired from November 12, 2021, to January 1, 2022, on MBC's newly established Fridays and Saturdays at 22:00 ( KST) time slot. Syn ...

'' (2021–2022) * ''

The Forbidden Marriage ''The Forbidden Marriage'' () is a South Korean television series starring Park Ju-hyun, Kim Young-dae, and Kim Woo-seok. It is based on screenwriter Chun Ji-hye's own web novel of the same title, which was also released as a webtoon. It aired ...

'' (2022-2023)

SBS

* ''Ladies of the Palace'' (2002) * ''King's Woman'' (2003) * ''Jang Gil San'' (2004) * ''

Ballad of Seodong ''Ballad of Seodong'' () is a South Korean television series starring Jo Hyun-jae, Lee Bo-young, and Ryu Jin. It aired on SBS from September 5, 2005 to March 21, 2006 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 55 episodes. The period drama is based ...

'' (2005–2005) * ''

The King and I ''The King and I'' is the fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on Margaret Landon's novel '' Anna and the King of Siam'' (1944), which is in turn derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the childre ...

'' (2007–2008) * ''

Iljimae ''Iljimae'' (; literally "One blossom branch") is a 2008 South Korean period-action television series, starring Lee Joon-gi in the title role of Iljimae. It is loosely based on the comic strip ''Iljimae'', published between 1975 and 1977, writ ...

'' (2008) * ''

Painter of the Wind ''Painter of the Wind'' () is a 2008 South Korean historical television series starring Moon Geun-young and Park Shin-yang. Based on the bestselling historical fiction novel by Lee Jung-myung that took artistic license with the premise that perha ...

'' (2008) * ''

Ja Myung Go ''Ja Myung Go'' (; also known as ''Princess Ja-myung'') is a 2009 South Korean television series starring Jung Ryeo-won, Park Min-young and Jung Kyung-ho. It aired on SBS from March 9 to July 21, 2009 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 ( KST) for ...

'' (2009) * ''

Warrior Baek Dong-soo ''Warrior Baek Dong-soo'' () is a 2011 South Korean fusion historical/action television series starring Ji Chang-wook in the title role, with Yoo Seung-ho, Yoon So-yi, Shin Hyun-bin, Choi Min-soo and Jun Kwang-ryul. It aired on SBS from July 4 ...

'' (2011) * ''

Deep Rooted Tree ''Deep Rooted Tree'' () is a 2011 South Korean television series starring Han Suk-kyu, Jang Hyuk and Shin Se-kyung. Based on the novel of the same name by Lee Jung-myung, it aired on SBS from 5 October to 22 December 2011 on Wednesdays and Thu ...

'' (2011) * ''

Faith Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". Religious people often ...

'' (2012) * ''

Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love ''Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love'' () is a 2013 South Korean historical television series, starring Kim Tae-hee, Yoo Ah-in, Hong Soo-hyun and Jae Hee. Based on the 2008 novel by Choi Jung-mi, it is a reinterpretation of Jang Hui-bin's life, as a wom ...

'' (2013) * ''

Secret Door Michael "Mike" Morhaime (born November 3, 1967) is an American video game developer and entrepreneur. He is the chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of Dreamhaven, located in Irvine, California. Morhaime is best known as the co-founder and th ...

'' (2014) * ''

Six Flying Dragons ''Six Flying Dragons'' () is a South Korean television series starring Yoo Ah-in, Kim Myung-min, Shin Se-kyung, Byun Yo-han, Yoon Kyun-sang and Chun Ho-jin. It aired on SBS on Mondays and Tuesdays at 22:00 for 50 episodes beginning on Octobe ...

'' (2015) * '' Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo'' (2016) * ''

Saimdang, Memoir of Colors ''Saimdang, Memoir of Colors'' () is a South Korean drama starring Lee Young-ae in the title role as Shin Saimdang, a famous Joseon-era artist and calligrapher who lived in the early 16th century. It aired on SBS every Wednesday and Thursday at ...

'' (2017) * ''My Sassy Girl'' (2017) * '' Nokdu Flower'' (2019) * '' Haechi'' (2019) * ''

Lovers of the Red Sky ''Lovers of the Red Sky'' () is a 2021 South Korean television series starring Kim Yoo-jung, Ahn Hyo-seop, Gong Myung and Kwak Si-yang. It is directed by Jang Tae-yoo and written by Ha Eun. The series adapted from the novel of the same name w ...

'' (2021)

Cable

* ''

Insu, the Queen Mother ''Insu, the Queen Mother'' () is a 2011 South Korean historical television series, starring Chae Shi-ra, Hahm Eun-jung, Kim Young-ho, Kim Mi-sook, Baek Sung-hyun and Jeon Hye-bin. Focusing on the fierce power struggle among three women in the ro ...

'' (2011, JTBC) * ''

Queen In-hyun's Man ''Queen and I'' () is a 2012 South Korean television series starring Ji Hyun-woo and Yoo In-na. The story centers around obscure actress Choi Hee-jin (played by Yoo In-na, in her first leading role) who falls in love with Kim Bung-do (played by J ...

'' (2012, tvN) * '' Blooded Palace: The War of Flowers'' (2013, JTBC) * ''

More Than a Maid ''More Than a Maid'' () is a 2015 South Korean television series starring Jeong Yu-mi, Oh Ji-ho, Kim Dong-wook, Lee Si-a, Jeon So-min and Lee Yi-kyung. It aired on jTBC from January 23 to March 28, 2015 on Fridays and Saturdays at 21:45 ( KST) ...

'' (2014, JTBC) * ''

The Three Musketeers ''The Three Musketeers'' (french: Les Trois Mousquetaires, links=no, ) is a French historical adventure novel written in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. It is in the swashbuckler genre, which has heroic, chivalrous swordsmen who fight f ...

'' (2014, tvN) * '' Secret Healer: Mirror of the Witch'' (2016, JTBC) * ''

Grand Prince Grand prince or great prince (feminine: grand princess or great princess) ( la, magnus princeps; Greek: ''megas archon''; russian: великий князь, velikiy knyaz) is a title of nobility ranked in honour below emperor, equal of king or ...

'' (2018, TV Chosun) * ''

100 Days My Prince ''100 Days My Prince'' () is a 2018 South Korean television series starring Doh Kyung-soo and Nam Ji-hyun. The series aired on tvN from September 10 to October 30, 2018, every Monday and Tuesday at 21:30 ( KST). It is one of the highest-rated ...

'' (2018, tvN) * '' Mr. Sunshine'' (2018, TVN) * ''

The Crowned Clown ''The Crowned Clown'' () is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Yeo Jin-goo, Kim Sang-kyung, and Lee Se-young. A remake of the 2012 film '' Masquerade'', the series centers on the tale of a Joseon King and his doppelganger, a clown w ...

'' (2019, TVN) * '' Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency'' (2019, JTBC) * '' My Country: The New Age'' (2019, JTBC) * '' Queen: Love and War'' (2019-2020, TV Chosun) * '' Kingmaker: The Change of Destiny'' (2020, TV Chosun) * '' Mr. Queen'' (2020-2021, TVN) * '' Bossam: Steal the Fate'' (2021, MBN) * ''

Alchemy of Souls ''Alchemy of Souls'' () is a South Korean television series starring Lee Jae-wook, Jung So-min, Go Yoon-jung, and Hwang Min-hyun. Written by the Hong sisters, it depicts the stories of young mages dealing with heaven and earth. It premiered on ...

'' (2022, tvN) * ''

Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist ''Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist'' () is a South Korean television series starring Kim Min-jae in the title role, along with Kim Hyang-gi and Kim Sang-kyung. Based on the novel of the same name that won the Excellence Award in the 2016 Korea S ...

'' (2022, tvN) * ''

Under the Queen's Umbrella ''Under the Queen's Umbrella'' () is a 2022 South Korean television series starring Kim Hye-soo, Kim Hae-sook, and Choi Won-young. It aired from October 15 to December 4, 2022, on tvN's Saturdays and Sundays at 21:10 ( KST) time slot. It is also ...

'' (2022, tvN)

Popular themes

Popular themes include the following: * Elements of

pansori ' () is a Korean genre of musical storytelling performed by a singer and a drummer. The term ''pansori'' is derived from the Korean words ''pan'' (Hangul: 판) and ''sori'' (Hangul: 소리), the latter of which means "sound." However, ''pan' ...

tales like

; folk tales like

; mythological creatures like *

North–South States Period The Northern and Southern States period (698–926 CE) is the period in Korean history when Unified Silla and Balhae coexisted in the south and north of the peninsula, respectively. Unified Silla After the unification wars, the Tang Dynasty ...

kings, especially those with dramatic life stories, like King Taejo (''Wang Geon''), King Gwangjong (''Wang So''), King Gongmin (''Wang Jeon'') and King Gongyang (''Wang Yo'') *

princes and kings, especially those with dramatic life stories, like King Taejo (''Yi Seong-gye''), King Taejong (''Yi Bang-won''), King Sejong the Great (''Yi Do''), King Sejo (''Yi Yu''), King Yeonsan (''Yi Yung''), King Gwanghae (''Yi Hon''), Crown Prince Sado (''Yi Seon''), King Jeongjo (''Yi San''), Heungseon Daewongun (''Yi Ha-eung''), and Emperor Gojong (''Yi Myeong-bok'') * Famous women, like

Jang Hui-bin Royal Noble Consort Hui of the Indong Jang clan (Hangul: 희빈 장씨, Hanja: 禧嬪張氏; 3 November 1659 – 9 November 1701), personal name Jang Ok-jeong (Hangul: 장옥정, Hanja: 張玉貞), was a consort of King Sukjong of Joseon and ...

Jang Nok-su Royal Consort Suk-yong (, died 1506), of the Heungdeok Jang clan, was the consort of Yeonsangun of Joseon. She is often compared with Jang Hui-bin and Jeong Nan-jeong, two other women of the Joseon dynasty. After the overthrow of Yeonsangun, ...

, Queen Munjeong, Sin Saimdang, Shin Saimdang, Jang-geum, Empress Myeongseong and Queen Seondeok of Silla, Queen Seondeok * Famous scholars, like Jeong Mong-ju, Jeong Do-jeon, Shin Suk-ju, Hwang Hui, Jo Gwangjo, Jo Gwang-jo, Yi Hwang, Yi I, Ryu Seong-ryong and Jung Yak-yong * Famous soldiers, like Choe Yeong, Choi Young and

* Cross-dressing heroines

Notes

References

* * * * * * * * * {{cinema of Korea South Korean historical films, * South Korean historical television series, *