Do you love romantic comedies and period dramas? Then you are going to love my list of five Historical Kdramas!
Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth
Since King Beopheung died, Queen Ji So has been ruling the Kingdom of Silla as regent and has kept her young son Prince Sam Maek Jong hidden outside of the capital Seorabeol.
To keep him safe from all who mean him harm, she has enforced a strict rule that anyone who learns he is the next king will be killed. Sam Maek Jong is ashamed of the cruel consequences and blames himself for their deaths.
Breaking the power of the nobles who aspire to steal the throne, Queen Ji So creates a new elite group, the Hwarang (this is lightly based on the Hwarang that existed in real life). This group cuts across the well established power factions and enforces them all to to protect Sam Maek Jong and the throne because their own sons are his bodyguards and loyal servants.
The Hwarang grow and ultimately become friends and are unaware that within their group is the future king, Sam Maek Jong, as well as Kim Seon-u (also known as Dog Bird), a commoner with big a secret even he is not aware of.
This epic drama has everything you could want: romance, court intrigue, sword fights, and deals with friendship and prejudice in a way that I haven't seen many other kdramas. Fun fact, V from BTS stars in this drama as Suk Han-Sun, his innocent and silly character totally stole the show!
Ending: Happy
Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency
This drama follows the Flower Crew made up of Ma Hoon, Young-soo, and Do Joon, known for their handsome looks and super successful matchmaking skills.
Their life takes an unexpected twist when they accept Lee Soo as their client after he practically begs them to help him. On the day of the wedding, Lee Soo is kidnapped and learns he is the next the King of Joseon. His almost wife Gae-ttong must learn how to live in the midst of this crisis and pay back the Flower Crew but Lee Soo doesn't have it much easier as corruption and trickery lurks in all corners of the palace.
This comedic historical drama is set in the past however all the details are fictional. Something that I think is interesting about the show is how it goes from being very comical to to being pretty intense. It was interesting to see Wanna One's Park Ji-Hoon star in his first drama, his character was very funny and his characters' past was actually quite surprising to me.
Ending: Happy
Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung
This show is centered around free-spirited Lady Gu Haeryung who is in no rush to marry even at the age of 26 and the hidden and lonely second Prince Dowon. Prince Dowon, who has to stay away from the royal court, secretly writes hangul romance novels under the pen name Maehwa and is famous especially with female readers.
Their lives become intertwined due to an accident and with Haeryung becoming a Rookie Historian, they form an unlikely friendship and romance but nothing is how it seems, with ministers plotting to gain power by taking advantage of female historians. Dowon begins to learn the truth of why his father hates him, his hidden past, and his true destiny.
This drama is actually the one that got the rest of my family into Kdramas. This drama is very loosely based on history, and the whole concept of a female historian in the Joseon era is 100% fictional as no girl was ever recruited as one during 1392-1897.
This drama also stars a Kpop singer too and this time as the lead male, Dowon played by Astro's Cha Eun Woo. As a fan of Astro myself, I was very impressed with the progress he has made with his acting since his first role in My Name Is Gangnam ID.
Ending: Happy
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
During a total solar eclipse, a 25-year-old 21st-century woman, Go Ha-jin (Lee Ji-eun), is transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty. She wakes up in the year of 941 in the body of Hae Soo, among the many royal princes of the ruling Wang family during the reign of King Taejo.
She initially falls in love with the gentle and warm-hearted 8th Prince Wang Wook. and later Wang So, the fearsome 4th Prince who hides his face behind a mask and is given the derogatory label of "wolf dog". As the story develops, Hae Soo finds herself unwittingly caught up in palace politics and the rivalry among the princes as they fight for the throne. ~ from Wikipedia
This drama is a lot less of comedy than the rest, although it can be funny I would say it is more of a Action Romance Historical. It is a Korean remake of a Cdrama but is based off Korean history instead so it is pretty different than the original.
I think the message through the drama is very thought provoking, this drama will have you laughing, sobbing and on the edge of your seat. Much like most of the dramas on this list, it stars kpop singer I.U as the female lead, Hae Soo.
Ending: Sad
The Legend of The Blue Sea
This series centers on the love story of Shim Cheong, a mermaid, and Heo Joon-jae, a witty con-artist. Focusing on rebirth, fate, and unrequited love, their tale is juxtaposed with the parallel story of their Joseon-era incarnations, the mermaid, Se-hwa, and town head, Kim Dam-ryeong. ~ from Wikipedia
This drama is more of a sci-fi fantasy than a historical but it deals with past lives (set in the past) so It definitely counts. This has to be one of my favorite kdramas of all time. It deals with abandonment, family problems, murder mysteries and never giving up on true love.
Ending: Happy
Do you have a favorite historical Kdrama? Let me know in the comments below!
