Ever get that nagging feeling you wish you could go back and change just one thing? Or you could daydream about what it would be like to live and get lost in another era? If that’s you, then you need to watch time-travel K-dramas. They pull you into incredible stories that blend epic history with swoon-worthy romance, mind-bending mysteries, and a touch of fantasy. Whether you love royal courts, thrilling crimes, or heartfelt comedies, a time-travel Korean drama will take you across eras and emotions. Keep reading and find your next binge from our curated list of the best time-travel Korean dramas!
The Best Time Travel Korean Dramas You Can’t Miss
Korean dramas with time-travel stories create amazing worlds. It isn’t just about bending the rules of science, but also a tool to explore love, fate, and second chances. They mix the thrill of adventure with deep emotional journeys that stay with you.
Each time-travel K-drama on this list features brilliant directors, writers, and actors who bring history and fantasy to life, making them feel real. You will meet incredible characters and watch as the past and present beautifully collide.
Let’s explore 12 unforgettable time-travel Korean dramas from 2016 to 2025 that keep K-drama lovers hooked.
1. “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” (달의 연인 – 보보경심 려), 2016
- Director: Kim Kyu-tae
- Screenwriter: Cho Yoon-young
- Main Cast: Lee Joon-gi, Lee Ji-eun (IU), Kang Ha-neul
- Original Network: SBS
- Available on OTT: Rakuten Viki, Netflix, VIU
“Moon Lovers” has enchanted many K-drama lovers since its first release. Starring Lee Joon-gi and IU, this epic K-drama is set in the Goryeo dynasty. The story seamlessly blends perilous palace politics with heartbreaking romance.
Go Ha-jin, a 21st-century woman, wakes in the body of Lady Hae Soo. She finds herself caught in a love triangle between two princes and a tragic destiny. The solar eclipse that sends her back also sets her on a path of love and loss.
With a beautiful and heartbreaking saga, the series remains one of the most popular time travel series, even long after it ends.
2. “Tunnel” (터널), 2017
- Directors: Shin Yong-hwi (main), Nam Ki-hoon
- Screenwriter: Lee Eun-mi
- Main Cast: Choi Jin-hyuk, Yoon Hyun-min, Lee Yoo-young
- Original Network: OCN
- Available on OTT: Netflix, Rakuten Viki
Starring Choi Jin-hyuk, Korean drama “Tunnel” is more than just a gripping crime thriller. Its story weaves suspense and emotional struggle into a story that will keep you on your toes. Furthermore, the clever plot challenges viewers at every turn and ultimately highlights how justice transcends time.
The story follows a determined detective, Park Gwang-ho, from 1986, who suddenly leaps 30 years into the future through a tunnel. As he hunts a serial killer, he teams up with modern investigators to solve a case spanning decades and catch the killer who has started again.
3. “Live Up to Your Name” (명불허전), 2017
- Director: Hong Jong-chan
- Screenwriter: Kim Eun-hee
- Main Cast: Kim Nam-gil, Kim Ah-joong
- Original Network: tvN
- Available on OTT: Netflix
What happens when a Joseon-era acupuncturist meets a modern-day surgeon? Well, you get a hilarious and heartwarming story.
Starring Kim Nam-gil and Kim Ah-joong, this drama combines historical and medical stories. It beautifully balances comedy, heartfelt healing, and unexpected romance as the characters learn from each other while traveling between eras.
Heo Im, a skilled Joseon acupuncturist, wakes up in modern Seoul. He travels four hundred years into the future and clashes with a doctor who only trusts modern medicine. Clashing with a confident cardiothoracic surgeon, their teamwork merges traditional and modern medicine.
4. “Life on Mars” (라이프 온 마스), 2018
- Director: Lee Jung-hyo
- Screenwriter: Lee Dae-il
- Main Cast: Jung Kyung-ho, Park Sung-woong, Go Ah-sung (with Oh Dae-hwan and Noh Jong-hyun)
- Original Network: OCN
- Available on OTT: Rakuten Viki, VIU
Korean drama “Life on Mars” is a fantastic remake of the British show of the same title, featuring strong performances from Jung Kyung-ho and Go Ah-sung. This Korean remake takes a crime twist, full of mystery and 80s nostalgia. Detective Han Tae-joo wakes up in 1988 after a near-death experience in 2018.
Working in a small-town station, he must solve murders with outdated tools and quirky partners. So, he uses his modern profiling skills to solve crimes with an old-school police team.
5. “365: Repeat the Year” (365: 운명을 거스르는 1년), 2020
- Director: Kim Kyung-hee
- Screenwriters: Lee Seo-yun, Lee Soo-kyung
- Main Cast: Lee Joon-hyuk, Nam Ji-hyun, Kim Ji-soo, Yang Dong-geun
- Original Network: MBC
- Available on OTT: Rakuten Viki, Kocowa
The time-travel Korean drama “365: Repeat the Year” is a gripping story about fate and consequence that will keep you on edge with every episode. This MBC’s suspenseful hit gives ten people a second chance to reset their lives and build a better life.
They go back one year to fix their biggest regrets. For a little while, they make things right. However, one by one, they start dying in mysterious ways. This tragedy turns their second chance into a nightmare. Led by Joon-hyuk and Nam Ji-hyun, the survivors must unravel the conspiracy before their own time runs out for good.
6. “Mr. Queen” (철인왕후), 2020
- Director: Yoon Sung-sik
- Screenwriters: Park Gye-ok, Choi Ah-il
- Main Cast: Shin Hye-sun, Kim Jung-hyun, Bae Jong-ok, Kim Tae-woo, Seol In-ah, and Na In-woo
- Original Network: tvN
- Available on OTT: Netflix, Rakuten Viki
What happens when a modern chef’s soul lands in the body of a Joseon dynasty queen? You get “Mr. Queen,” a hilarious comedy where his masculine, modern, and free-spirited personality causes chaos in the strict royal court.
Starring Shin Hye-sun as Queen Cheorin, alongside Kim Jung-hyun as King Cheoljong, the series offers a laugh-out-loud comedy, heartfelt romance, and thrilling political drama.
The combination of palace intrigues and comedic identity swap makes this show one of the most refreshing time-slip dramas, and a must-watch of all time.
7. “Twinkling Watermelon” (반짝이는 워터멜론), 2023
- Directors: Son Jeong-hyeon and Yoo Beom-sang
- Screenwriter: Jin Soo-wan
- Main Cast: Ryeoun, Choi Hyun-wook, Seol In-ah, and Shin Eun-soo
- Original Network: tvN
- Available on OTT: VIU, Rakuten Viki
The youth drama “Twinkling Watermelon” features young actors such as Ryeoun, Choi Hyun-wook, Seol In-ah, and Shin Eun-soo. The series conveys a warm story, exploring family, friendship, dreams, and the power of music.
Ha Eun Gyeol, a high school student and talented guitarist, unexpectedly travels back in time to 1995. There, he meets his father’s teenage version. Hoping to build a better future, he befriended his young father. Then, he joins his father’s band. Through music, he also uncovers family secrets, forms lasting friendships, and finds a way to heal old wounds.
8. “Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938” (구미호뎐 1938), 2023
- Directors: Kang Shin-hyo and Jo Nam-hyung
- Screenwriter: Han Woo-ri
- Main Cast: Lee Dong-wook, Kim So-yeon, Kim Bum, Ryu Kyung-soo
- Original Network: tvN
- Available on OTT: Amazon Prime Video, TVING
In this action fantasy series, Lee Dong-wook returns as the charismatic fox spirit Lee Yeon. This series combines fantasy action with historical flair.
This sequel sends him back to Japanese-occupied Korea in 1938 alongside Kim Bum and Kim So-yeon. This time, he must survive the chaotic era to find his way back home.
This action-packed fantasy sequel is full of epic battles, old friends, and powerful new enemies. This captivating series also offers breathtaking visuals and mythological battles that you won’t want to miss.
9. “Marry My Husband” (내 남편과 결혼해줘), 2024
- Director: Park Won-gook
- Screenwriter: Shin Yoo-dam (adapted from Sung So-jak’s web novel)
- Main Cast: Park Min-young, Na In-woo, Lee Yi-kyung, Song Ha-yoon
- Original Network: tvN
- Available on OTT: Amazon Prime Video
“Marry My Husband” is based on a romance web novel by Sungsojak and illustrated by Aria. Imagine your husband and your best friend not only cheat on you, but actually murder you. That’s the insane premise of this revenge drama starring Park Min-young.
Her character Kang Ji-won dies at the hands of her cheating husband and best friend. She then suddenly wakes up 10 years earlier and gets the ultimate do-over. This time, she masterminds the perfect revenge: making sure the two people who destroyed her life end up marrying each other. She even finds a surprising ally in her handsome boss (played by Na In-woo).
The drama became a global sensation as a satisfying and empowering story about taking back your life. The series inspired a Japanese remake this year that also captivated the audience.
10. “Lovely Runner” (선재 업고 튀어), 2024
- Directors: Yoon Jong-ho and Kim Tae-yeop
- Screenwriter: Lee Si-eun
- Main Cast: Byeon Woo-seok, Kim Hye-yoon, Song Geon-hee, Lee Seung-hyub
- Original Network: tvN
- Available on OTT: Vidio, Rakuten Viki, VIU, Netflix
Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon won hearts with this touching romance. It’s a story of love, fate, and second chances.
A devoted fan, Im Sol, is devastated by the death of her favorite idol. She mysteriously travels back 15 years, when they were both in high school. Now, she has one mission: save him.
This sweet, nostalgic, and emotional romance drama, which focuses on fate and second chances, is one of 2024’s favorites.
11. “First Night with the Duke” (남주의 첫날밤을 가져버렸다), 2025
- Director: Lee Woong-hee
- Screenwriter: Jeon Sun-young (adapted from Hwang Do-tol’s novel)
- Main Cast: Seohyun, Ok Taecyeon, Kwon Han-sol, Seo Bum-june, Ji Hye-won
- Original Network: KBS2
- Available on OTT: Rakuten Viki, VIU, Wavve
Starring Seohyun and Taecyeon, this fantasy romance K-drama, “First Night with the Duke,” is an adaptation of a popular web novel, “I Stole the Duke’s First Night.”
It follows a modern woman who falls into the pages of her favorite story, where she finds herself spending an unforgettable night with the male lead. This unexpected event with a man she’d only ever dreamed about changes the entire plot, making her the new female lead.
The time-travel Korean drama series earned global buzz with its blend of historical fantasy, romance, mystery, and comedic twists.
12. “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” (폭군의 셰프), 2025
- Director: Jang Tae-yoo
- Screenwriter: fGRD
- Main Cast: Im Yoon-ah (Lim Yoona), Lee Chae-min, Kang Han-na, Choi Gwi-hwa
- Original Network: tvN
- Available on OTT: Netflix, Viki, VIU, TVING
Based on the web novel “The Tyrant’s Chef,” Korean drama “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” follows a modern chef who time-travels to the Joseon era. She must serve a fearsome king, using culinary skills to survive palace politics.
Yoona portrays a Michelin-star chef who time-slips into Joseon after opening a mysterious cookbook. She meets King Yi Heon (played by Lee Chae-min), known as a tyrant. With food, warmth, and love, she changes his fate and her own. This time-travel K-drama, which blends romance, history, and cuisine, is one of the best Korean dramas of 2025.
So, which of these best Korean dramas is your favorite? Grab your snacks, clear your schedule, and let time bend for you as you settle in for a binge-watch.
Do you have other recommendations to add to this list of the best time-travel Korean dramas? Please share with us in the comments below.
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I haven't watched Life on Mars