Korean movies have proven to have an excellent quality of entertainment in many themes. Here are the ten best Korean historical movies to watch if you are a historical genre fan. Moreover, these recommended Korean historical movies to watch are listed not based on rankings.
10 Best Recommended Korean Historical Movies to Watch
1. The Admiral: Roaring Currents
Director: Kim Han Min
Writer: Jun Chul Hong, Kim Han Min
Release date: 2014
Cast: Choi Min Sik, Kim Gil Dong, Ryu Seung Ryong, Jo Jin Woong, Park Bo Gum, Otani Ryohei.
As a final option, Admiral Yi Sun-Shin is ordered to defend his country by leading the kingdom’s last 12 ships and an army of doubtful troops against the Japanese emperor’s 330-strong fleets in the Battle of Myeongryang.
2. Masquerade (2012)
Director: Choo Chang-Min
Writer: Hwang Jo Yoon, Choo Chang Min, Masato Ide
Release date: September 13, 2012
Cast: Lee Byung Hun, Han Hyoo Joo, Ryu Seung Ryong, Park Ji Ah, Jang Gwang, Kim Myung Gon.
A look-alike commoner is secretly hired to replace the role of a poisoned king to prevent the kingdom from falling into disaster. The well-written plot makes Masquerade as one of the best Korean historical movies we should binge-watch.
3. War of the Arrows (2011)
Director: Kim Han Nim
Writer: Kim Han Nim
Release: August 10, 2011
Cast: Park Hae Il, Ryu Seung Ryong, Moon Chae Woon, Kim Mu Yeol, Park Noh Shik, Kang Eun Jin.
A skilled Korean archer, Nam Yi, goes up against the great force of Manchus (Qing Dynasty) to rescue his kidnapped sister in their kingdom.
4. The Face Reader (2013)
Director: Han Jae Rim
Writer: Kim Dong Hyuk, Han Jae Rim
Release: September 11, 2013
Cast: Song Kang Ho, Lee Jung Jae, Baek Yun Shik, Jo Jung Shuk, Lee Jong Suk, Kim Hye Soo.
One of the best Korean historical movies is directed by the well-known Han Jae Rim. Nae-Kyung has a unique ability to read other people’s personalities, mental states, and habits by looking at their faces. He gets involved in a power battle between Prince Sooyang and Kim Jong-seo because of his particular skill.
5. The Last Princess (2008)
Director: Hur Jin-Ho
Writer: Hur Jin-Ho, Kwon Bi Yong, Lee Han-eol
Release: May 10, 2008
Cast: Son Ye Jin, Park Hae Il, Kim So Hyun, Yoon Jae Moon, Ra Mi Ran, Jung San Hoon.
Princess Deok Hye, the last princess of Korea, is taken to Japan as a hostage. She struggles to keep the Korean people’s hope alive in the face of the problematic conditions of the time. Jang Han is a pro-independence Korean activist. He is on a mission to bring Princess Deok Hye back to Korea, and he loves her.
6. The Throne (2015)
Director: Lee Joon Ik
Writer: Jo Chul Hyun. Lee Song-won, Oh Sung Hyeon
Release: September 16, 2015
Cast: Song Kang Ho, Yoo Ah In, Moon Geun Young, Park Won Sang, Jin Ji Hee, Kim Hae Sook.
The film is set in 18th century Korea. In a major conflict with his son, Sa Do, King Young Jo takes extreme action by locking Sa Do in a wooden rice chest to kill him.
7. The Great Battle (2018)
Director: Kim Kwang Shik
Writer: Kim Kwang Shik, Kim Yoo Jin, Park Eun Kyo, Jung Eui Mok
Release: September 19, 2018
Cast: Jo In Sung, Kim Seol Hyun, Nam Joo Hyuk, Park Sung Woong, Go Han Min, Bae Yoo Ri.
The Great Battle is a film depicting the struggle of Yang Man-Chun and his Goguryeo army in an eighty-eight-day battle to defend the Ansi Fortress against 500,000 men of the Tang dynasty.
8. Memories of The Sword (2015)
Director: Park Heung Shik
Writer: Choi Ah Reum
Release: August 13, 2015
Cast: Lee Byung Hun, Jeon Do Yeon, Kim Go Eun, Bae Soo Bin, Lee Kyung Young, Kim Tae Woo
In medieval Korea, a young girl seeks vengeance for her mother’s betrayal and murder. As a result, she must battle one of the Goryo Dynasty’s most strong men and warriors.
9. The Royal Tailor (2014)
Director: Lee Won Suk
Writer: Yoo Young Ah
Release: December 24, 2014
Cast: Park Shin Hye, Go Soo, Han Seok Kyu, Yoo Yeon Seok, Ma Dong Seok, Lee Yoo Bi.
The movie tells about a rivalry between two tailors, Dol-Seok and Kong-jin. Dol Seok is the best master artisan in charge of royal attire. While, Kong-Jin, a genius-like designer blessed with skill and a great sense, leads the court into scandal and tragedy.
10. The Swordsman (2020)
Director: Choi Jae Hoon
Writer: Choi Jae Hoon
Release date: September 23, 2020
Cast: Jang Hyuk, Jung Man Shik, Joe Taslim, Kim Hyun Soo, Choi Jin Ho, Jang Hyun Sung.
Released in 2020, this one of the best Korean historical movies follows three different swordsmen who meet each other for their own reasons. They are a swordsman going blind, the best swordsman in Joseon Dynasty, and the best swordsman in the Qing Dynasty. Three of them are aspired to be the best in the Joseon Dynasty.
So, from the ten recommended Korean historical movies above, how many of them have you watch?
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