Are you tired of waiting for the next episode of your favorite Kdramas? No worries! Fill your waiting days by binge-watching these top 10 BEST Korean historical (sageuk) dramas you will NEVER forget.
Top 10 Best Korean Historical (Sageuk) Dramas WILL Forever Remain in Your Heart
Best Historical (Sageuk) KDramas
1. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
- Cast: Lee Joon Gi, IU, Kang Ha Neul, Baekhyun, Nam Joo Hyuk
- Screenwriter: Jo Yoon Young
- Director: Kim Kyu Tae
- Episode: 20
Adapted from a Chinese novel and series, “Bu Bu Jing Xin” by Tong Hua, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo has always come at the top 10 of best Korean historical sageuk dramas of all time! It tells a story of a modern-day woman who suddenly gets transported back to the Goryeo Dynasty living in the body of 16-year-old Hae Soo. Then, because she’s living with her brother-in-law, the 8th Prince Wang Wook, she then befriends the princes in the palace and becomes involved in the palace’s power struggles.
Still, she couldn’t just stay away from the conflicts. After all, she has fallen in love with the ostracized 4th Prince Wang So and dedicated herself to change his fate. Will she make it in the end? Prepare LOTS of tissue because you will be riding an extraordinary roller coaster of feelings and emotions, especially when Lee Joon Gi and IU are face to face with each other!
2. Mr. Queen
- Cast: Shin Hye Sun, Kim Jung Hyun, Seol In Ah, Bae Jong Ok, Kim Tae Woo
- Screenwriter: Park Kye Ok, Choi Ah Il
- Director: Yoon Sung Sik
- Episode: 20
Mixing well between comedy, romance, and political conflicts, Mr. Queen also talks about the time-traveling main character from the modern-day to Joseon era. However, this time, a male chef named Jang Bo Hwan suddenly transported back to the past in the body of Joseon’s royal Queen Cheorim, or Kim So Yong. Then, using the body of the young Queen, he tried to unveil what truly happened to Kim So Yong so he could soon return to the present.
Unexpectedly, Kim So Yong’s body started getting ahold of his mind. When it comes to King Cheoljong, the puppet King who harbors a massive secret, Kim So Yong’s feelings started dominating the body. So what’s going to happen to Jang Bo Hwan? Will Kim So Yong return to her body? And Will Cheoljong remain a puppet King forever? Find out the answers in the dramas, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself laughing hard throughout the episodes.
3. The Crowned Clown
- Cast: Yeo Jin Goo, Lee Se Young, Kim Sang Kyung, Jang Gwang, Yoon Jong Seok
- Screenwriter: Shin Ha Eun, Kim Sung Deok
- Director: Kim Hee Won
- Episode: 16
A King is supposed to be wise and ready to fight for his loyal subject. But, unfortunately, that’s not the case with Lee Hun. Due to unfair treatment from his father, Crown Prince Lee Hun rose to the throne as a paranoid tyrant who didn’t hesitate to do anything to get rid of his own fear. Therefore, once he found his doppelganger, a clown named Ha Sun, he forced the clown to play the King so Lee Hun could avoid assassination.
At the same time, Clown Ha Sun is a kind-hearted man who grew up with the clowns and his little sister. Once he enters the palace, he then falls in love with the King’s wife, Queen Yoo So Woon. The Crowned Clown is a sageuk drama that will give you LOTS of suspense, thrills, and sweet romance at the same time.
4. Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
- Cast: Shin Se Kyung, Cha Eun Woo, Lee Ji Hoon, Park Ki Woong
- Screenwriter: Kim Ho Soo
- Director: Kang Il Soo, Han Hyun Hee
- Episode: 20 (40 @35min)
In the ancient era of Joseon, historians were the ones who recorded everything about the King’s regency. From meetings to every activity, historians must swiftly and accurately write everything in the utmost objective point of view, regardless of anyone’s interests and concerns. That is why historians’ notebooks remain untouched even from the King himself.
Goo Hae Ryung is a cheerful girl with an open mind and extensive knowledge. She enters the palace as one of the firsts female historians who record activities in the Inner Palace. Fighting female discrimination, Goo Hae Ryung keeps trying to fulfill her duties as a historian and prove that everyone is equal. Then, in the midst of her fight, she meets the outcasted Prince Lee Rim, who harbors his own secret. However, please don’t get yourself startled because Cha Eun Woo is adorable and hilarious, especially in his scenes with Shin Se Kyung!
5. 100 Days My Prince
- Cast: Do Kyung Soo, Nam Ji Hyun, Kim Seon Ho, Han So Hee, Jo Sung Ha, Kim Jae Young
- Screenwriter: Noh Ji Sul
- Director: Lee Jong Jae, Nam Sung Woo
- Episode: 16
Crown Prince Lee Yool grew up as a sulky perfectionist young prince because he had to witness the family of his first love annihilated in front of her. Moreover, his family was one of the culprits, and that was why his father rose as a King and him as the crown prince.
Then one day, he passed a law that all Joseon citizens must get married before the age of 28 to avoid spending the night with the Crown Princess, whom he truly detests. However, the crown prince suddenly goes missing and wakes up as a peasant who loses his memory. Unable to remember who he is, he ends up marrying his first love, who had changed her identity. What do you think will happen when all the secrets are out?
100 Days My Prince is the drama where EXO Do Kyung Soo finally proves that his acting skill is beyond ordinary!
6. Hwarang
- Cast: Park Seo Joon, Go Ah Ra, Park Hyung Shik, Seo Yea Ji, SHINee Minho, BTS V
- Screenwriter: Park Eun Young
- Director: Yoon Sung Shik, Kim Young Jo
- Episode: 20
Set in the Kingdom of Silla, Hwarang is a group of trained young warriors who will cut across the existing power factions to protect the Queen’s son and the throne.
7. Moon Embracing the Sun
- Cast: Kim Soo Hyun, Han Ga In, Yeo Jin Goo, Kim Yoo Jung, Kim So Hyun, Jung Il Woo
- Screenwriter: Jin Soo Wan
- Director: Lee Sung Joon
- Episode: 20
Heo Yeon Woo came across Crown Prince Lee Hwon when they were teenagers. They fell in love with each other, and even more when Yeon Woo was finally selected as Lee Hwon’s Crown Princess. However, Queen Dowager ordered a shaman to cast a spell before the royal wedding, so Yeon Woo fell and died of an unknown illness. That way, Queen Dowager would be able to place a Crown Princess of her choice.
Eight years later, Yeon Woo, who has been resurrected and lost her memory, returns as a shaman with the name Wol. Seeing how much she looked like his former Crown Princess, King Lee Hwon started investigating Yeon Woo’s death. But apparently, it’s not that easy.
Moon Embracing the Sun is one of the all-time favorite historical dramas with intense emotions and extraordinary actors.
8. Arang and the Magistrate
- Cast: Lee Joon Gi, Shin Min Ah, Yeon Woo Jin, Kwon Oh Jung, Hwang Bo Ra
- Screenwriter: Jung Yoon Jung
- Director: Jeong Dae Yun, Kim Sang Ho
- Episode: 20
Having a hidden power of seeing and hearing spirits, a government official Eun Oh meets a virgin ghost named Arang, who was brutally murdered. Arang then asked him to help her to find the truth behind her unfair death. Then, both of them finally set out to find out who Arang was before she became a ghost.
Check your popcorn and make sure you have a refill available because veteran actors Lee Joon Gi and Shin Min Ah will give you unbreakable chemistry. There’s no way you would want to miss every second of it!
9. Dong Yi
- Cast: Han Hyo Joo, Jin Ji Hee, Lee So Yeon, Bae Soo Bin, Park Ha Sun, Jung Jin Young
- Screenwriter: Kim Yi Young
- Director: Kim Sang Hyub, Lee Byung Hoon
- Episode: 60
One of the most popular stories of the Joseon era was the reign of King Suk Jong. Dong Yi tells the story of King Suk Jong’s period from the point of view of Choi Suk Bin, who first entered the palace as a water maid. In addition to the romance conflict between King Suk Jong, Choi Suk Bin, and Jang Hee Bin, this drama also unveils outstanding political conflicts with unpredictable plots and twists that will forever remain in your memory.
So, bear with the extended episodes, and you will be amazed how much this drama will satisfy your thirst for romance and suspense at the same time. Better yet, with experienced actors like Han Hyo Joo, Jin Ji Hee, and Park Ha Sun, you will feel the emotional turmoil in each episode.
And pssst, you’ll also be able to watch adorable little Kim Yoo Jung and hilarious Lee Kwang Soo here!
10. Sungkyunkwan Scandal
- Cast: Park Yoo Chun, Park Min Young, Song Joong Ki, Yoo Ah In, Jeon Tae Soo, Seo Hyo Rim
- Screenwriter: Kim Tae Hee
- Director: Kim Won Suk, Hwang In Hyuk
- Episode: 20
Before the success of What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim and Vincenzo, Park Min Young and Song Joong Ki acted alongside Park Yoo Chun in the historical rom-com Sungkyunwan Scandal, one of the best in the top 10 Korean historical sageuk dramas.
Desperate to support her family, bright and intelligent Kim Yoon Hee decides to take the men’s national exam, disguised as a boy under her brother’s name. She then meets proud and arrogant Lee Seon Joon, who came from a privileged background, and they had to share a room in the academy after passing the exam. Together with Goo Yong Ha and Moon Jae Sin, they become the flower boys of the Sungkyunkwan University. However, what’s going to happen next? Also, will Kim Yoon Hee manage to hide her true identity?
Make sure you watch Sungkyunkwan Scandal, so you don’t miss the heat and chemistry between Park Yoo Chun and Park Min Young, as well as the charming Song Joong Ki.
Finally, sit back, relax, and enjoy your days waiting for the next episodes of your favorite Kdramas with these top 10 best Korean historical (sageuk) dramas of all time!
Feel free to tell us more about what you think of these top 10 Korean historical dramas (sageuk) after you finish watching them, will you? And stay tuned at Kpoppost for more Kdrama recommendations!
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why no empress ki?