Historical dramas in historical order
-
1. Jumong
Korean Drama - 2006, 81 episodes
Centers around the life of King Dongmyeong of Goguryeo 37-19 BCE (born Jumong) who was the founder of the Goguryeo Kingdom.
-
2. The Kingdom of the Winds
Korean Drama - 2008, 36 episodes
Loosely based on the life of King Daemusin of Goguryeo Kingdom (born Moo-hyul), the third king 18-44 and the grandson of the founder and first King Jumong.
-
3. The Legend
Korean Drama - 2007, 24 episodes
Loosely based on the legend of Gwanggaeto the Great, the 19th king of Goguryeo Kingdom 391-413.
-
4. The King's Daughter, Soo Baek Hyang
Korean Drama - 2013, 108 episodes
Based on the true story of Soo Baek-hyang; a hidden daughter of King Muryeong of Baekje Kingdom 501-23.
-
5. Hwarang
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
Based on the story of the founding of Hwarang or Flowering Knights during the reign of 24th monarch King Jinheung of Silla Kingdom (born Kim sammaekjong 526) who ruled between 540-576.
-
6. River Where the Moon Rises
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
The story about Princess Pyeonggang and On Dal (known as On Dal the Fool) who would later become a general of Gogoryeo. Princess Pyenggang's father was Pyeongwon of Goguryeo (who ruled Gogoryeo 559–590). They would later marry.
-
7. Queen Seon Duk
Korean Drama - 2009, 62 episodes
Centers around the life of Queen Seonduk who ruled Silla Kingdom 632-647.
-
8. Dae Jo Yeong
Korean Drama - 2006, 134 episodes
Centers around the life of Dae Joyeong who founded the Kingdom of Balhae and became the King Go 698-712.
-
9. Emperor of the Sea
Korean Drama - 2004, 51 episodes
Based on a true story about Jang Bo-go (born Gungbok); a slave from Later Silla who was sold to the Tang Dynasty but made it back and became a succesful sea merchant. He lived between 787-846.
-
10. God of War
Korean Drama - 2012, 56 episodes
Centers around the life of Jim Jun also known as Kim In-jun or Musang who served as the military leader of Goryeo 1258-68.
-
11. Empress Ki
Korean Drama - 2013, 51 episodes
Centers around the life of Empress Ki (Yuan dynasty) who lived between 1315-1369/70. She came from Goryeo.
-
12. Six Flying Dragons
Korean Drama - 2015, 50 episodes
Centers around Joseon's third king Taejong 1400-18 (born Yi Bang-won) who helped his father bring down the Goryeo Dynasty. The son of king Taejo and the father of King Sejong the Great.
-
13. My Country: The New Age
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
The fall of Goryeo Dynasty starring the first Joseon king Taejo 1392-98 (Yi Seong-gye) and the third king Taejong 1400-18 (his fifth son Yi Bang-won), earlier named Prince Jeongan.
-
14. Tree With Deep Roots
Korean Drama - 2011, 24 episodes
Centers around the life of the forth Joseon King Sejong the Great (born Yi Do) 1418-50. The son of king Taejong.
-
15. The Princess' Man
Korean Drama - 2011, 24 episodes
A story of forbidden love between the future king of Joseon (here called Grand Prince Suyang) Sejo 1455-68 (born Yi Yu)'s daughter and his political opponent Kim Jong-seo's son.
-
16. Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People
Korean Drama - 2017, 30 episodes
Centers around the famous thief Hong Gil Dong who lived between 1440-1510. Also stars the Joseon King Yeonsangun 1494-1506 (born Yi Yung) who's often considered the worst tyrant of Joseon Dynasty and perhaps all of Korean history.
-
17. Queen for Seven Days
Korean Drama - 2017, 20 episodes
Centers around the tragic love story in the year 1506 of King Jungjong (born Yi Yeok) and his first queen Dankyung who was deposed after only a week after being crowned. Also stars the former king Yeonsangun 1494-1506 (born Yi Yung).
-
18. Jewel in the Palace
Korean Drama - 2003, 54 episodes
Based on a true story about Jang-geum, the first female physician of a korean king. That king was Jungjong 1506-44 (born Yi Yeok).
-
19. Hwang Jin Yi
Korean Drama - 2006, 24 episodes
Based on the life of Hwang Jin-Yi (gisaeng name Myeongwol), one of the most famous ginsaeng of the Joseon Dynasty. She lived 1506-1560 and was also a dancer, musician and poet.
-
20. Immortal Admiral Yi Sun Shin
Korean Drama - 2004, 104 episodes
Centers around the life of the Joseon Admiral Yi Sun-Sin who lived between 1545-98. He is famous for his victories against the Japanese Navy during the Imjin war 1592-98. Also starring in this is King Seonjo 1567-1608 (born Yi Yeon).
-
21. Hur Jun
Korean Drama - 1999, 64 episodes
Based on the true story about Hur Jun or Heo Jun - a legendary court physician who lived between 1546-1615 and wrote the book "Mirror of Eastern Medicine". He served the Joseon King Seonjo 1567-1608.
-
22. The King's Face
Korean Drama - 2014, 23 episodes
The life of prince Gwanghee or Gwanghea-gun, the 15th king of Joseon 1608-23 (born Yi Hon). His father was King Seonjo 1567-1608 (born Yi Yeon) who also stars in this drama.
-
23. The Tale of Nokdu
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
Takes place 20 years after the Imjin War (1592-98) and stars the weak and plotted against Joseon King Gwanghae-gun 1608-23 (born Yi Hon) and his nephew and the next King Injo 1623-49 (born Yi Jong) - here known as Prince Neungyang.
-
24. Lovers
Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
-
25. My Dearest Part 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
-
26. Tale of the Secret Royal Inspector and Jo Yi
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Takes place in 1646, I year after the death of Crown Prince Sohyeon (born Yi Wang) - the first son of King Injo 1623-49 - who was taken hostages by the Qing Dynasty after the 1636 war and died shortly after his return to Joseon.
-
27. Jang Ok Jung
Korean Drama - 2013, 24 episodes
The story of Jang Ok Jung before she became the famous concubine Jang Hee Bin of King Sukjong of Joseon 1674-1720 (born Yi Sun), the villain responsible for the deposition of his wife Queen In Hyun.
-
28. Dong Yi
Korean Drama - 2010, 60 episodes
Based on the life of Dong Yi or Choi Suk Bin, a woman who rose from palace water maid to the King Sukjong of Joseon 1674-1720 (born Yi Sun)'s concubine.
-
29. Secret Door
Korean Drama - 2014, 24 episodes
Centers around the King Yeongjo of Joseon 1724-1776 (born Yi Geum) and his son Crown Prince Sado whom he ultimately had executed.
-
30. Warrior Baek Dong Soo
Korean Drama - 2011, 29 episodes
Centers around the legendary swordsman Baek Dong-soo. He served under Joseon King Jeongjo 1776-1800 (born Yi San) and protected him from assassination attempts. Jeongjo's father Crown Prince Sado (born Prince Jangheon) was executed by the previous King Yeongjo 1724-76 (born Yi Geum) - who also was the father of Sado and grandfather of Yeongjo.
-
31. Yi San
Korean Drama - 2007, 77 episodes
Centers around the life of 22nd Joseon King Jeongjo 1776-1800 (born Yi San). He was the grandson of King Yeongjo 1724-76 and the son of Crown Prince Sado - who was executed by King Yeongjo.
-
32. Queen Cheorin
Korean Drama - 2020, 20 episodes
Centers around King Cheoljong of Joseon (or Yi Byeon/Yi Won-beom) who "ruled" Joseon 1849–64 and his Queen Cheorin from the Andong Kim clan. The Andong Kim clan were the true power at the time and held complete control over the weak king. Cheoljung was born in 1831 (as the 3rd son of Yi Gwang or Jeongye Daewongun) and in 1841 he was exiled to Ganghwa because he was found guilty by association of a rebellion where his oldest brother was to take the throne (his brother was executed). Because he was an illiterate, he was an excellent choice for the Andong Kim clan who wanted a king they could easily manipulate. Cheoljong was the second to last king of Joseon.
-
33. Jejoongwon
Korean Drama - 2010, 36 episodes
Tells the story of the founding of Jejungwon 1885 - the first modern Western hospital in the Joseon Dynasty.
-
34. The Nokdu Flower
Korean Drama - 2019, 48 episodes
Set during the Donghak Peasant Revolution which took place from 1894-1895.
-
35. Mr. Sunshine
Korean Drama - 2018, 24 episodes
The series is set in Hanseong (the former name of Seoul) in the early 1900s, and focuses on activists fighting for Korea's independence from the Japanese Occupation.
-
36. Different Dreams
Korean Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
Centers around the historical figure Kim Won Bong who 1919 during the japanese occupation organized a Korean nationalist underground organization known as the Korean Heroic Corps to fight for his country's independence.
-
37. Eyes Of Dawn
Korean Drama - 1991, 36 episodes
The story spans the years from the Japanese colonial period (1910-45) to World War II (1939-45), Korea's liberation (August 15 1948) and the Korean War (1950-53).
-
38. Sandglass
Korean Drama - 1995, 24 episodes
It takes place during the 70s and 80s in Korea. It’s famous for its reenactment of the Gwangju Uprising and massacre of demonstrating students May 18-27 1980.
-
39. Youth of May
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
It takes place during the Gwangju Democratization Struggle in May 1980.