Ever since the mid-2000s, K-dramas have exploded in popularity globally, with some earning great praise, such as Boys Over Flowers, Goblin, Crash Landing on You, and Full House. K-dramas are known for their romantic and sometimes cheesy love stories, which are an important factor within a Korean drama.
While romantic comedies are often seen in K-dramas, many others fall into the historical drama category, with some of the most popular being Scarlet Heart Ryeo: Moon Lovers, Queen and I, and The Moon Embracing the Sun. After all, nothing describes a K-drama more than a romantic comedy that takes place in a historical context. Not to mention all the cheesy and corny tropes that made viewers fall in love with K-dramas in the first place.
25
‘The Scandal of Chunhwa’ (2025)
The Scandal of Chunhwa is a pretty recent show, but it gained lots of attention for its great premise that tips the scales for historical romances. Princess Hwa-ri (Go A-ra) is determined to pick her own husband, and not allow the palace politics to overtake her life. Since royals are often married to political allies and not actual romantic interests, the princess causes chaos with her decisions at court. Meanwhile, she also organizes a secret contest behind the scenes, with the intention of finding her husband from it, adding rebellion and amusement to her story (and life, really).
If you like a rebellious female protagonist in historical dramas, The Scandal of Chunhwa is the perfect pick. It introduces playfulness into the genre, lots of witty banter, some well-needed palace intrigue, and an empowered heroine who listens to her heart. This fun and cheeky female-led historical K-drama adds a lighter tone to usually hefty portrayals of court life. Be warned, though, it’s also quite steamy, so maybe it’s not for everyone, but it’s still an interesting show. —Anja Djuricic
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‘Royal Secret Agent’ (2020–2021)
Royal Secret Agent isn’t a typical romance, but it is historical. It’s more of a comedy mystery, hence the name Royal Secret Agent, but it features a nice romantic subplot along the way. This is another Joseon drama that follows Sung Yi-gyum (Kim Myung-soo), an administrative worker at the Royal Court who gets caught gambling and is “punished” with the role of the secret royal inspector. Yi-gyum does his job alongside his clever partner, female inspector Hong Da-in (Kwon Nara), and his loyal and determined assistant, Park Chun-sam (Lee Yi-kyung).
Royal Secret Agent is kind of a buddy comedy that has a lighthearted romance woven into its adventure/mystery format. It’s a lot more about teamwork and chemistry between the protagonists, but for anyone who likes their historical K-romances with some humor, crime-solving, and mystery, that’s a very specific taste that Royal Secret Agent can easily match. It’s also a very easy K-drama to binge-watch, and it’ll win you over with its unique charm right away. Pay close attention to Lee Yi-kyung, an incredibly talented actor who shines in all his comedic roles. —Anja Djuricic
23
‘The Matchmakers’ (2023)
Young widower Shim Jung-woo (Rowoon) was once married to a young princess who had died unexpectedly. Most notably, before he married, he was the youngest man to place in and pass the state civil service examination. Though he is not allowed to remarry, he then meets and falls for Jung Soon-deok (Cho Yi-hyun), a young woman who is also a widow. However, Soon-deok carries a secret: She is the matchmaker Yeoju-daek. Together, she and Jung-woo work as matchmakers.
The Matchmakers has a unique premise with an intriguing plot. Two widows who cannot remarry for political reasons, yet it seems as though fate has other plans for them. Filled to the brim with suspense, The Matchmakers is a beautifully crafted tale of love between two unlikely people who help others find love. Though the story seems straightforward based on the premise, a lot is left to be uncovered, and viewers will find themselves pleasantly surprised.
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‘Youth of May’ (2021)
Taking place during the Gwangju Uprising in 1980, medical student Hee-tae (Lee Do-hyun) has decided to postpone his graduation. When a factory worker is injured while protesting, Hee-tae helps transport this worker to his hometown. In exchange for assistance from his father, Hee-tae goes to meet a potential marriage partner, Myung-hee (Go Min-si). Myung-hee is a headstrong nurse, and the two begin to fall for one another.
A more recent historical K-drama, Youth of May takes place during the Gwangju Uprising, a time when South Koreans protested against the South Korean government. Though the Gwangju Uprising is rich with Korean history, the drama doesn’t necessarily focus on it. Rather, this Korean drama focuses on how the Gwangju Uprising affected citizens, and it explores a love that blossoms in such an immensely dark time. Beautiful and powerful, this K-drama will undoubtedly bring viewers to tears.
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‘Secret Royal Inspector & Joy’ (2021)
Ra Ian’s (Taec-yeon) life is anything but difficult. That’s just how he likes it: easygoing. Wanting to one day open a dumpling restaurant, Ra Ian lives a moderately easy life. At least, until he becomes a secret royal inspector, where runs into Kim Joy (Kim Hye-yoon), a curious young woman and idealist who wants to divorce her husband, who is a gambler.
Secret Royal Inspector and Joy is a sweet Korean drama full of lighthearted moments shared between the two leads. While the chemistry between the two leads is worth swooning over, a lot of props go to the rest of the cast for creating such a fun Korean drama that viewers will want to keep coming back to. Full of romance and troublemaking, Secret Royal Inspector and Joy is a one-of-a-kind drama.
20
‘Bloody Heart’ (2022)
Bloody Heart is set during the Joseon Dynasty and follows Lee Tae (Lee Joon), who becomes the king after King Seongjeong. Lee Tae is trapped in a political marriage and has to abandon the woman he really loves, Yoo Jeong (Kang Han-na). Torn between duty and love, Lee Tae is shown facing off against ruthless court politics and figuring out how to be a worthy monarch. Lee and Yoo have great chemistry, and the romance between their characters often slips away from the viewers, turning into a slow burn.
Bloody Heart feels Shakespearean in tone, with lots of betrayal, passion, and moral ambiguity. The show takes real historical personalities but weaves a fictional story around them, which is common with historical K-dramas. Romantic shows tend to do this most often, and Bloody Heart, though political in some respects, really focuses on the romantic side of things. It shows a tragic, forbidden romance, and it’s the kind of drama in which love is constantly at odds with power, betrayal, and survival. —Anja Djuricic
19
‘Gyeongseong Creature’ (2023)
During the Japanese occupation of Gyeongseong—which later became known as Seoul—in 1945, pawnshop owner Jang Tae-sang (Park Seo-joon) meets Yoon Chae-ok (Han So-hee), a woman tracking her mother. The two of them then encounter a terrifying creature born from experimentation in Ongseong Hospital.
Another historical Korean drama that takes place in more modern times, Gyeongseong Creature is more terrifying than anything else. With impressive CGI, this Korean drama is the perfect blend of horror, comedy, and romance that explores an era of Korea under Japanese colonialism. Though the romance is a small part of the drama, it is still an excellent watch that viewers will find themselves binge-watching.
18
‘Joseon Attorney’ (2023)
Joseon attorney Kang Han-soo (Woo Do-hwan) seeks revenge on those who murdered his parents. All the while, Han-soo delivers justice to people who need it the most. While working as an attorney in the Joseon era, he finds himself involved with Princess Lee Yeon-Joo (Bona).
Revenge dramas just scratch an itch; as a genre, it is often overlooked in place of comedies and romances when it comes to historical dramas. However, Joseon Attorney does well at making revenge the forefront of the story and its central theme. The story contains a beautifully orchestrated romance, but this isn’t the central theme of the story, and viewers will find themselves rooting for Do-hwan as Han-soo every step of the way.
17
‘Love Song for Illusion’ (2024)
Crown Prince Sajo Hyun (Park Ji-hoon) has two personalities. The first personality Sajo Hyun works as a boutique as a fashion designer. His other personality is Ak-hee, who is instinctively charming; however, one drawback is that he is cursed to feel pain when touching another. Meanwhile, Yeon Wol (Hong Ye-ji) suffers the loss of her family after they are executed due to treason. In the future, she attempts to kill the king; however, instead of that, the next morning, she wakes up with no memory of her past as Prince Sajo Hyun’s concubine.
Based on a webtoon of the same name, Love Song for Illusion is a thrilling K-drama that will hook viewers from the first episode. Both intriguing and romantic, Love Song for Illusion tells a fantastic tale of love between people who have dark pasts. Though this drama may touch on heavy and dark topics, it is still a great watch for those who enjoy romance. Love Song for Illusion is a ride from start to finish, and most viewers will find themselves satisfied with the finale.
16
‘The Tale of Lady Ok’ (2024)
Set in the Joseon Era, The Tale of Lady Ok follows a woman (Im Ji-yeon) living under the pseudonym Ok Tae-young; this is a false noble identity, as she is secretly the daughter of a slave. When Lady Ok crosses paths with Cheon Seung-hwi (Choo Young-woo), a veiled storyteller, they become entangled in a web of palace intrigue and dangerous mysteries. Their bond inevitably progresses into a romance, with layers of risk and danger. It’s interesting to see their dynamic as both hide their true identities, but can’t hide who they really are as humans.
The connection and the romance between the leads are electric because there are layers of hidden truths and intrigue all over. It’s like watching a spy story set in Joseon, with beautiful costumes and visuals; it has all the qualities of a great romance. The Tale of Lady Ok is a mix of thriller, mystery, and romance, and Ok Tae-young is a resilient heroine. If you like your romance followed by danger and stories in which love feels like rebellion against social constructs, The Tale of Lady Ok will make you very happy. —Anja Djuricic
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