Recently, Korean Dramas have gained so much popularity worldwide. Whereas the K-dramas were only popular in Korea with a limited audience. But, now, the trend has changed as Historical Korean dramas (sageuks) are loved by a lot of viewers worldwide including teens and adults both.
Still, it is very hard for many people to choose the best historical K drama to watch online. So we have tried our best to find the all-time best historical K dramas available on Netflix or on other online platforms.
Best Historical Korean Dramas List
History is a major concern of every culture and society. The Korean drama industry has also been concerned about it and created many historical K dramas (sageuks). They are a must-watch for every Korean and history lover, while also worth watching for viewers outside Korea.
We have spent a big amount of time selecting the best among the best historical K dramas to watch online so that viewers can watch the top-notch dramas. You can watch these best K Dramas on Netflix and Amazon Prime as well. It depends on your location.
Check out our list of the 5 best romantic Korean dramas of all time.
1. Jumong
An epic based on the myth of Jumong, founder of the ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo in 37 B.C. Based on the true story of the life of Jumong, who was a legendary king of the Goguryeo dynasty. He was also the monarch who founded the Goguryeo dynasty. This Historical South Korean drama was released in 2006. It is the highest-rated and one of the most famous and best historical k dramas.
Story of Jumong
The story is based on ancient Korea in 37 BCE. At that time, Korea was divided into small states. The strong Han Dynasty from China wants to imperialise Korean areas. Then the story focuses on the struggle of the son of General Hae Mo-su, who is exiled from his homeland. His mother is Lady Yuhwa. The story highlights his struggle to become the founder of the Goguryeo Kingdom from an exiled prince.
General Hae Mo-su who is a leader of the Damul Army protects the Korean people from the oppression of the Han Dynasty. General Hae Mo-su is betrayed by his friend Geumwa. He is a crown prince from Buyeo. He was assumed dead and his lover Lady Yuhwa gave birth to his son Jumong in the prison of Geumwa.
Jumong is growing up in Buyeo Palace. He is a lazy and imprudent boy at first. He is always neglected in front of the sons of Geumwa. Also struggling with his identity and self-worth. Things change when he finds out his true blood value and his father’s character. Then he starts his journey to fulfill his father’s goals.
Cast and Their Roles in Jumong
- Jumong (played by Song Il-gook): Protagonist of the series. Founder of Goguryeo kingdom.
- Soseono (played by Han Hye-jin): A daughter of a merchant. Love and queen of Jumong. His helping companion.
- Lady Yuhwa (played by Oh Yeon-soo): Wise and strong mother of Jumong.
- Geumwa (played by Jeon Kwang-yeol): The person who betrays Jumong’s father but then keeps Jumong with him.
- Daeso (played by Kim Seung-soo): Jumong’s stepbrother, the antagonist of the story. Greedy for power.
- Hae Mo-su (played by Heo Joon-ho): The real father of Jumong, a freedom fighter and great warrior.
2. Empress Ki
This historical Korean drama is based on the life story “Of Empress Ki”. She was a brave woman named among the most powerful political females in East Asia’s history. The drama is a combo of history, politics, and romance. It shares deep insights into the life of one of the most powerful women in East Asian history.
The Story of “Empress Ki”
The story starts from the time when Korea was under the oppression of the Yuan Dynasty from China. A girl from Goryeo was sent in the Yuan Dynasty as a slave tribute. Then the story focuses on how she manages to escape from there by making a getup of a man. Her journey of becoming a warrior in a man getup while avoiding capture and torture is shown in a really amazing way in this series.
The story shows how she fell in love while working as a middleman between the Goryeo and Yuan courts. Then, how she becomes the empress due to her smart and wise moves.
Cast and their Role in “Empress Ki”
- Ki Seung-nyang / Empress Ki (played by Ha Ji-won): A skilled intelligent lady, expert in combat. The protagonist of the drama. Becomes the ruler’s wife.
- Wang Yoo (played by Joo Jin-mo): Noble ruler of Goryeo, loves his kingdom. The first love of Empress Ki.
- Togon Temür (played by Ji Chang-wook): A weak ruler of the Yuan Dynasty at the start, then becomes a mature and strong leader. Becomes the husband of Empress Ki.
- Tanashiri (played by Baek Jin-hee): The first lady of Togon Temur, the main villain of the story. Emotionless and greedy of power.
3. Six Flying Dragons
Based on the story of the rise of the Joseon Dynasty. This drama is considered among the best Korean dramas on historical incidents. It focuses on the struggle of six key characters. It was released in 2015-2016.
Story of Six Flying Dragons
The story starts at the end time of the Goryeo Dynasty. The kingdom is filled with corruption, conflict, and grouping. A man with reformative ideas leads a group of powerful people to create a just and strong dynasty.
The name of this best historical k drama is based on the six main characters. They all played a major role in the supremacy of the Joseon Dynasty. This one of the best k dramas of all time also shows the ideological conflict between idealist and realist people. It also portrays key emotions like loyalty, empathy, courage, and betrayal.
Cast and their role in “Six Flying Dragons”
This series has six major roles that are following:
- Yi Bang-won (played by Yoo Ah-in): Determined and intelligent, but ruthless also. Has a realistic approach.
- Jeong Do-jeon (Kim Myung-min): A cognitive person who focuses on knowledge and wisdom. Believes in liberty and freedom.
- Yi Seong-gye (Chun Ho-jin): Founder of Joseon Dynasty. Father of Yi Bang-won.
- Boon-yi (Shin Se-kyung): A brave and social lady. Helps people to get out of war areas. Shares a deep attachment with Won. Believes in human rights for everyone.
- Lee Bang-ji (Byun Yo-han): A warrior and brother of Boon-yi.
- Moo-hyul (Yoon Kyun-sang): A loyal friend and general of won.
4. Mr. Sunshine
This historical South Korean drama was released in 2018. It was a blockbuster in South Korea and internationally. The quality of cinematic visuals, performance, and production makes it a perfect choice for the best historical k dramas of all time. It has a story mixed with romance, action, and history.
Story of Mr. Sunshine
In 1870, the story shows a family of slaves. All of them are killed brutally while escaping from their fatal life. Only one son remains alive. He somehow succeeds in reaching America and becomes an officer in the Marine Corps.
Then he returned to Joseon as a diplomat from the USA. He does not feel any connection with his homeland due to his dark fate in the past. He feels very uncomfortable there.
The story becomes complex as he falls in love with a patriotic freedom fighter girl, who is a crush of two other important characters. They all are very diverse and focused on different ideals and personalities.
This series shows a lot of aspects like patriotism and personal identity, love and sacrifice, colonialism and resistance. This series is among the high-rated best Korean dramas available on Netflix.
Cast and Their Roles in Mr. Sunshine
- Eugene Choi (played by Lee Byung-hun): A Korean-born marine in the US. Faced the death of the family. Falls in love with a Korean lady.
- Go Ae-shin (played by Kim Tae-ri): Noblewomen working for the Righteous Army as a sniper. Freedom Fighter. Falls in love with Choi.
- Kim Hee-sung (played by Byun Yo-han): Faience of Ae-shin. Noble and idealistic man who supports the freedom fight.
- Goo Dong-mae (played by Yoo Yeon-seok): Left Joseon as a young man. Returned after becoming a samurai. Loyal to Japan. Obsessed with Ae-shin.
5. The Red Sleeve
Aired in 2021, it is a historical romance k drama that shares a story from the late Joseon Dynasty. It is based on the love story of a famous ruler and a court lady. The Red Sleeve states the burden of responsibility and personal desires and conflict between them. It has a deep emotional ending and has a position among the best Korean dramas based on historical romance.
Story of the Red Sleeve
The story is based on a time when the crown prince of Joseon is facing a hard time. His father died recently and he is facing many problems. He finds a lady in his court as her dream desire while she also feels attracted to him. However, due to a regulated court environment, they can’t get close to certain limits. She is also a free-spirited lady filled with courage, intelligence, and wisdom.
As the crown prince becomes the king, he tries to get close to her by asking her to be his concubine. But she refuses as she doesn’t want to sacrifice her freedom. She doesn’t like the overly restricted environment in the palace and wants to live her life freely.
The story is very deep and heart-touching. It will leave an impact for a long time on viewers.
Cast and Their Roles in The Red Sleeve
- Yi San / King Jeongjo (played by Lee Jun-ho): The protagonist of the story, a crown prince who becomes ruler after the death of his father.
- Sung Deok-im (played by Lee Se-young): A court lady with a sharp and free spirit. Love of the king.
Conclusion
Korean historical dramas provide a window into Korea’s rich past, blending factual history with engaging storytelling. Whether you’re interested in political intrigue, romance, or the rise and fall of dynasties, these five dramas—Jumong, Empress Ki, Six Flying Dragons, Mr. Sunshine, and The Red Sleeve—offer a captivating journey through Korea’s ancient and modern history, showcasing the best the genre has to offer.
Each of these dramas not only stands out for its historical significance but also for its emotional depth and unforgettable characters.
Whether you are a history enthusiast or a lover of intricate storytelling, these sageuks will transport you to another time, when love, power, and loyalty shape the destiny of a nation.
Muhammad Khuzaimah is a content writer doing a Master’s degree in sociology. By passion, he is a bibliophile who loves to read books and craft notes. His major project in Bachelor was to understand collective human behavior toward written content. He has a diverse but captivating approach to explaining anything in his own words. His grip on history, sociology, and general knowledge has made his writings insightful. Having a personal library, this guy has a good knowledge base about any topic.
