5 Historical Romance K-Dramas to Watch if You’re Allergic to Fantasy
If fantasy is not your thing, these five historical romance K-dramas are definitely worth checking out, as they avoid unnecessary mystical elements.
Putting a love story in a historical setting is a great way to refresh a familiar setup and make it feel completely different from romantic k-dramas set in modern times.
However, such K-dramas often mix the historical setting with fantasy elements, which may not be to everyone's taste.
So if fantasy isn't your thing, here are five historical romance k-dramas that are completely devoid of mystical elements.
The Red Sleeve (2021-2022)
Based on the novel of the same name, this Joseon-era story follows the rise of Seong Deok-im, who went from being a simple court lady to a royal noble consort, conquering the heart of King Jeongjo and eventually giving birth to his son, Crown Prince Munhyo.
My Dearest (2023)
Set in the 17th century in the midst of the Qing invasion of Joseon, the show revolves around Lee Jang-hyun, a mysterious man who suddenly appears in noble circles, keeping up a cheerful facade while hiding his true feelings from everyone.
Everything changes when fate brings him together with Yoo Gil-chae, a woman from a noble family who melts the ice in his heart.
Mr. Sunshine (2018)
If you want to indulge in a story set in a later period of the Joseon era than other entries on our list, this K-drama set in the late 19th century, just before the Japanese occupation of Korea, is worth checking out.
As a child, Choi Yu-jin, a former Joseon slave, managed to escape to the United States after seeing his parents die at the hands of their slave owner.
Many years later, now an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and going by the name of Eugene Choi, he returns to his homeland on a diplomatic mission and meets Go Ae-shin, falling in love with her at first sight.
The Tale of Nokdu (2019)
Despite being from a poor family, Jeon Nok-du is targeted by assassins, but when he decides to spy on one of the assailants, the young man discovers that they come from a village inhabited only by women.
Determined to solve the mystery, Jeon Nok-du disguises himself as a woman in order to infiltrate the village and soon meets Dong Dong-joo, a woman obsessed with avenging her family.
The King's Affection (2021)
The story begins when the Crown Princess gives birth to twins, but because it was considered a bad omen at the time, the daughter, Dam-yi, was ordered to be killed, resulting in her being sent away from the palace to save her life.
Years later, she returns to work as a maid, but when her brother asks her to trade places for a day, a single tragic accident sets off a cascade of twisted events that change Dam-yi's life forever.