Historical (Disclaimer: Accuracy to actual events may vary)

I'm going to try to name when these are from... sorry if I'm wrong... bad at names, bad at times, and bad at puzzling stuff together until it slams me in the face with it... history happens to be my worst subject. >.> That doesn't stop me from loving historical things, no matter how, in this case, dramatized and changed they are. I just love seeing how things from the past worked, and people lived, and stuff. I don't know, it's just always feels really special to me. 

Anyway, this list will include more than just show that have hanbok, though from what I can tell that is what usually makes something historical? But I really wanted to add shows that were inspired or used real events that happened in the past as well.... and this is my list so... >.> <.< >.> yeah... that's what we're doing. If I got time periods wrong or something though, feel free to correct me (politely of course lol)

As I am bored... these reasons are gonna be short and somewhat sarcastic... though true. Enjoy! ^.^
(They are gonna kinda sell a lot of these short though... so warning on that... >.>) No spoilers either... if you think there may be, most likely its something we knew would happen, or actually happens really quickly.

VIXX - "Shangri-la"

Trinah101 Aug 19, 2018
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  • Arang and the Magistrate

    1. Arang and the Magistrate

    Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes

    8.0

    Placed in Joseon, this show features a man who can fully interact with ghosts, and a ghost with amnesia who just wants to know what happened to her and find her killer.

  • Chicago Typewriter

    2. Chicago Typewriter

    Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    9.5

    Placed in both current day and the past, Chicago Typewriter tells a story of our main characters' past lives in the 1930s during the Japanese occupation of Korea.  (Featuring: another ghost with some amnesia (sorry, just find this amusing after writing Arang and the magistrate's description))

  • Drama Special Season 4: The Devil Rider

    3. Drama Special Season 4: The Devil Rider

    Korean Special - 2013, 1 episode

    8.0

    Set during and around the Manchu war, this show follows a man who, after his last mission, was forgotten as he tries to tries to find a way to set his life back to normal.

  • Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency

    4. Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency

    Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

    7.0

    Set in Joseon, follow a crew of men dedicated to helping couples find their other half... and their once poor king (in hiding since birth) be able to marry his love of his life (make her a noble) that he had to leave on their wedding day... That is unless our Flower Crew leader doesn't fall in love with her instead. :P

  • Goblin

    5. Goblin

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

    10

    While our hero's stories start in Goryeo, events happen that makes it only be able to continue in present day, though of course that doesn't stop flashbacks from happening from Goryeo, Joseon, and sometime in the 1900's. (Featuring: Reincarnation, Geez, first forgetful ghosts, then reincarnation, is the next drama gonna have supernatural beings?)

  • Gu Family Book

    6. Gu Family Book

    Korean Drama - 2013, 24 episodes

    9.5

    Featuring Gumiho's... wait... supernatural being... the first four drama's on this list link up waaaaayyyy too nicely (though I believe this is the end of it...)

    Ehem...

    Sorry.

    Featuring long living, and long loving gumiho's, Gu Family Book places the viewers in the Joseon Dynasty as we follow a half-gumiho boy find out his secret and struggle to be just human, and the girl who he, and many others actually even though she doesn't hide it much, mistakes for a boy (somehow... though I guess she dresses like a boy and carries a sword?).

  • Gunman in Joseon

    7. Gunman in Joseon

    Korean Drama - 2014, 22 episodes

    7.5

    Set in the Time of Enlightenment in Joseon, we follow a man who is set on revenge for the death, and false charges given to his father, and watch him struggle with still being a decent dude and the woman behind him supporting him with his revenge while also pulling him back from hurting himself too much whilst he tries for said revenge. Be ready for fights happening almost every episode, and woman who don't just hysterically yell at everything.

  • Iljimae

    8. Iljimae

    Korean Drama - 2008, 20 episodes

    7.5

    Happening in the Joseon Dynasty, follow our main lead as he grows from a rascal/and super bullied (seriously please writers stop) boy as he grows and matures into the BA man we saw in episode one... Honestly I haven't finished this one yet... so I'm not sure how it goes... but pretty sure this is it... (the first few episodes are slow and pretty sad for our main character as he feels almost like a punching bag for our writer... I haven't reached the second part yet >.>)

    Having finished this now, I must say, once you pass around 6 or 7 episodes, it is really a very enjoyable ride. 'Course that's when he actually started to become the Iljimae we saw in the very beginning, and that's why I picked it up. Even with the very slow start though, I recommend it... and in fact the rating would be longer if i didn't have to put it on hold for a while (though the video quality affected the subs I was watching and that gave me headaches every episode so that may also be a reason I couldn't continue well... >.>

  • Drama Special Season 8: Kang Deok Sun’s Love History

    9. Drama Special Season 8: Kang Deok Sun’s Love History

    Korean Special - 2017, 1 episode

    8.5

    Set during an independence movement in Korea, Kang Duk Soon is swept up in the movement itself as she attempt to find her love of her life.

  • The King and the Clown

    10. The King and the Clown

    Korean Movie - 2005

    9.5

    Set in Joseon (the movie's description says the height of 16th Century), viewers follow a heroic and macho man, and an especially beautiful man and their close relationship even amongst the difficulties and bumps they may come across.

  • King Is Not Easy

    11. King Is Not Easy

    Chinese Drama - 2017, 20 episodes

    5.0

    King is not easy takes place... some time in the past...
    Here we follow a girl who's good at cooking, and is extremely picky and only likes really good-looking men, and a boy who is the prince and pushes most everyone away. However the two's spirits have switched place, and we follow them as they try to live in the other's shoes.

  • Legend of Awakening

    12. Legend of Awakening

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 48 episodes

    6.5

    And this is where loosely based history comes into play. I'm pretty sure this is basically it's own world, but the clothing looks like its loosely based on Chinese history? (Sorry don't know much about this!)

  • Live Up to Your Name

    13. Live Up to Your Name

    Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    9.0

    Heo Im is from Joseon, and though he may time-travel a lot, we see Joseon enough that it warrants a place on this list. Follow a famous Doctor from Joseon as he is made to grow from a set of acupuncture needles he finds himself in possession of. Watch as he literally has to learn to live up to his name.

  • Love in the Moonlight

    14. Love in the Moonlight

    Korean Drama - 2016, 18 episodes

    8.5

    Set in Joseon Love in the Moonlight features a cross-dressing girl who suddenly finds herself becoming a eunuch, and the crown prince with the most adorable and brightest smile it will blind you.

    Bonus: This teaser video. >.<

  • Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

    15. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

    Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes

    9.5

    Scarlet Heart features a girl from present day who has suddenly been placed in the body of a girl, Hae Soo, from Goryeo, and thus the rest of the show is from then. This show also is has princes to spare, any kind you could need, though I will only describe a few: one, who seems to fall for this new version of Hae Soo though he's married... to her cousin..., one who's tough around the edges but really just wants to be accepted, one who is pure and childish but extremely caring with good intentions always at heart, and one who is interested in the arts and music. Each listed falling in love with Hae Soo and even more vying for the throne.

  • Mr. Sunshine

    16. Mr. Sunshine

    Korean Drama - 2018, 24 episodes

    10

    The events of Mr. Sunshine start rolling during the  1871 Shinmiyangyo or the US expedition to Korea and then fast forwards 23 years later to 1894. This show features beautiful fully carved out characters, amazing cinematography that is a gift to they eyes, and... wait this is supposed to be kinda sarcastic...

    Watch Mr Sunshine as we follow a man who was a slave boy and escaped Joseon to the US, come back years later to help destroy Joseon as many countries try to get a piece, but finds himself wanting Joseon to last just a little longer after meeting people and falling in love, a lady who's noble birth did nothing to stop her from learning to use a gun effectively and while cares about each life around her, is still caught in her noble station, a man who isn't afraid to cut up those who annoy him, yet who's past has him treating those in need well, a woman who is taunted by her father of her past mistreatment, but who's very same past made her stronger, and who will stand up for herself in a traditionally patriarchal world, and a man who is a playboy from a rich family, yet is displeased with his family's ways and a incredibly supportive (if not somewhat foolhardy at times) fiance. These main players form a love pentagon of sorts, while also breaking up into groups of frienemies, creating rather intriguing relationships.

    Still sounds good... eh, what can I do  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

  • My Country: The New Age

    17. My Country: The New Age

    Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

    9.0

    Set at the end of Goryeo and beginning of Joseon, My country follows two best-est buds, due to their circumstances and beliefs, be at each other's throats constantly. Literally this friendship, no matter how painful it may be, makes this drama an amazing watch, not to mention nice fights. 

  • My Only Love Song

    18. My Only Love Song

    Korean Drama - 2017, 20 episodes

    9.0

    Be transported back to Goguryeo as we follow a woman who is loud and a "top star" and is herself transported from present day in an old costumes car, to meet a man who is a goof will do anything for money, but is also sweet. In this short drama of 20 thirty min. episodes, do not take anything seriously... seriously, this is just a fun excursion and the show itself doesn't take itself super serious.

  • Once Upon A Time

    19. Once Upon A Time

    Korean Movie - 2008

    7.5

    Set in Seoul in the 1940's, follow a man who has many disguises steals and sells artifacts to make money and falls in love with a woman who just so happens to double as a notorious thief. Watch this ridiculously light-hearted yet also somewhat serious, though mostly just fun movie as the two try to take back, for their own reasons, the Light of the East, a giant diamond that symbolizes Shilla’s 1000 year reign, from the Japanese that are trying to send it home.

  • Mr. Queen

    20. Mr. Queen

    Korean Drama - 2020, 20 episodes

    9.0

    Jang Bong Hwan finds himself, due to wild circumstances, in the body of soon to be queen of Joseon, Kim So Yong. Needing to adjust to the time(even if his words never will much to the confusion of those in Joseon), to a woman's body, as well as to the political intrigue in the palace, Bong Hwan has a lot ahead of him in order to survive. 

  • Rooftop Prince

    21. Rooftop Prince

    Korean Drama - 2012, 20 episodes

    7.5

    Once again we've got time-travel. Now the majority of this drama takes place in present day, however we are given glimpses and flashbacks to the crown prince's world in Joseon. Follow as he and his 3 trusty attendants form the Joseon Power Rangers crash a fearless lady's rooftop apartment and solve murders from both times.

  • The Royal Tailor

    22. The Royal Tailor

    Korean Movie - 2014

    8.5

    Set in the Joseon Period, we follow two tailors and their growing rivalry and friendship as they make clothing in their own ways for the king.  

  • Saimdang, Light’s Diary

    23. Saimdang, Light’s Diary

    Korean Drama - 2017, 28 episodes

    9.5

    Inspired by Saimdang, an actual famous painter known for being a good mother, Saimdang Light's Diary takes place in Joseon, as well as having a secondary plot in present day. Follow as a rambunctious teen grows up into a beautifully strong and patient woman who has nothing but the best wishes for her family in her heart, and the boy who completely accepted and fell in love with her when she was a young, grow into a man who has her back and supports her (mostly) silently though any rough patch she finds herself in. Watch as the two remain close, no matter what happens.

  • Signal

    24. Signal

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

    10

    While not taking part in the distant past, Signal does take real cold cases and uses time-traveling electric waves through a walkie-talkie in order to try to solve them. 

  • Sungkyunkwan Scandal

    25. Sungkyunkwan Scandal

    Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes

    9.0

    Set in Joseon, this show features a cross-dressing girl as she tries 1) to learn as much as she can, 2) support and protect her family, and 3) fight for her place as a scholar, and a boy who is set in his ways and ideals fall in love with the girl who he thinks is a boy, struggle with his morals, and ultimately learn to accept and support her. 

  • Swing Kids

    26. Swing Kids

    Korean Movie - 2018

    8.0

    Swing Kids takes place during the Korean War, in a prison where Chinese and Korean Prisoners of War are sent. The prison in split between pro-communist and anti-communist prisoners. Sergeant Jackson is ordered by his superior officer to form a dance team from some of the prisoners. Chinese soldier Xiaofang, South Korean Kang Byung Sam who was falsely accused of being a communist sympathizer,  civilian Yang Pan Rae who wants to support her family, and Rho Ki Soo, a young North Korean soldier, as well as Jackson himself form our dance team.

     
    I love this movie, it shows that people can come together even if their views and lives are super different, even if they speak different languages, no matter their gender, no matter their station in life, people can come together and have something in common still. But the world is cruel... and this movie is set in a heated POW camp... that's all I'll say.

  • Drama Special Season 5: The Tale of the Bookworm

    27. Drama Special Season 5: The Tale of the Bookworm

    Korean Special - 2014, 1 episode

    9.5

    Placed in Joseon, follow as a bookworm finds himself caught up in solving a case involving a murder and a stealing of a single edition of a book.

  • The Tale of Nokdu

    28. The Tale of Nokdu

    Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes

    8.5

    Our crossdressing male lead is living in the Joseon Dynasty, and trying to find out why assassins attacked him and his family.

  • Tunnel

    29. Tunnel

    Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    9.0

    While mostly based in the present day, this show continues on to solve the first serial murders in Korea that remains unsolved. Follow Park Gwang Ho, a detective from 1986 as he time-travels to the future and is set on trying to solve these murders, and his partner Kim Sun Jae, from the present day, who also wishes to have them solved due to his own reasons. 

  • Love O2O

    30. Love O2O

    Chinese Drama - 2016, 30 episodes

    8.0

    HONORABLE MENTION

    Whilst not taking place in the past... or having flashbacks to the past... or having anything to do with the PAST at all... I decided to add this drama due to the game that plays a big part within the show. The game itself is somewhat (I mean it is a game... with magic attacks...) based in the past...

  • River Where the Moon Rises

    31. River Where the Moon Rises

    Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes

    6.5
  • Rashomon

    32. Rashomon

    Japanese Movie - 1950

    8.5
  • Seven Samurai

    33. Seven Samurai

    Japanese Movie - 1954

    10
  • Must You Go?

    34. Must You Go?

    Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

    7.0
  • Assassination

    35. Assassination

    Korean Movie - 2015

    9.0
  • Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River

    36. Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River

    Korean Movie - 2016

    9.5
  • The King's Affection

    37. The King's Affection

    Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes

    8.5
  • Secret Royal Inspector & Joy

    38. Secret Royal Inspector & Joy

    Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

    7.0
  • The King's Letters

    39. The King's Letters

    Korean Movie - 2019

    10
  • The Spy Gone North

    40. The Spy Gone North

    Korean Movie - 2018

    8.0
  • Bulgasal: Immortal Souls

    41. Bulgasal: Immortal Souls

    Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

    9.5
  • Tomorrow

    42. Tomorrow

    Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

    9.0
  • Magic Grocery Store

    43. Magic Grocery Store

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 16 episodes

    7.0
  • Alchemy of Souls

    44. Alchemy of Souls

    Korean Drama - 2022, 20 episodes

    8.0
  • Lady Snowblood

    45. Lady Snowblood

    Japanese Movie - 1973

    9.0
  • A Brighter Summer Day

    46. A Brighter Summer Day

    Taiwanese Movie - 1991

    10
  • Faith

    47. Faith

    Korean Drama - 2012, 24 episodes

    7.5
  • Warriors of the Dawn

    48. Warriors of the Dawn

    Korean Movie - 2017

    7.5
  • The Grand Heist

    49. The Grand Heist

    Korean Movie - 2012

    7.5
  • Homme Fatale

    50. Homme Fatale

    Korean Movie - 2019

    7.5
  • The Great Battle

    51. The Great Battle

    Korean Movie - 2018

    10
  • The Princess and the Matchmaker

    52. The Princess and the Matchmaker

    Korean Movie - 2018

    7.0
  • The Face Reader

    53. The Face Reader

    Korean Movie - 2013

    8.0
  • Destined with You

    54. Destined with You

    Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes

    7.0

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