Top 10 Historical Dramas (Korean)

This drama is old and it shows, but no drama has been able to remove it from #1 in my heart. The script is the best ever produced in a Korean drama, every word, every dialogue is written with a purpose. The drama is about two badass women fighting for the throne, so you can just imagine how epic it is! I highly recommend, even if it's not your type of dramas!

This drama is also about two smart and strong women, although they're not fighting for the throne, they're fighting for the king's heart...and maybe for a bit of power, too. Just as good as my #1, but with some fluff romance! 

Is it surprising that my #3 also has a strong, independent woman? This drama really could be #1, it's perfect in every way...but it's just so sad and depressing. I still have to recommend it because it's amazing, and it's one of the few historical dramas set during (or at the start of) Japanese occupation - a gloomy but fascinating period of Korean history. 

Another great female lead here, who steals the show in my opinion. This Romeo & Juliet story is really deep and sends you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. It also has relatively good rewatch value, despite it's tear-gas quality. I love it!

Love the premise of this drama, because it's set in China and looks into the rule of a controversial historical figure. The first 2/3 are amazing, and I've rewatched them more than once. The last bit is disappointing, but I can't ignore how addictive the drama is so I had to put it in the list!

A breath of fresh air in this list, for sure! Following the female lead as she pretends to be a boy to join the university, this drama is not about politics and has little drama. It's fun and fluffy, but you still get good characters, a coherent plot and some swashbuckling action. Can't really ask for more!

How does a new nation start? Watch this drama to find out! Despite lacking in the romance department (which I care about), it is a very thought-provoking and well-made drama that grips you from beginning to end. A must for historical drama lovers!

I was never really able to rewatch this drama, but it left a very positive (and kind of bittersweet) memory. One of my ultimate favorite scenes from Korean dramas comes from this one, and it's definitely in my top for Drama instrumental OSTs, so I could not leave it out of the list!

I know some who prefer this drama to Queen Seon Deok. I think it's a great rags-to-riches tale of a future king, but it's a bit more war/battle-focused than my #1, which is more about plots (like chess). This drama has a more satisfying ending though!

This drama is the predecessor of Six Flying Dragons (though I guess Six Flying Dragons is the prequel to this one). Really interesting to find out how one single king changed Korean history with a new alphabet. The drama has low rewatch value but I still liked it!