Recommendations

Both are fish out of water comedies that were highly rated TV shows and hits with both Korean and international audiences. Both lead characters in both shows start out very arrogant and selfish. They should be unlikeable characters but they are so funny about it that it’s endearing instead of a turn off. Both eventually learn to care more about others to become better people.

Both are LOL hit comedies mixed with some intense dramas. Both FLs have two men who love them dearly and would do anything to protect them. Though Mr. Queen starts out as an enemies to lovers story.

Both are top 10 highest rated cable shows at the time of this recommendation that resonated with both Korean and international fans. Both are time traveling fantasy romantic dramas. Both are really funny shows that also have very compelling stories and characters.

Both drama reminds me of each other because they have a family who live in the same house together but they are not blood related, and they also consider themselves as siblings and each siblings is connected with the other family as romantic or nemesis and each of them have their own stories..

Both shows were huge hits when they were on TV with both the Korean and international audiences. They are both fantasy romances that deal with gender and body swaps. Both shows have excellent acting and have a great combination of humor and drama.

The female lead is both intelligent and witty + daughter of a concubine who becomes the main wife of a prestigious family. The story is similar in a sense that both leads were “forced” into marriage and slowly starts catching feelings. The plot is similar as the female lead is not favoured by her family and the male lead’s family, and therefore having to rely on herself through her smart and quick thinking. There is also a love triangle involved with several mystery to solve.

The otherwise rich lead is reliant on the other lead for money in both the dramas in the initial episodes (this scenario is more prevalent in DDSSLLS). More over, both have a similar feel-good factor and a lot of heart!

both are bittersweet winter stories.. sad story,,, old story,,, you will love it like me
I highly recommend it!!!

It has nothing similar between this two titles, but if you're in love with the female lead, you should watch her variety show!!

The dramas are not very similar but they are the only dramas (as of 2021) that is set in historical times where Han Hyo Joo is the female lead. While her character in Iljimae is a rich noblewoman compared to her lowborn character in Dongyi though, both her characters are depicted as nice, kind, and good-hearted. Another similarity of both dramas is that Kim Yoo Jung plays the child actress of Han Hyo Joo in both dramas.
(Including Kim Yoo Jung's characters in Moon Embracing the Sun and Grudge the Revolt of Gumiho and Han Hyo Joo's Shining Inheritance character, I somehow feel like those two actresses are the go-to of casting directors back then (2008-2012) when they needed someone to play the kind, noble, and good-hearted beautiful female lead (basically a Cinderella like character).

Yi San is about Dong Yi's great-grandson. The old king in Yi San is the same character as Dong Yi's young son. The main romance plot is also quite similar. Both kings in the drama have a queen who can't give him a child. The king's main love interest is a humble ordinary young woman with a special talent in arts (Dong Yi plays haegeum while Song Yeon from Yi San loves to paint). (Something funny for me is that the actresses for the female leads, Han Hyo Joo and Han Ji Min, looks similar). The main female love interest also has a warrior brother like who has a one sided love for her. You could also notice the similar directing style of both dramas, both were directed by director Lee Byung Hoon (not the same person as actor Lee Byung Hun) who also directed Jewel in the Palace. They also have the same writers (Jewel in the Palace writer is different though, writer for Jewel in the Palace is the one who wrote Queen Seon Deok).

/Innocent/ man is framed for murder and lives life on the run until he is able to clear his name. Personally think Running Man is more entertaining and has quite some comedy if I remember right.

Similarities
FL faces a lot of struggles
ML diagnosed with terminal disease

In UF the leads have a history with each other and reunite after the ML is diagnosed.

GiB the FL has a history with ML best friend, ML wants revenge for his friend but ultimately falls for FL. ML then is diagnosed with a terminal illness and pushes FL away and back to his best friend.

Both shows are about a girl cross-dressing and ending up going to an all male school. She also has several males around her who become friends with her.

BOTH have this theme:
• "star-crossed lovers", a phrase describing a pair of lovers whose relationship is often thwarted by outside forces (Source: Wiki) OR whose relationship is doomed to fail (Source: dictionary.com)
• CLOY - 2 people from different world's (South Korean woman stumbles into North Korean man's territory by accident)
Lost in 1949 - same parallel, (streetwise, non-Communist man stumbles into Communist woman's life as an agent by accident)
• Military included heavily in both
• More action (fights) in Lost in 1949 but same for CLOY towards last few episodes
• Both - Love grows through their circumstances / fate
• CLOY - a NK army officer helps woman hide her SK identity
Lost in 1949 - Streetwise man helps woman hide her Communist agent identity
• BIG DIFFERENCE
CLOY - 19 episodes, hour length
Lost in 1949 - 46 episodes, hour length (WORTH EVERY MINUTE JUST LIKE CLOY)