For me, summer holidays are the best time for Korean historical drama. Usually these dramas are long and profound, so I need to be relaxed and with a lot of free time on my hands.

Sageuk Dog Days Dramas

In the tumultuous formation of the Joseon Dynasty, six powerful individuals with conflicting ideologies battle for political supremacy. Prince Lee Bang Won (Yoo Ah In) and Jeong Do Jeon (Kim Myung Min) find themselves on opposing sides of a critical power struggle, with Do Jeon helping his father Lee Seong Gye (Chun Ho Jin) establish the new kingdom as its first monarch, King Tae Jo. Boon Yi (Shin Se Kyung), Ddang Sae (Byun Yo Han), and Moo Hyul (Yoon Kyun Sang) become entangled in the complex political landscape, where the fight is between those advocating for ministerial rule and those seeking absolute power. As tensions escalate, Bang Won, who will eventually become King Tae Jong, emerges as Do Jeon's most formidable adversary. This is a 2015 South Korean historical drama series directed by Shin Kyung Soo.

Six Flying Dragons

The Flying Dragons

In the midst of the Joseon Dynasty, eight-year-old Lee Gyeom was orphaned after witnessing his father’s murder. Haunted by the past, he transforms into a masked vigilante named “Il Ji Mae” (Lee Joon Gi) who steals from corrupt officials to aid the poor, leaving a plum blossom calling card. Driven by vengeance, he seeks the truth behind his family's demise and the killer's identity. His quest intertwines with Eun Chae (Han Hyo Joo), a compassionate woman who eventually falls for Il Ji Mae, and Si Hoo (Park Si Hoo), his adoptive brother-turned-royal guard who seeks to capture Il Ji Mae in the hopes of being promoted to a nobleman. Will Il Ji Mae find the justice he seeks, or will his mission to avenge his family lead him deeper into darkness?

Il Ji Mae

During the political turmoil of 18th-century Joseon, Baek Dong Soo (Ji Chang Wook) was adopted by a swordsmith and grew up alongside Yeo Woon (Yoo Seung Ho). However, their paths diverge dramatically in adulthood: while Dong Soo embraces justice and loyalty, eventually joining the royal guard, Woon is drawn into a clandestine assassin organization, becoming a skilled but conflicted killer. Their brotherhood is tested as they find themselves on opposing sides of a brewing war, one fighting to protect the Crown Prince and the other serving a shadowy faction aiming to overthrow the kingdom. This drama was based on the comic “Honorable Baek Dong Soo” by Lee Jae Heon.

Warrior Baek Dong Soo

⚔The New Joseon Warriors ⚔

Seo Ji Yoon (Lee Young Ae), an art history lecturer, dreams of becoming a full-time professor under her mentor, Min Jung Hak (Choi Jong Hwan). When entrusted with writing a thesis on a historical painting, her world suddenly unravels. Her husband becomes a fugitive, forcing her family out of their home, and a grad student's challenge to the painting's authenticity leads to her being fired and ostracized. Discovering the secret diary of Shin Saimdang (Lee Young Ae), a renowned Korean artist from the Joseon Dynasty, Ji Yoon begins to uncover new insights about Saimdang's life and her relationship with painter Lee Gyeom (Song Seung Heon). With the help of grad student Han Sang Hyun (Yang Se Jong) and her best friend Go Hye Jung (Park Jun Myun), Ji Yoon seeks to restore her reputation and unravel the mystery surrounding the historical painting. This is a 2017 South Korean drama series directed by Yoon Sang Ho.

Saimdang, Light's Diary

Prince Yi San (Lee Junho) vows to become a benevolent monarch despite his cruel grandfather's reign. He falls for Sung Deok Im (Lee Se Young), an intelligent and spirited palace maid. Yi San aims to make her his concubine but Deok Im knows becoming a royal consort would restrict her freedom and rob her of joy. Undeterred by Deok Im’s misgivings, Yi San’s pure love slowly wins her over. Will their hard-earned love be able to withstand the turmoils of palace life? Based on the novel of the same name by Kang Mi Kang, this 2021 South Korean historical series was directed by Jung Ji In and Song Yeon Hwa.

The Red Sleeve

💞Love Finds A Way 🛣

Born blind, Hong Cheon Gi (Kim Yoo Jung) is a gifted painter who miraculously regains her sight and earns an unprecedented position at the prestigious royal art school during the Dan dynasty. In contrast, astrologer Ha Ram (Ahn Hyo Seop), despite his ability to see the future, lost his sight in a childhood accident. Fate brings Cheon Gi and Ha Ram together, and they quickly fall in love. However, their budding romance is threatened by political machinations of the royal court. Is their love fated to last or was it doomed from the start? Adapted from the novel of the same name by Jung Eun Gwol, this 2021 South Korean fantasy romance series was directed by Jang Tae Yoo.

Lovers of the Red Sky

For Your Eyes Only 👁‿👁  

In 14th-century Goryeo, loyal and fearless general Choi Young (Lee Min Ho) is tasked by King Gongmin (Ryu Deok Hwan) to find a legendary doctor capable of healing the dying queen. Through a mysterious portal, he travels 700 years into the future, landing in modern-day Seoul. There, he encounters Yoo Eun Soo (Kim Hee Sun), a feisty plastic surgeon who initially believes him to be a delusional cosplayer. Kidnapped and brought back to Goryeo, Eun Soo struggles to adapt to the ancient world and its primitive medical practices, all while facing political intrigue and the dangers of a warring kingdom. As she reluctantly treats the royal family and Choi Young protects her fiercely, an unlikely romance blossoms amidst their desperate attempts to find a way for her to return home.

The Great Doctor

The Faith Team

During a total solar eclipse, Go Ha Jin (IU), a 25-year-old woman from the 21st century, finds herself transported back to the Goryeo Dynasty where she awakens in the body of Hae Su, a 16-year-old girl. There, she finds herself entangled with ruling Wang family and the princes' rivalries as they fight for the throne. Hae Su develops feelings for the eighth prince Wang Uk (Kang Ha Neul), whose gentle countenance hides his deep ambitions and willingness to make ruthless choices. She also builds a relationship with the feared fourth prince Wang So (Lee Joon Gi), whose cruel and aloof reputation precedes him. However, Hae Su soon recognizes that his coldness is just a front to hide his pain, and helps bring out his true self, falling for him in the process. Will Hae Su's love end up changing history? This drama was adapted from the 2005 Chinese novel of the same name by Tong Hua.

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

In 15th-century Joseon, King Se Jong (Han Suk Kyu), a visionary monarch, dreams of creating a more equal world for his people, especially after his father’s brutal regime before him. However, his radical pursuit of "Hangul," an accessible alphabet, faces fierce opposition from Confucian scholars who aim to stop the king by any means necessary – even if it means murder. At the same time, Kang Chae Yoon (Jang Hyuk) and So Yi (Shin Sae Kyung), former slaves who survived the prior king’s massacre, have both found ways into King Se Jeong’s court, but have very different end goals in mind. Will King Se Jeong find a way to spread literacy across the nation despite fierce opposition from multiple sides?

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