A collection of popular Historical Dramas available on Viki. (Korean dramas only)

Historical 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

KBS02

Joseon Dynasty woman Hong Ra On (Kim You Jung) has lived her entire life disguised as a man, earning a living as a relationship counselor and writing romance novels. However, a love letter she wrote for a client leads her to meet the mischievous Crown Prince Lee Yeong (Park Bo Gum), although he’s unaware of her true identity. While their first meeting goes poorly, a bizarre turn of events turns Ra On into a palace eunuch, where she crosses paths with the prince once again. As Ra On navigates the treacherous royal court, an unexpected bond forms between her and Yeong, but their growing affection is complicated by Ra On's secret, the strict social hierarchy, and the political power struggles threatening the throne.

Love in the Moonlight

The Moonlight Lovers

JTBC

When Queen Sim (Jang Hee Jin) struggles with infertility, she seeks help from shaman Hong Joo (Yum Jung Ah), whose powerful black magic helps her give birth to twins Soon Hwae (Yeo Hoe Hyun) and Seo Ri (Kim Sae Ron). However, the dark sorcery curses Seo Ri, causing the Queen to abandon her. Rescued by Poong Yeon's (Kwak Si Yang) father, Seo Ri grows up in hiding, learning witchcraft with her friend Poong Yeon and helper Choi Hyun Seo (Lee Sung Jae). When she encounters royal physician Heo Jun (Yoon Shi Yoon), she hopes he can help her break the curse and reclaim her true identity. This is a 2016 South Korean historical fantasy drama directed by Jo Hyun Tak, inspired by the classic medical text "Mirror of Eastern Medicine" from the Joseon Dynasty.

Mirror of the Witch

Team Bewitched

Orphaned at birth, Baek Dae Gil (Jang Geun Suk) has become a master gambler to survive. However, his true identity is a closely guarded secret: he's the eldest son of King Sukjong (Choi Min Soo), stolen away and presumed dead. King Sukjong’s other two sons, Yoon (Hyun Woo) and Yeoning (Yeo Jin Goo), are next in line to the throne, but they’re in constant conflict due to Yeoning’s mother’s lower-class status. Dae Gil and Yeoning’s paths intertwine when they both fall for Dam Seo (Lim Ji Yeon), a woman driven by a burning desire for revenge against the king. Dae Gil eventually proposes a wager: if he wins a bet, he becomes the king, but if he loses, he’ll pay with his life. Will he succeed, or will he come to regret his decision?

The Royal Gambler

Totally Awesome

In the Kingdom of Silla, the reigning queen strives to keep her son Jin Heung (Park Hyung Sik) safe from enemies and assassins. Hoping to disrupt the existing noble hierarchy, she forms a group of warriors known as Hwarang with the intent of protecting Jin Heung, who joins the Hwarang’s ranks under the name Ji Dwi. Alongside him are mysterious commoner Moo Myung (Park Seo Joon), spirited physician’s daughter Ah Ro (Go Ara), aristocratic swordsman Su Ho (Choi Minho), the stoic Ban Ryu (Do Ji Han), the playful Yeo Wool (Cho Yoon Woo), and the innocent Han Sung (V), each grappling with their own burdens and aspirations. Amidst political machinations and forbidden romance, they navigate loyalty, friendship, and the quest for justice. Can they successfully usher in a new era for Silla?

Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth

In sixteenth-century Joseon, illegitimate and scorned Prince Gwang Hae (Seo In Guk) faces a perilous path to the throne. His father, King Seon Jo (Lee Sung Jae), consumed by paranoia and the prophecy of a usurper, seeks the ultimate face reader to identify the true successor. Gwang Hae, however, possesses a secret weapon: his own burgeoning talent for reading faces, a skill he must hone in the shadows. As political intrigue, deadly conspiracies, and a captivating love triangle unfold, Gwang Hae must navigate treacherous court politics, outwit ruthless adversaries, and decipher the very faces of power to claim his rightful place and protect those he loves. This drama was inspired by true events.

The King's Face

The Face Readers

KBS2

During the Joseon Dynasty, Kim Yoon Hee (Park Min Young) disguises herself as a boy to support her struggling family by taking entrance exams for other students at Sungkyunkwan University. When the principled Lee Sun Joon (Park Yoo Chun) discovers her scheme, he unexpectedly helps her take the exam under her brother's identity and enter the university herself. They become roommates and classmates, with Yoon Hee befriending the playboy Goo Yong Ha (Song Joong Ki) and rebellious Moon Jae Shin (Yoo Ah In), while simultaneously developing feelings for Sun Joon. As she struggles to maintain her secret identity, Yoon Hee must navigate the challenges of university life and her growing emotions. This is a 2010 South Korean historical drama series based on a bestselling novel and directed by Kim Won Suk and Hwang In Hyuk.

Sungkyunkwan Scandal

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.

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