20 Lesser-Known Historical K-Dramas Perfect for Binge-Watching

These lesser-known K-dramas, though not as widely publicized, offer compelling character arcs that deserve equal acclaim.

From the intense political intrigue of "Splendid Politics" to the complex love triangle in "Grand Prince," these dramas span a variety of genres and time periods, offering something for every palate.

1. "Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love" (2013)

This historical drama reimagines the life of Jang Ok-jung, historically known as Lady Jang Hee-bin, depicting her journey from a court lady to becoming a lover of King Sookjong and ultimately, a royal concubine, while navigating palace politics and rivalries.

2. "The King's Daughter, Soo Baek-hyang" (2013)

Set in the Baekje era, this drama tells the story of Soo Baek-hyang, the daughter of King Muryeong, who gets separated from her royal family and grows up without knowing her true identity.

3. "Gunman in Joseon" (2014)

In the late 19th century, a nobleman's son transforms into a gun-toting vigilante to avenge his family's downfall and protect the people from oppressive colonizers and corrupt officials.

4. "The Three Musketeers" (2014)

A Joseon-era adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' novel, following a young man from Gangwon Province who joins the royal guards and becomes involved in a plot surrounding the Crown Prince and the political machinations of the court.

5. "Maids" (2014)

This drama portrays the lives of servants and the aristocracy of Joseon, focusing on a young woman from a noble family who becomes a servant overnight due to a twist of fate and a conspiracy.

6. "Jingbirok: A Memoir of Imjin War" (2015)

Based on a real historical text, this drama chronicles the Japanese invasions of Korea in the 1590s, offering insight into the war strategies and leadership of Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

7. "Splendid Politics" (2015)

Set during the Joseon Dynasty era, particularly during the reign of King Gwanghae, this story follows Princess Jeongmyeong, the daughter of King Seonjo. After witnessing the tragic death of her brother, Prince Yeongchang, during a political purge orchestrated by Gwanghae, she is thrown into a world of political turmoil and revenge.

8. "The Flower in Prison" (2016)

Set in the Joseon period, the drama follows the life of a woman born in prison who becomes a champion for the rights of marginalized people and attempts to uncover the secret behind her birth.

9. "Mirror of the Witch" (2016)

A fantasy-romance that tells the story of a cursed princess and a young healer's quest to break the curse, involving black magic, palace conspiracies, and the pursuit of a secret elixir.

10. "My Sassy Girl" (2017)

A historical romantic-comedy that reimagines the popular 2001 movie, set in the Joseon Dynasty, focusing on a sassy, trouble-making princess and her relationship with a handsome, scholarly official.

11. "Queen for Seven Days" (2017)

A tragic love story set in the Joseon Dynasty, focusing on Queen Dangyeong, who was crowned and deposed from the throne within seven days, and her romance with King Joongjong.

12. "Grand Prince" (2018)

A historical romance drama set in the Joseon Dynasty, centered around a love triangle involving two royal princes and a beautiful noblewoman. Prince Lee Kang (Jin Se-yeon) is ambitious and desires the throne, while his younger brother, Prince Lee Hwi (Joo Sang-wook), is more carefree and artistic. Both brothers fall deeply in love with Sung Ja-Hyun, a virtuous and noble lady known for her beauty and kindness.

13. "100 Days My Prince" (2018)

A crown prince suffers amnesia and finds himself living as a commoner for 100 days; during this time, he meets and marries a strong-willed woman, unaware of his true identity.

14. "The Crowned Clown" (2019)

A Joseon king, fearing for his life, puts a clown who looks identical to him on the throne, leading to a complex web of palace intrigue, romance, and the clown's transformation into a true leader.

15. "Nokdu Flower" (2019)

Set during the Donghak Peasant Revolution, the series portrays the struggles and conflicts of two half-brothers on opposite sides of the class divide during this tumultuous period in Korean history.

16. "Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung" (2019)

Set in the early 19th century, a free-spirited woman becomes one of the first female historians at the royal court and challenges gender norms, uncovering societal and historical truths along the way.

17. "King Maker: The Change of Destiny" (2020)

In the late Joseon period, a face reader with the ability to see the fate of people gets involved in a power struggle for the throne, intertwining his fate with a princess and the future of the kingdom.

18. "Queen: Love and War" (2019)

A historical drama focusing on the cutthroat competition among women to become the queen, involving love, revenge, and political intrigue in the royal court.

19. "The Tale of Nokdu" (2019)

A young man, on the run after discovering a secret that could ruin his powerful family, disguises himself as a woman and ends up in a village for widows, where he meets a female martial arts instructor.

20. "River Where the Moon Rises" (2021)

A reinterpretation of a classic Goguryeo folk tale, this drama follows Princess Pyeonggang, who aspires to be the first female Taewang of Goguryeo, and her love story with the elite warrior On Dal.