Loved Bridgerton and The Gilded Age? Here Are 10 Period K-Dramas That’ll Get You Hooked

Modern K-dramas certainly have their charm, but it is still something common and familiar, and the only surprise and excitement that can come from a show or movie of our time are the complicated, multi-layered plot twists.

But with historical dramas, it's a completely different story. The first thing that grabs your attention is the visual aspect.

Most period dramas have their own atmosphere, the characters are dressed differently, the world looks special. Every detail is exciting and you just can’t get enough of Korean centuries-old traditions.

So here we have ten greatest K-dramas for the fans of period shows full of intrigue and national costumes.

1. Queen Seondeok

This 2009 K-drama is quite old, but still holds a number one spot in the list of the best period shows created. The series follows Princess Deokman and her story of revenge. When she was a child, she was taken away from the royal palace because the king's concubine was a dangerous mistress who craved the throne.

However, after discovering who she really was, the girl goes back to reclaim what is hers and bring justice to her family.

2. Moon Embracing The Sun

This historical show can also be called the most romantic ones ever created by Koreans. At the heart of the series is a complicated love story that includes three people. One of them is the prince, the second one is his brother, and the woman in this trio is actually a shaman. Aside from the amazing love story, the best thing about the series is its accuracy.

3. Six Flying Dragons

This 2015 K-drama serves as a prequel to the other famous historical drama, Deep Rooted Tree, which was released in 2011. However, the new show has become more popular than its predecessor. The series tells us the story of Yi Bang-won and his attempts to establish the dynasty. We got to see everything they went through, every rise and fall of the characters, all in a terrible politically twisted society.

4. Love In The Moonlight

Love in the Moonlight is one of the most acclaimed historical dramas on South Korean television. The story of the show revolves around Hong Ra-On, who fooled men into thinking she was a eunuch in order to give them dating advice. However, her little affair is put in jeopardy when she meets the crown prince who falls for her.

There are many characters in this show that are shown at their worst and it's quite entertaining to see them living in the world where love wins.

5. Mr. Sunshine

This show also uses the love triangle trope as a tool to create the melodramatic effect at its best. However, the historical part of the drama is just as interesting and compelling as the romantic part, and in fact, fans really liked the show for the accuracy with which it portrayed all the facts.

The events in the drama take place in the time before Japan annexed Korea, and that’s actually quite an unusual choice. Mr. Sunshine tells the revenge story of once enslaved, but then escaped Eugene Choi.

6. Rebel: Thief Who Stole The People

This K-drama can be roughly described as the lesser known Korean version of the Robin Hood tale. It follows Hong Gil-dong, a poor boy who decided to take from those who are drowned in money and give back to the poor like him. That's not exactly what it means to be a hero, but the boy still proved to be one for the people he helped.

7. Jewel In The Palace

This drama follows a woman who actually managed to make a difference in the time of her living. In fact, not even every male got the opportunity to do that, as we know how hard it was at the time of the Choson dynasty. Jang-Geum made her way to be the first ever personal doctor to the ruling dynasty in Korea. Drama is a female-led show that highlights the struggles women face every day in a man's world. It has an amazing cast and the core story of it is still relevant today.

8. Deep Rooted Tree

This is a kind of drama with a bit of a thriller twist as we follow the journey of a royal guard who becomes involved in an investigation after finding out that several murders were committed by the royal enemies. The show of course has a romantic storyline, but it's more of an afterthought in the series.

9. The Emperor: Owner of the Mask

Although the show is not considered the best historical drama, it still contains a lot of political intrigue. We get to know the life story of Prince Lee Sun, who has decided to start a fight with the wealthy company that was the reason why the population ran out of water supplies. The man fights for justice and soon becomes the perfect symbol of hope and revenge.

10. Empress Ki

What audiences love the most about this one is how amazing the performances of the cast are, as well as the compelling story. The series tells the exciting life story of a woman who was born in Korea but ended up as the most powerful woman in China. Her journey was full of intrigue and danger, but she overcame it all and was rewarded with the title of Empress.