Korean Drama : Hwarang

Year Released

2016 - 2017

Genre 

Historical Period 

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Park Seo-joon, Park Hyung-sik, Go Ah-ra

Storyline

A 'faceless' King Jinheung (Park Hyung-sik) who has been hidden since young by his mother Queen Ji So (Kim Jee-soo) after the late King Beopheung passed away. Moo Myung (Park Seo-joon) who is a cheonin and becomes Ahn Ji-gong's (Choi Won-young) son, Son Woo to avenge the death of his friend Mak Moon (Lee Kwang-soo). Mak Moon was the real son of Ahn Ji-gong but separated from his father since young due to Queen Ji So.

Both Jinheung and Son Woo join as Hwarang which is established by Queen Ji So to later on act as an army to support King Jinheung. They both fall in love with Ahn Ji-gong's daughter, Ah Ro (Go Ah-ra) who is a physician looking after the Hwarangs.

My View

While the drama has my favourite veteran actors Choi Won-young and Kim Won-hae, the stroyline just somehow falls short and does not have that much of an impact for me. It feels like the villian Park Yeong-shil (Kim Chang-wan) was easily defeated without a proper fight. 

I actually shipped for Park Hyung-sik and Go Ah-ra instead but oh well. 

Rating

3/5 stars

Korean Drama : Ruler - Master of the Mask

Year Released

2017

Genre

Historical period

No. of Episodes

40 - running time of 30 minutes per episode

Starring

Yoo Seung-ho, Kim So-hyun, L, Heo Joon-ho, Yoon So-hee, Park Chul-min

Storyline

Leader of Pyunsoo Group, Dae Mok (Heo Joon-ho) has been controlling Joseon King and his subjects by making them drink poppy wine. Without the antidote to be taken every fortnight, they would eventually be poisoned to death.

Crown Prince Lee Sun (Yoo Seung-ho) was also being poisoned when he was a baby buy managed to heal miraculously and since been immune to any poison. Due to this incident, King Yeong Jo (Kim Myung-soo) makes Lee Sun wears a mask to hide him from Dae Mok. 

When Lee Sun is being forced to join Pyunsoo Group, he escapes and another commoner (L) by the same name is put to the throne. The fake King is being controlled by drinking poppy wine as well. Once Lee Sun is out of the palace, he becomes Chief Peddler who collects all information in Joseon under his organisation.

Together with Woo Bo (Park Chul-min), Lee Chung-woon (Shin Hyun-soo), Park Moo-ha (Bae Yoo-ram) and gang, Lee Sun manages to topple Pyunsoo Group, destroy their evil acts and regain his throne.

My View

Overall, quite a nice drama but watching Yoo Seung-ho, L and Kim So-hyun feels like looking at a bunch of young children. They are pretty young anyway back in 2017.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Haechi

Year Released

2019

Genre

Historical period

No. of Episodes

24 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Jung Il-woo, Kwon Yul, Lee Kyung-young, Go Ah-ra, Park Hoon

Storyline

The journey of Prince Yeoning (Jung Il-woo) on how he becomes King Yeongjo of Joseon. Many a time, he impresses his subjects with his methods of ruling. Those who depise King Yeongjo at first eventually end up accepting and be loyal to him.

My View

A very different story of King Yeongjo as compared to The Royal Gambler. Though it looks like the same old political struggle plot, but Haechi kind of nailed it. The suspense keeps me going and wanting to find out what is going to happen in the next episode.

I was skeptical to watch this drama as I don't really like Jung Il-woo. His Cinderella and the Four Knights is okay, but that Night Watchman's Journal is hilariously bad. I mean B.A.D. Guess the scriptwriter is just like I don't know how to write anymore so just F it man! Lol..

As for Kwon Yul, I'm not used to his good character role here. I mean he is so intimidating in Let's Fight, Ghost and Voice series. I still remember vividly about one of the scenes in Let's Fight, Ghost like it scared the hell out of me. Whenever I thought about it, my heart just skips a beat.

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama : The Crowned Clown

Year Released

2019

Genre

Historical period

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 1 hour and 20 minutes per episode

Starring

Yeo Jin-goo, Kim Sang-kyung, Le Se-young

Storyline

King Lee Hun (Yeo Jin-goo) who is not being loved by his father changes from a kind prince to a cold-blooded King after his father's death. Lee Hun orders to kill his own younger brother and is being haunted with nightmares. He seeks the help of drugs arranged by Left State Counciler, Shin Chi-soo (Kwon Hae-hyo).

Lee Hun requests Chief Royal Secretary, Lee Gyu (Kim Sang-kyung) to help him find a solution as his life is constantly being threatened in the palace. Gyu happens to run into a commoner Ha Seon who resembles exactly like the King.

When Lee Hun's condition worsens, Ha Seon takes over his place as the King.

My View

Not too bad a drama and the loyalty and trust between Ha Seon and Lee Gyu is quite admirable.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : The Scholar Who Walks the Night

Year Released

2015

Genre

Fantasy, Historical period

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Lee Joon-gi, Lee Yu-bi, Max Changmin, Lee Soo-hyuk, Kim So-eun

Storyline

Legend has it that a long time ago, one of Joseon dynasty's kings partners up with a vampire Gwi (Lee Soo-hyuk) in order to rule the kingdom. The condition is that the Joseon king to rule by day and Gwi by night. However, the descendants of the king finds out about the pact and try finding ways to get rid of Gwi. 

Kim Sung-yeol (Lee Joon-gi) has been a guardian vampire for 120 years. He is able to appear in the sunlight by wearing a special black robe. Sung-yeol is responsible to get rid of any vampire who disobeys the rules. Sung-yeol was once a human now turned vampire and he is looking for ways to get rid of Gwi. 

Jo Yang-sun (Lee Yu-bi) is the daughter of a nobleman whose family loses everything when her father is framed for treason. To make ends meet, Yang-sun begins cross-dressing as a male bookseller and meets the mysterious scholar Sung-yeol, who works at the Hongmungwan.  

Sung-yeol decides to pay Yang-sun a high price if she is able to find the memorandum of his best friend, the late Crown Prince Jonghyun, which contains the secret to killing Gwi.

My View

A well-written fantasy historical period story.

I kind of pity Gwi since he longs for loved one by his side.

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama : The Royal Gambler

Year Released

2016

Genre

Historical period

No. of Episodes

24 - running time of 75 minutes per episode

Starring

Jang Keun-suk, Yeo Jin-goo, Jun Kwang-ryul, Choi Min-soo, Yoon Jin-seo, Lim Ji-yeon

Storyline

The story starts with political struggle between King Sukjong (Choi Min-soo) and Lee In-jwa (Jun Kwang-ryul). In-jwa manipulates Bok Soon (Yoon Jin-seo) to be King Sukjong's concubine, Choi Suk-bin.

When Suk-bin gives birth to a premature baby boy, it is rumoured that he is the son of Suk-bin's ex-husband Baek Man-geum (Lee Moon-sik). Man-geum adopts the baby and names him Baek Dae-gil (Jang Keun-suk). Dae-gil learns all sorts of gambling skills and becomes a professional gambler.

Suk-bin later has another son who is Prince Yeoning (Yeo Jin-goo). Prince Yeoning and Dae-gil cross path in gambling dens. They are both in love with Dam-seo (Lim Ji-yeon) who is connected to In-jwa.

My View

There are constantly a lot of power struggle in this drama.

I especially like that scene where Dae-gil and In-jwa are having a game while their bodyguards are fighting at the back.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Night Watchman's Journal

 

Alternative Title

Dairy of a Night Watchman

Year Released

2014

No. of Episodes

24 - running time of 59 minutes per episode

Starring

Jung Il-woo, Ko Sung-hee

Storyline

Prince Rin is sent away from the palace when his father King Haejong (Choi Won-young), who is under a spell, kills Queen Min (Song Yi-woo) then committed suicide. Considered unsuitable for the throne, his older half-brother Gi-san (Kim Heung-soo), is crowned the new king of Joseon.

Rin has an ability to see ghosts after escaping from a spirit attack when he was a child. One day, he meets Do-ha (Ko Sung-hee), a young shaman from Mount Baekdu searching for her older sister. 

A Taoist priest, Sadam (Kim Sung-oh), enters the palace, as he is chosen by the king to expel an evil spirit that haunts him.

Sadam who is the head of Yongshin tribe, is trying to revive Dragon God which was turned into a statue years ago. The artifact has been brought into the palace and stay hidden somewhere. In order to re-surrects the Dragon God, Sadam has to use negative energy of evil spirits.

Upon learning Sadam's plan, Rin decides to revive the Night Watchmen set up by the previous king. They are a group of soldiers which fight monsters and spirits, but were killed by the current king. 

My View

The story started good and all.

Then suddenly, Sadam kidnaps Do-ha away from the Night Watchmen.

So Night Watchmen go and save Do-ha and get injured.

This cycle repeats multiple times that I just cannot believe it.

I mean if one is being kidnapped once or twice, then you need to have someone to guard that person right?

Then Sadam's plans are always being destroyed and he went mad. Hahahah.. faints!

Rating

1/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Rooftop Prince

Year Released

2012

Genre

Historical period, Fantasy, Comedy

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Micky, Han Ji-min

Storyline

One day, Crown Prince Lee Gak (Micky) travels from Joseon Dynasty to modern Seoul and arrives at Park-ha's (Han Ji-min) rooftop house. Park-ha happens to have a resemblance of Lee Gak's dead crown princess.

Meanwhile, Chairman Yeo (Ban Hyo-jung), a wealthy president of a large company, mistakes Lee Gak (who has the exact same appearance) for her lost grandson, Yong Tae-yong. Lee Gak decides to pretend to be Tae-yong to get close to Park-ha, who is Chairman Yeo's personal assistant.

My View

I do remember some of the funny parts spent at rooftop house. 

The truth to crown princess' death has a little twist at the end as well.

Overall, an average fantasy historical drama.

Rating 

2/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Queen: Love and War

Year Released

2019

Genre

Fantasy, Historical period

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Jin Se-yeon, Kim Min-kyu

Storyline

On the wedding parade of King Lee Kyung (Kim Min-kyu) and Queen Kang Eun-gi (Jin Se-yeon), they are being ambushed and killed by assassins. However, due to some unknown reason, the dead king re-surrects. 

Meanwhile, the left state minister, Jo Heung-gyeon (Lee Jae-yong) presents everyone the exiled Prince Lee Jae-hwa (Do Sang-woo) to be the next king. They are both shocked to know that the king is still alive.

Eun-gi's father, Kang Yi-soo (Lee Ki-young) is accused of treason by political rivals and is sentenced to death by hanging. Yi-soo's friend, Baek Ja-yong (Uhm Hyo-sup) notices Kang Eun-bo (Jin Se-yeon) and reveals her true identity as twin sister to Eun-gi.

The Palace is looking for a new queen again. Determined to find out the truth of her sister's death, Eun-bo participates in the selection under the name of Hong Yeon, daughter of Gyeong-gi Governor Hong Ki-ho (Lee Yoon-gun).

Ki-ho, Ja-yong and Jae-hwa plan to overthrow Lee Kyung and Eun-bo is chosen as their pawn.

On the other hand, after his resurrection, Lee Kyung starts to have precognitions about Eun-bo. Whenever Lee Kyung tries to change the future, his health deteriorates.

My View

Quite a nice storyline combining fantasy with historical genre.

I must say Jin Se-yeon looks very beautiful in historical period dramas.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Queen In-hyun's Man

Alternative Title

Queen and I

Year Released 

2012

Genre

Historical period, Romance, Fantasy

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 45 minutes per episode

Starring

Ji Hyun-woo, Yoo In-na

Storyline

The story depicts about Kim Bung-do (Ji Hyun-woo) who travels from Joseon Dynasty to modern Korea using a mysterious talisman when his life is in danger.

He runs into actress Choi Hee-jin (Yoo In-na) when she is on set filming a historical drama. Both leads cross paths and fall in love.

My View

I can still remember the part where Hee-jin is sobbing miserably when Bung-do is on the verge of dying.

That feel..my god..

Rating

5/5 Stars

Korean Drama : My Sassy Girl

Year Released

2017

Genre

Historical period, Romance

No. of Episodes

32 - running time of 30 minutes per episode

Starring

Joo Won, Oh Yeon-seo

Storyline

Gyeon Woo (Joo Won) is a scholar who is given the title of "Joseon's national treasure" during his childhood. One day, he runs into princess Hye-myung (Oh Yeon-seo) while she is in search of her mother, the dethroned queen.

After spending much time together, Gyeon-woo starts to have feelings for princess Hye-myung. However, Gyeon-woo is unaware that he is the root cause for dethroning of the queen.

My View

Joo Won and Oh Yeon-seo suit each other quite well.

Would like to see them pair up in more dramas.

Rating

3/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Moon Embracing the Sun

Year Released

2012

Genre

Fantasy, Romance, Historical period

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Kim Soo-hyun, Han Ga-in

Storyline

A young Heo Yeon-woo (Kim Yoo-jung) enters the palace to attend her brother, Heo Yeom's (Yim Si-wan) examination congratulatory ceremony. Crown Prince Lee Won (Yeo Jin-goo) happens to run into Yeon-woo and falls in love with her.

After Yeon-woo is announced to be the Crown Princess, Queen Dowager secretly orders her death. She intends to let Yoon Bo-kyung (Kim So-hyun) from her own family clan to be the Crown Princess.

Head shaman Jang Nok-young (Jeon Mi-seon) is forced to cast a spell on Yeon-woo with unknown sickness. After dying, Yeon-woo is resurrected from her grave but loses her memories. Crown Prince Lee Won unwillingly marries Bo-kyung.  

Eight years later, Lee Won (Kim Soo-hyun) is now the King. Yeon-woo (Han Ga-in) is now Shaman Wol (which means "moon"). Unaware of Wol's identity, Queen Dowager calls her to the palace to cure King's "illness". In fact, Lee Won's heart is still with the late Yeon-woo.

The King is struck by Wol's resemblance to Yeon-woo, and he quietly launches an investigation into Yeon-woo's death. Meanwhile, Wol struggles to understand the strange memories of her life as Yeon-woo, which she interprets as shamanic visions. 

My View

Loved this drama very much even the young Yoo-jung and Jin-goo acted so well!

Rating

5/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Kingmaker: The Change of Destiny

Year Released

2020

Genre

Romance, Historical period

No. of Episodes

21 - running time of about 62 minutes per episode

Starring

Park Si-hoo, Ko Sung-hee

Storyline

Choi Chun-joong (Park Si-hoo) is the best face reader in Joseon. He is looked down upon as a fortune-teller, but eventually becomes the most powerful person.

Lee Bong-ryeon (Ko Sung-hee) is a princess who has special ability to see people's fate. Bong-ryeon meets Chun-joong and together they try to change Joseon's fate for the better.

My View

I especially like the ending as usually for this kind of power struggle story, the leads don't end up together.

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Joseon Survival Period

Year Released 

2019

Genre

Historical period, Fantasy

No. of Episodes

16 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Kang Ji-hwan (replaced by Seo Ji-seok from episodes 11), Kyung Soo-jin, Lee Jae-yoon, Park Se-wan

Storyline

JSP is about Han Jeong-rok (Kang Ji-hwan & Seo Ji-seok), a former national archer and current deliveryman who travels back to the Joseon Dynasty. 

My View

The drama starts off quite well but after they changed the male lead, I didn't follow much.

Rating

1/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Grand Prince

Year Released

2018

Genre

Historical period, Romance

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Yoon Shi-yoon, Joo Sang-wook, Jin Se-yeon

Storyline

Lee Kang, Prince Jin Yang (Joo Sang-wook) is an ambitious man who dreams to be the next King of Joseon. 

Lee Hwi, Prince Eun Sung (Yoon Shi-yoon) is Lee Kang's younger brother. Both Lee Kang and Lee Hwi are second and third in line to the throne respectively.

Both princes fight for Sung Ja-hyun's (Jin Se-yeon) love, but she only has eyes for Lee Hwi.

My View

I enjoy watching love triangle dramas. Lol..

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Empress Ki

Year Released

2013 - 2014

Genre

Historical period, Romance

No. of Episodes

51 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Ha Ji-won, Ji Chang-wook, Joo Jin-mo, Baek Jin-hee 

Storyline

This drama is about how Ki Seung Nyang (Ha Ji-won) a Goryeo-born woman becomes an Empress of the Yuan Dynasty. Nyang was once the fiancee to Wang Yoo (Joo Jin-mo), the King of Goryeo. But she later marries Toghon Temur (Ji Chang-wook), the Emperor of Yuan.

My View

Not bad a watch for a historical period political struggle drama.

Rating

4/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : Arang and the Magistrate

Alternative Title

Tale of A-rang

Year Released

2012

Genre

Horror, Fantasy, Romance, Historical period

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 65 minutes per episode

Starring

Lee Joon-gi, Shin Min-a, Yeon Woo-jin

Storyline

Kim Eun-oh (Lee Joon-gi) goes to Miryang village in search for his missing mother. He has an ability to see spirits around him but pretends not to. 

Eun-ho runs into A-rang (Shin Min-a), a spirit who has lost all her memories. She needs to know the truth about her death or she cannot rest in peace. 

When A-rangs knows that Eun-ho is able to see ghosts, and that he is the newly appointed magistrate, she begs for his help.

Initially, Eun-ho is reluctant but when he sees A-rang holding onto his mother's hairpin, he decides to help her regains her memories.

My View

The ending is still not too bad as the pair did get together in the end.

Rating

3/5 Stars

 

Korean Drama : The Princess' Man

Year Released

2011

Genre

Historical period, Action, Romance

No. of Episodes

24 - running time of 60 minutes per episode

Starring

Park Si-hoo, Moon Chae-won

Storyline

When Lee Se-ryung (Moon Chae-won), daughter of Grand Prince Suyang (Kim Yeong-cheol), hears that her fiance Kim Seung-yoo (Park Si-hoo) is going to be her cousin Princess Gyeonghye's (Hong Soo-hyun) tutor, she exchanges her place temporarily to catch a glimpse of him.

The fate of three leads are intertwined when Grand Prince Suyang becomes the next King of Joseon (he overthrows the current King) and Se-ryung the next Crown Princess. 

My View

I have always love Park Si-hoo's dramas. 

Though TPM's ending is somewhat sad, but Seung-yoo didn't die so I'm glad.

Rating 

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Sungkyunkwan Scandal

Year Released 

2010

Genre

Historical period, Romance

No. of Episodes

20 - running time of 65 minutes per episode 

Starring

Micky, Park Min-young, Yoo Ah-in, Song Joong-ki

Storyline

Story starts with Kim Yoon-hee (Park Min-young) who enters Sungkyunkwan to study. She has been disguising herself as a man as the society does not allow women to be educated or employed. 

There she meets Yi Seonjun (Micky), Mun Jae-sin (Yoo Ah-in) and Gu Yong-ha (Song Joong-ki).

My View

A female under disguise of male story often leads to lots of funny moments. 

The plot towards the end is not too bad with the villian turning into a good person because of love. 

Rating

4/5 Stars

Korean Drama : Moonlight Drawn by Clouds

Alternative Title

Love in the Moonlight

Year Released

2016

Genre

Historical period, Romance

No. of Episodes

18 + 1 special - running time of 70 minutes per episode

Starring

Park Bo-gum, Kim Yoo-jung, Jinyoung

Storyline

The story tells how Hong Ra-on (Kim Yoo-jung) enters the palace and becomes eunuch to Crown Prince Lee Yeong (Park Bo-gum).

Lee Yeong later faces danger as Prime Minister Kim Heon (Chun Ho-jin) plans to let his own son Kim Yoon-sung (Jinyoung) to be the King.

My View

Not too bad for historical period drama.

Rating

3/5 Stars