Follow this 3-part list of nine (9) must-watch historical Korean dramas that weave fantasy and the supernatural into epic tales of love, power, and destiny.
(1) Alchemy of Souls (2022, 2 Seasons)
A historical fantasy K-drama set in Daeho, where forbidden soul shifting, magic, political intrigue, and a dangerous romance collide.
Set in the fictional nation of Daeho, Alchemy of Souls revolves around soul shifting—an illegal form of black magic that nearly everyone secretly practices, including royalty and assassins. Naksu, a legendary and ruthless assassin, is hunted by powerful mages determined to eliminate her. To survive, she performs a last-minute soul shift into the body of a weak, blind servant girl, losing her powerful sword in the process. Though physically fragile, Naksu regains her sight and begins plotting her comeback.
She soon crosses paths with Jang Uk, a nobleman who recognizes her soul-shifted identity by the telltale blue in her eyes. When he realizes who she truly is, they strike a deal: Naksu will train him in her lethal skills, and he will help her recover her sword. As their partnership deepens, they become entangled in palace conspiracies, corrupt rulers, rival mages, and hidden powers tied to Naksu’s borrowed body. Amid political chaos and danger, Naksu and Jang Uk fall in love, complicating everything.
(2) Arthdal Chronicles (2019; Season 2 – 2023)
An epic historical fantasy set in Bronze Age Arthdal, where prophecy, tribal conflict, and hidden identities shape the rise of a kingdom.
Set in the fictional land of Arthdal during the Bronze Age, Arthdal Chronicles draws inspiration from the legend of Dangun, Korea’s mythical founder. Before Arthdal became a kingdom, it was a land of rival tribes and brutal power struggles. Eunseom, a member of the Wahan Tribe, endures hardship from birth before discovering his true identity: he is a hybrid descended from a mystical race and the child of an ancient prophecy. His existence places him at the center of Arthdal’s fight for power.
Tanya, a noble-hearted priestess and successor of the Wahan Tribe, grows stronger through adversity and becomes a key leader devoted to her people. Together, Eunseom and Tanya oppose Tagon, a ruthless war hero who dreams of ruling Arthdal as king. Tagon claims to be the reincarnation of Aramun Haesulla, the god-like founder of Arthdal, while hiding his own half-breed origins. If his secret is revealed, the fearful populace would likely execute him, destroying his ambitions.
(3) Lovers of the Red Sky (2021)
A mythological romance in the Dan Dynasty, blending divine art, demons, fate, and love amid royal politics and supernatural forces.
Set in the fictional Dan Dynasty, Lovers of the Red Sky blends romance, mythology, and political intrigue. Hong Cheong-Gi and Ha Ram meet as children but are separated by fate. As adults, they reunite and fall in love. Cheong-Gi, once blind, becomes a gifted “divine painter” chosen to restore a royal portrait that once sealed the god of death. When the painting was damaged by fire, the demon escaped, setting dark forces in motion.
Ha Ram, born with the power of water, was nearly sacrificed in a ritual meant to appease the gods. Instead, the demon partially possesses him, leaving him blind yet gifted as an astrologer able to read fate through the stars. On the same day, Cheong-Gi miraculously gains her sight. This exchange was orchestrated by protective spirits who intend to recapture the demon. As red skies signal supernatural upheaval, the lovers are trapped between deadly court politics and an ancient battle between good and evil.
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