References to Western Literature Mentioned in Five (5) Korean Dramas

Korean dramas often spark curiosity beyond the screen—whether it’s real events, food, or references to Western literature woven into the plot. 

These five dramas use real books as emotional and thematic markers to deepen character development and highlight Korea’s blend of global influences. For me, these literary references make the stories richer and inspire me to explore the books behind them; I wonder if they do the same for you.

(1) The Lucifer ~ Inside the Mind of a Dark Genius

• People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil, a book written by M. Scott Peck.

The drama uses “People of the Lie...” to frame its exploration of human malice, self-deception, and moral corruption. Peck’s psychological insights become central to the protagonist’s investigation, shaping the entire narrative.

(2) Born Again ~ 3 People Reincarnated, Love Triangle Recreated

• Emily Brontë’s gothic classic novel about obsession and fate, Wuthering Heights.

The story mirrors “Wuthering Heights” through themes of longing, fate, and emotional obsession. Three souls connected in the 1980s are reborn to repeat a tragic love triangle across lifetimes.

(3) My Love From the Star ~ A Cosmic Romance Phenomenon

• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, a children’s novel by Kate DiCamillo.

The drama references “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” to highlight Do Min Joon’s emotional evolution from detachment to love. Like Edward, he learns through loss, vulnerability, and connection what it truly means to care.

(4) The Nice Guy – I Just Want To Live Happily Ever After

• The Sun Also Rises, is a classic novel written by the Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway.

A gentle-hearted heir trapped in a violent family clings to the hope symbolized by Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises”. The quote about the rising sun becomes his reminder that a peaceful life might still be possible.

(5) Notes From The Last Row ~ A Mentorship Turns Into Psychological Warfare

• The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Referencing "The Sorrows of Young Werther" signals the drama’s focus on obsession, unrequited longing, and emotional unraveling. The mentor-student relationship spirals into a tense psychological battle echoing Werther’s intensity.

Condensed from content published via PopGeeks.com.

The Legend (2007 K‑Drama): Epic Fantasy, Reincarnation & the Four Gods Prophecy

The Legend (2007) blends historical fantasy, political intrigue, and reincarnation mythology into an epic story about Dam‑Deok, the destined King of Jyushin. Rooted in the legend of Dangun and Gwanggaeto the Great, the drama follows the heavenly prince Hwan‑woong’s ancient tragedy and the prophecy that a true king—born under the king’s star—will rise 2,000 years later. As Dam‑Deok grows up amid ruthless palace factions, the Four Gods begin to awaken, confirming his identity and pulling him into a dangerous web of betrayal, supernatural forces, and karmic echoes from a past life.

Reincarnated figures from the ancient conflict return: Suzini, warm‑hearted and spirited, carries the power of the Red Phoenix, while Seo Gi‑Ha, raised and manipulated by the Hwacheon Clan, becomes the vessel of the destructive Black Phoenix. Dam‑Deok must navigate political enemies, a rival groomed to take his throne, and a tragic love bound to catastrophic destiny. As the prophecy unfolds, the fate of Jyushin—and the world—depends on whether he can confront both human treachery and the lingering consequences of a love triangle that once destroyed a kingdom.

Main Characters:

• Hwan-woong-->Dam-Deok (played by Bae Yong-Jun)

Dam-Deok (teen) (played by Yoo Seung-Ho)

• Seo Gi-Ha (played by Moon So-Ri)

Seo Gi-Ha (teen) (played by Park Eun-Bin)

• Suzini (played by Lee Ji-A)

Suzini (teen) (played by Shim Eun-Kyung)

• Hun Go (played by Oh Gwang-Rok)

• Yeon Ho-Gae (played by Yoon Tae-Young)

⭐ See detailed review at PopGeeks

Bride of the Century (2014) ~ An Old But Gold Fantasy Korean Drama About Curses and Charms

"Bride of the Century" is an old but gold 2014 Korean drama series, with 16 episodes. It blends romance, mystery, and fantasy into a story centered on identity, fate, and the weight of family expectations.  Where to Watch

Main Characters:

• Na Doo-Rim / Jang Yi-Kyung (played by Yang Jin-Sung)

• Choi Kang-Joo (played by Lee Hong-Ki)

• Jang Yi-Hyun (played by Sung Hyuk)

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 7 out of 10 stars

• My Drama List: 7.8 out of 10 stars

• Viki viewers rated the series 9.3 out of 10 stars

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STORYLINE:

A century-old curse shapes the lives of those connected to the influential Choi family. According to legend, the first bride of the family’s eldest son is destined to die—a chilling prophecy that has haunted generations from the Joseon Era and continues to cast a shadow over the present.

Choi Kang-Joo, the aloof and impeccably groomed heir to Taeyang Group. Choi Kang-Joo is intelligent and capable, yet emotionally distant due to past trauma and the heavy burden of his family’s legacy. His arranged marriage to Jang Yi-Kyung, a poised and calculating heiress, is intended to strengthen business ties and uphold tradition. However, Jang Yi-Kyung mysteriously disappears just before the wedding, throwing both families into crisis.

To preserve the engagement and avoid scandal, the Jang family secretly recruits Na Doo-Rim, a cheerful and hardworking young woman from a small island village who happens to be Jang Yi-Kyung’s doppelganger. Na Doo-Rim's personality is the complete opposite of Jang Yi-Kyung. She is warm, sincere, and refreshingly honest and in need of money. Jang Yi-Hyun, Jang Yi-Kyung’s half-brother agrees to provide financial support for her grandmother’s medical needs, if Na Doo-Rim would impersonate his missing sister. Of course, she is unaware of the dangerous curse tied to the first bride. But no matter. She does not plan to actually marry the chaebol heir. It's just a temporary gig.

But the best-laid plans often don't go as planned.

Na Doo-Rim enters Choi Kang-Joo’s world, and her genuine personality begins to soften his guarded exterior. Their interactions shift from formal and tense to unexpectedly tender, creating a slow-burn romance filled with emotional nuance. Choi Kang-Joo, who initially views her as a strategic match, finds himself drawn to her authenticity—never suspecting her true identity. Meanwhile, Na Doo-Rim struggles with guilt and fear, torn between her growing feelings and the deception she must maintain. Jang Yi-Hyun, the half-brother, becomes increasingly entangled in the unfolding mystery.

Before meeting anyone in the Jang or the Choi family, Na Doo-Rim helped a woman in distress. The woman gave her a good luck charm and told her it would bring her love. Love is great.  But can a charm break a century-old curse?

***

TRAILERS/TEASERS:

Viki Global TV. (2020). BRIDE OF THE CENTURY - OFFICIAL TRAILER [Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=2lbdPS2WbHc.

♦- Thanks for reading.

Eight (8) Occult and Ritual Horror K-Drama and Film (List 3)

This final collection brings together the heaviest hitters in Korean occult horror — stories where exorcists, shamans, scholars, and ordinary families confront demons that blur the line between faith and fear. 

These titles push ritual horror to its peak, weaving possession, curses, grave disturbances, and spiritual deception into narratives that feel both mythic and brutally immediate. If the earlier lists (List 1, and List 2) explored the edges of the supernatural, this one steps directly into the abyss.

(1)  The Priests (2015)

A young priest and a seasoned exorcist attempt to save a possessed girl, uncovering a demonic force far more cunning than they expected. One of Korea’s most intense and respected exorcism films. IMDb: 6.3/10

(2)  Metamorphosis (2019)

A shape-shifting demon infiltrates a family, twisting their identities and turning their home into a battleground of paranoia and spiritual terror. IMDb: 5.6/10

(3)  The Guest (2018)

A shaman, a priest, and a detective join forces to hunt an ancient demon that manipulates communities through fear, curses, and possession. IMDb: 7.9/10

(4)  Guimoon: The Lightless Door (2021)

A paranormal investigator enters a cursed building tied to ritual suicides, confronting a cycle of violence fueled by occult rites. IMDb: 4.9/10

(5)  The Cursed: Dead Man’s Prey (2021)

Ritual-controlled revenants are unleashed on the city, forcing a journalist and a teenage shaman to uncover the dark magic behind the attacks. IMDb: 5.6/10

(6)  Revenant (2023)

A woman becomes possessed by a vengeful spirit tied to shamanic curses, while a folklore scholar uncovers the ritual origins of the haunting. IMDb: 8.1/10

(7)  Exhuma (2024)

Elite shamans investigate a grave disturbance curse that unleashes ancestral wrath, blending ritual horror with high-stakes spiritual warfare. IMDb: 7.3/10

(8)  The Wailing (2016)

A rural cop confronts shamanism, demonic deception, and psychological collapse as a mysterious outsider triggers a wave of violent possession. Widely considered the pinnacle of Korean occult horror. IMDb: 7.4/10

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This final list brings Korean occult horror to its highest intensity, showcasing stories where exorcists, shamans, scholars, and ordinary people confront forces that twist faith, identity, and reality itself. From demonic deception to ancestral curses, these titles reveal how deeply ritual and belief shape Korea’s most unsettling narratives. Together, they form a powerful finale — a reminder that in the world of occult horror, the most terrifying battles are fought not in the shadows, but in the spaces where tradition and the supernatural collide.

Eight (8) Occult and Ritual Horror K‑Drama and Film Roundup (List 2)

If the first list explored the eerie edges of Korean folklore, this second collection plunges straight into the heart of ritual horror — where shamanism, cults, possession, and theological dread drive the narrative.

• List 1 was "mild". These titles push deeper into the occult, blending spiritual traditions with modern fears (cult themes, rituals, possession, stronger horror) to create stories that feel both ancient and unsettlingly current. They can be grouped as "moderate". Whether it’s cursed relics, demon hunts, or time‑warped killers, each entry reveals another facet of Korea’s rich supernatural imagination.

(1)  The Closet (2020)

A father searching for his missing daughter discovers a shamanic underworld filled with trapped child spirits, forcing him to confront a supernatural realm shaped by trauma and ritual. IMDb: 5.7/10

(2)  Possessed (2019)

A psychic woman and a detective team up to stop a serial killer whose crimes intertwine with shamanistic rituals and demonic influence. IMDb: 6.3/10

(3)  Svaha: The Sixth Finger (2019)

A pastor who investigates religious cults uncovers a sinister group tied to occult theology, reincarnation myths, and a mysterious girl with a dark destiny. IMDb: 6.3/10

(4)  The Cursed (2020)

A journalist and a teenage shaman expose a corporation using black magic, possession, and ritual killings to maintain power, unleashing forces beyond human control. IMDb: 6.7/10

(5)  The Call (2020)

Two women connected through a phone call across time become entangled in a ritualistic serial killer’s timeline, twisting fate and reality with every conversation. IMDb: 7.1/10

(6)  Monstrous (2022)

A cursed Buddha statue triggers mass possession in a small town, forcing a grieving archaeologist and her ex-husband to confront an ancient evil. IMDb: 5.9/10

(7)  The 8th Night (2021)

A monk and an exorcist hunt a demon that awakens every eight nights, following Buddhist ritual lore to prevent an apocalyptic possession. IMDb: 6.2/10

(8)  The Divine Fury (2019)

A martial artist marked by stigmata joins a veteran exorcist to battle demons, blending action horror with Catholic ritual and supernatural combat. IMDb: 6.1/10

***

This second wave of occult stories dives deeper into Korea’s ritualistic underbelly, where shamanism, cursed relics, and theological dread shape battles between humanity and the unseen. Each title pushes past simple scares, revealing how spiritual traditions, belief systems, and ancient lore continue to haunt modern life. Together, they form a chilling reminder that the most terrifying forces aren’t always monsters — sometimes they’re rituals, faith, and the shadows we inherit.

Six (6) Occult Korean Dramas: From Folk Curses to Grim Reapers (You Can Keep Your Eyes Open)

Below is a quick list of occult Korean dramas. These go in the "mild" grouping, i.e., atmospheric, folk-tinged, low-gore. That means you don't have to watch them with your eyes closed, and it's OK if you turn the lights off for effect.

(1) The Piper (2015)

A wandering piper and his ill son take refuge in a remote village after the Korean War, only to uncover a dark secret tied to a folk curse and the villagers’ deceit. The eerie, slow-burn atmosphere builds toward a grim, folkloric reckoning. IMDb: 6.4/10

(2) The Mimic (2017)

A grieving mother encounters the Jangsan Tiger, a creature that mimics human voices, pulling her family into an unsettling mystery rooted in Korean folklore. The horror is atmospheric rather than extreme, leaning on dread over jump scares. IMDb: 5.6/10

(3) Black (2017)

A grim reaper inhabits a human body and teams up with a woman who can foresee death, unraveling a conspiracy that blurs the boundary between the living and the afterlife. The series mixes supernatural mythology with crime-driven mystery. IMDb: 7.8/10

(4) Sell Your Haunted House (2021)

A pragmatic exorcist who runs a real estate business purging haunted properties partners with a con artist medium, uncovering secrets tied to restless spirits and her own past. Despite the occult rituals, the tone stays accessible and character-driven. IMDb: 7.6/10

(5) Goedam (2020)

This short-form horror anthology dramatizes modern Korean urban legends, each episode delivering a quick, eerie encounter with ghosts, curses, or unexplained phenomena. Creepy atmosphere over intensity defines the series. IMDb: 5.7/10

(6) Revelations (2024)

A pastor and a detective become entangled in a ritualistic murder case where prophecy, faith, and occult symbolism collide, pushing both toward dangerous revelations. (Note: This appears to correspond to Revelations/Gyesirok.) IMDb: 6.0/10 (2025 listing)

**

From haunted villages and mimic spirits to grim reapers and prophetic visions, these occult K‑dramas reveal how Korean storytelling transforms fear into fascination. Each title invites viewers to explore the unseen — where folklore, faith, and fate intertwine — proving that the supernatural isn’t just about terror, but about uncovering the mysteries that linger between worlds.

If I See the Red Line, Your Secret is Not Safe With Me | S Line (2025) | K-Drama Review

Memorable Quote: “The truth is written in red.”

♦ RMSS = Red Lines + Mystery + Shameful Secrets

“S-Line” is set in a near-future South Korea unsettled by a shocking phenomenon: glowing red “S Lines” appear above people’s heads, visually linking them to everyone with whom they have had sexual relationships. Once dismissed as an urban legend, the lines become terrifyingly real when certain individuals can see them unaided, exposing private histories and dismantling the boundaries of intimacy and secrecy.

The story centers on Shin Hyun-Heup, a withdrawn young woman born with the ability to see S Lines. Her gift has isolated her since childhood, when her drawings accidentally revealed devastating family secrets. Living on the margins of society, Shin Hyun-Heup has learned that knowledge can wound as much as it can reveal. Her fragile equilibrium is disrupted when "special eyeglasses" emerge that allow anyone who wears them to see the red lines, transforming a rare burden into a mass phenomenon. ...

See full article at PopGeeks

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TRAILER/TEASER:

Saukdrama. “S Line - New Trailer.” YouTube, 2 Apr. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1qnT8cjL-k.

Hulu Original Korean Drama ~ Light Shop (2024)

Light Shop (2024): GENRE: Fantasy, Supernatural, Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense; No. of episodes: 8

This supernatural mystery explores a strange store that offers customers a chance to revisit moments from their past.

Main Characters:

• Jung Won-Young (played by Ju Ji-Hoon)

• Joo Hyun-Ju (played by Shin Eun-Soo)

• Lee Ji-Young (played by Seol Hyun)

A mysterious young woman appears human but may be something far more dangerous. No one knows her name or where she comes from, only that encounters with her rarely end well. A young man notices her sitting at the same bus stop every night with a suitcase, not moving. One rainy evening, he offers her help, unaware that her intentions may be far from innocent.

Nearby, Jung Won-young runs a small light shop at the end of a dark alley. He claims to see “strangers”—supernatural beings that move in darkness. A schoolgirl, Joo Hyun-ju, often stops by his shop, drawn to its safety and light. Jung Won-young warns her that if she ever encounters a stranger, she must pretend nothing is wrong to survive.

When Joo Hyun-ju finally faces one of the “strangers”, she escapes by reaching the light shop. It becomes clear that the light shop is protection, and darkness is danger. The light shop owner Jung Won-young is also mysterious. He may be guarding more than just the store. Maybe he's a “good stranger”???

OFFICIAL TRAILER: Hulu. “Light Shop.” YouTube, 2 Dec. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUTranui_uY.

♦

Nine (9) Must-Watch Historical Fantasy Korean Dramas (Part 3 of 3)

Part 3 of the 3-part list of nine (9) must-watch historical fantasy Korean dramas.

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(7) Kingdom (2019) & Kingdom: Ashin of the North (2021)

A Joseon-era zombie thriller where political corruption, a deadly resurrection plant, and one woman’s revenge unleash a kingdom-ending plague.

Set in 17th-century Joseon, three years after the Imjin War, Kingdom reimagines the zombie genre through historical horror. A mysterious plague spreads across the land, turning the dead into flesh-eating monsters. The source is not demonic possession or alien parasites, but a deceptively beautiful “resurrection plant” capable of reanimating corpses. As the outbreak worsens, corrupt ministers conceal the truth because the king himself has been infected. The crown prince, isolated and unsure whom to trust, sets out to uncover the origin of the disease and save the kingdom.

The prequel, Kingdom: Ashin of the North, reveals how the horror began. Ashin, a young girl from a border village, loses her family after Joseon officials betray her father and massacre her people to appease the Jurchens. As the sole survivor, Ashin learns the truth and plots devastating revenge—using the resurrection plant that turns humans into monsters. Her tragedy becomes the catalyst for the kingdom’s collapse.

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(8) Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)

A modern woman time-travels to the Goryeo era, where palace intrigue, tragic romance, and destiny shape a love that defies time.

In modern-day South Korea, Hae-Soo is questioning the value of her life when she impulsively jumps into a lake to save a drowning stranger. Instead of resurfacing in her own world, she awakens in the Goryeo era, surrounded by royal princes bathing in the palace. Disoriented and vulnerable, Hae-Soo must quickly adapt to a dangerous world governed by rigid hierarchies, political intrigue, and ruthless power struggles.

Her fate becomes intertwined with Prince Wang So, a feared and enigmatic royal who will later rise to the throne through bloodshed and betrayal. As Hae-Soo grows closer to him, she realizes that her knowledge of future events gives her insight—but not control. Though she foresees tragedy, changing history may be impossible. Love blossoms amid violence, betrayal, and forbidden desire, leading to irreversible consequences. The series asks whether fate can be rewritten or must be endured, and whether love can survive in a world where power always comes at a terrible cost.

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(9) The Haunted Palace (2025)

A Joseon fantasy where ghosts haunt the palace, a fallen dragon possesses a man’s body, and a reluctant shaman holds the key to salvation.

The Haunted Palace blends Joseon-era intrigue with supernatural fantasy. Yeo-Ri, a young woman born with the ability to see ghosts, is the granddaughter of a powerful shaman. Despite her gifts, she longs for a quiet life selling eyeglasses in the countryside. Her childhood friend Yoon Gab, now a palace official, seeks her help to cure the king’s tormented son—but deceives her about the true purpose of her visit.

Tragedy strikes when Yoon Gab is murdered in the forest, and a fallen dragon, Gang Cheol—an imugi who has followed Yeo-Ri for years—possesses his body. Unaware of the possession, Yeo-Ri awakens in the palace amid ghostly attacks and mounting danger. As spirits haunt the royal family, Yeo-Ri must confront her shamanic destiny while struggling with her feelings for Yoon Gab’s body and Gang Cheol’s presence within it. Trust, identity, and love blur as she fights to protect the palace from restless spirits.

Nine (9) Must-Watch Historical Fantasy Korean Dramas (Part 2 of 3)

Part 2 of the 3-part list of nine (9) must-watch historical fantasy Korean dramas.

(4) Our Blooming Youth (2023)

A Joseon-era mystery where a cursed crown prince and a fugitive noblewoman uncover conspiracies, false crimes, and a hidden truth from the past.

Set during the Joseon dynasty, Our Blooming Youth follows Crown Prince Lee Hwan, a man haunted by rumors and fear. Whispers claim he murdered his brother to secure his position, and when he receives a mysterious “ghost letter” predicting his downfall, he begins to believe he is truly cursed. A series of frightening incidents only deepens his paranoia and isolation.

Min Jae Yi, a noblewoman with a sharp mind, faces her own nightmare after being falsely accused of murdering her family. Hunted as a fugitive, she remembers her father’s dying words: “Protect the crown prince.” To reach him, she disguises herself as a eunuch named Go Soon Dol. Jae Yi convinces Lee Hwan that the curse and ghostly events are elaborate tricks rooted in science, not superstition. They form an alliance—he will help clear her name if she helps uncover the truth. Their investigation reveals a dark incident from a decade earlier that links both their fates.

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(5) The Forbidden Marriage (2022)

A Joseon romantic comedy where a grieving king bans all marriages and a bold con artist pretends to channel his dead queen’s spirit.

Set in the Joseon era, The Forbidden Marriage tells the story of King Lee Heon, who remains devastated seven years after the death of his beloved queen. Declared a suicide, her death left him so traumatized that he refused to remarry—effectively banning marriage throughout the kingdom. Each year, on the anniversary of her death, another young woman is found hanging, reopening the king’s wounds and worsening his fragile mental state.

Ye So-rang, a clever con artist imprisoned for fraud, sees an opportunity for survival. Claiming to be possessed by the spirit of the late crown princess, she convinces the desperate king that she can channel his beloved from the afterlife. In truth, it is all an act. Ye So-rang is a noblewoman presumed dead after her stepmother’s failed murder attempt, now living by her wits alone. Her plan is simple: deceive the king long enough to escape the palace. But as emotions deepen and secrets unravel, the line between deception and healing begins to blur.

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(6) Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead (2018)

A Joseon-era mystery comedy where a brilliant detective investigates vampire rumors, strange deaths, and a sinister quest for immortality.

In Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead, eccentric genius Detective Kim Min and his loyal assistant Seo-pil are summoned by the king to investigate a string of mysterious deaths in a remote village. The victims have been drained of blood, sparking rumors of a vampire—or “living dead”—terrorizing the countryside. As fear spreads, the unlikely duo encounters suspicious villagers and a mysterious woman with possible ties to the undead.

Though this is Detective K’s first brush with the supernatural, he remains firmly grounded in logic and reason. Refusing to believe in vampires, he searches for a scientific explanation behind the horrors. The investigation leads to a hidden laboratory where rogue scientists are experimenting with an immortality potion. As secrets surface, Detective K must determine whether the living dead truly exist—or whether fear itself is being used to disguise darker human crimes.

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Nine (9) Must-Watch Historical Fantasy Korean Dramas (Part 1 of 3)

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.

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(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.

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(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.

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(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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Korean Drama TV Series: The Scholar Who Walks the Night (2015)

I am not a fan of the horror genre. But I do like Korean historical period dramas. That's why when I first came across this TV series titled “The Scholar Who Walks the Night,” which was about vampires during the Joseon Dynasty, I wasn't sure if I wanted to watch it.

First of all, my background is Christian, and all the vampires that I have ever seen were weakened or even killed by a crucifix. So I'm thinking … how are they going to kill vampires in Korea??? Surely they won't use a cross. Nevertheless, I decided to watch the show because the main actor is Lee Joon-gi and I'm a fan.

There is a good vampire and a bad vampire. Lee Joon-gi plays the “good vampire”. He was close friends with the crown prince. The crown prince was fully aware that there was a vampire who was attacking people in the palace, and he wanted to get rid of that vampire. Scholar Kim Sung-yeol (played by Lee Joon-Gi) had no idea he was going to become a vampire. 

What happened was that the crown prince knew another good vampire who was trying to help him get rid of the bad vampire. He told his friend, the scholar, what his plans were and introduced him to the good vampire. 

Long story short. He was taken by surprise when the good vampire bit him! The good vampire told him that it was the only way for him to save the kingdom from that menacing, wicked vampire. Lee Soo-hyuk plays Gwi, the bloodthirsty evil vampire who wants to rule over all the humans.

Oh! What did they use instead of a crucifix? Something called Chinese hawthorn.

It was 20 episodes, and to my surprise, I really enjoyed it!  Glad I stepped outside my comfort zone.

Leejoongitalianfamily 2. “Trailer Scholar Who Walks the Night (2015) Sub Ita/Eng/Esp.” YouTube, 14 Jun. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UArSnKa1FqI.

Watch on KOCOWA+ with English Subtitles

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