Best historical K-dramas (sageuk) to watch: Joseon romances, epics and palace stories

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Sageuk (사극), historical dramas, are one of the richest corners of Korean TV: palace politics, scholars and kings, beautiful costumes and stories that move from light romance to bloody epic. Most are set in the Joseon dynasty (1392 to 1897), though some go further back. Here are well-loved picks, without spoilers. Our beginner list already covers Kingdom and Mr. Sunshine, so they are left out here. Availability changes by country, so check your local streaming services.

Classics

Jewel in the Palace (Dae Jang Geum), MBC, 2003 to 2004. A young woman rises from palace kitchen worker to the king's physician. Long, warm and hugely influential; the show that made sageuk a global export.
Deep Rooted Tree, SBS, 2011. A murder mystery in King Sejong's palace while he secretly creates the Korean alphabet. Clever and tense.
Six Flying Dragons, SBS, 2015 to 2016. The founding of Joseon through six figures, real and fictional. A long epic, packed with politics and swordplay, and loosely a prequel to Deep Rooted Tree.

Romance in the palace

Moon Embracing the Sun, MBC, 2012. A crown prince and the girl he loved as a child, separated by court intrigue. Emotional and very popular.
The Red Sleeve, MBC, 2021. A court lady and the future King Jeongjo. Quiet, restrained and beautifully made, with a heroine who wants her own life.
Love in the Moonlight, KBS2, 2016. A crown prince and a young woman disguised as a eunuch. Light, romantic and a big hit.
The King's Affection, KBS2, 2021. A princess raised as her twin brother takes his place as crown prince. Romance and secret identities.

Lighter and comic

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung, MBC, 2019. A woman joins the palace as one of the first female historians and records everything, including what the court would rather hide. Witty, warm, with a gentle romance.
Mr. Queen, tvN, 2020 to 2021. A modern man wakes up in the body of a Joseon queen. Broad comedy that gradually becomes palace drama.

Palace politics

Under the Queen's Umbrella, tvN, 2022. A queen fights to protect her mischievous sons while the court competes for the throne. Sharp, funny and moving.

Before you start

Episode counts vary a lot: a modern mini-series is 16 episodes; classic epics like Six Flying Dragons run to fifty or more. Check before committing.
History is loose. Many sageuk mix real kings with invented characters and events. Enjoy them as stories, and read about the real figures afterwards if you are curious.
Words to know: jeonha (Your Majesty), mama (used for queens and princes), seja (crown prince), and the endless cries of "jeonha!" in the throne room.
Fusion sageuk, with modern dialogue or fantasy elements, is a genre of its own; if you like those, try Alchemy of Souls, set in an invented kingdom.

Where to go next

If palace intrigue hooks you, look for dramas about the same kings from different angles; King Jeongjo and King Sejong appear in many. Our romantic comedy and thriller lists suit the moods in between. Which sageuk would you recommend to a newcomer, and which one made you cry? Share in the comments.