Love supernatural sageuk K-dramas? Watch these before ‘The East Palace’

The first of its kind, Kingdom is a Korean zombie series set during the Joseon period. Thanks to its unconventional premise and fresh take on the zombie genre, the supernatural sageuk K-drama has won over audiences worldwide. The plot follows Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) as he seeks the truth behind the king’s illness.

His search leads him and his guard Moo-young (Kim Sang-ho) to a remote province, where local physician Seo-bi (Bae Doo-na) reveals the existence of a terrifying plague that resurrects the dead and transforms them into flesh-eating zombies. As the infection spreads across the kingdom, the crown prince must fight to protect his people while navigating a ruthless battle for the throne.

See more: 9 must-see TV shows with Ju Ji-hoon, ‘Princess Hours’ to ‘The Remarried Empress’

The time-slip rom-com Bon Appétit, Your Majesty puts a culinary twist on the supernatural sageuk genre. It traces the journey of Yeon Ji-young (Lim Yoona), an award-winning French chef who is mysteriously transported to the Joseon period, where she comes face-to-face with Lee Heon (Lee Chae-min)—a king as notorious for his tyranny as he is, fortunately for her, for his refined palate.

To survive in an unfamiliar era, Ji-young uses her modern culinary skills to prepare elaborate royal dishes, quickly earning a place in the palace kitchens. As her cooking earns the king’s favour, their professional relationship evolves into an unexpected romance—leaving Ji-young torn between returning to her own time and staying in the past with Lee Heon.

Penned by the Hong Sisters, Alchemy of Souls is a fantasy sageuk K-drama set in the fictional kingdom of Daeho. Jang Uk (Lee Jae-wook) is the heir of a powerful mage family whose destiny changes after meeting Nak-su, a legendary assassin whose soul has been trapped inside the body of Mu-deok (Jung So-min), a blind servant, through the forbidden magic known as the Alchemy of Souls.

As Mu-deok secretly trains Jang Uk, helping him unlock his powers, they are forced into a dangerous struggle involving Soul Shifters who steal other people’s bodies to achieve immortality. In Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow, the story jumps three years ahead. An amnesiac Nak-su returns in her original form (Go Youn-jung). Believed to be Jin Bu-yeon, the mysterious eldest daughter of the powerful Jin clan, she finds herself drawn to Jang Uk once again.

Inspired by the novel by Jung Eun-gwol, Lovers of the Red Sky, the SBS supernatural sageuk K-drama set during the Joseon era, tells the story of Hong Cheon-gi (Kim Yoo-jung), the kingdom’s prodigious—and sole—female painter. Her life becomes intertwined with Ha Ram (Ahn Hyo-seop), a blind astrologer who serves as the unwilling vessel of the Demon King, Ma Wang.

As the royal court is threatened by dark forces, Cheon-gi and Ha Ram find themselves at the centre of a power struggle involving rival princes, vengeful shamans and a centuries-old curse. To save both the kingdom and the man she loves, Cheon-gi must complete a sacred painting capable of sealing Ma Wang’s spirit once more.

Deeply rooted in Korean folklore, The Haunted Palace centres on Yeo-ri (Bona), a gifted shaman who abandons her spiritual calling to live as an artisan making eyeglasses. But as much as she shuns the supernatural world, it still finds her when Gang Cheol, a centuries-old Imugi—a serpent deity—possesses the body of her childhood friend and first love, royal scribe Yoon Gap (Yook Sung-jae), after his sudden death.

Enlisted to help King Lee Seong (Kim Ji-hoon) investigate a series of sinister supernatural incidents at the palace, the two uncover a string of hauntings sweeping the palace—the work of a vengeful spirit seeking retribution against the royal bloodline. As political schemers manipulate the unrest for their own gain, Yeo-ri and Gang Cheol race to confront the entity before it consumes the palace and Gang Cheol along with it.

A fan-favourite fantasy sageuk K-drama, the tvN series follows Jang Bong-hwan (Choi Jin-hyuk), a modern-day chef who, after a near-fatal accident, wakes up in the body of Kim So-yong (Shin Hye-sun), the future queen of the Joseon dynasty. To navigate palace life while keeping his true identity hidden, Bong-hwan relies on his quick wit—and exceptional culinary skills—to survive court life.

As So-yong, Bong-hwan grows closer to King Cheoljong (Kim Jung-hyun), drawing him into a fierce political struggle that threatens the throne. From fish-out-of-water comedy, the drama evolves into a sharp political thriller laced with romance and fantastical stakes. Beneath the slapstick lies a surprisingly thoughtful look at gender, power and identity.

Based on the Chinese novel Bu Bu Jing Xin, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is an epic tale of romance and palace intrigue. When Go Ha-jin (IU), a modern-day woman transported back to the Goryeo dynasty after a total solar eclipse, wakes up in the body of noblewoman Hae-soo, she finds herself caught in a fierce power struggle among the royal family’s princes.

As Hae-soo grows closer to the enigmatic Fourth Prince Wang So (Lee Joon-gi), she is drawn deeper into the bitter rivalry for the crown, while grappling with the consequences of knowing the kingdom’s future. The tragic love story between Hae-soo and Wang So struck a chord with viewers who, a decade on, still yearn for a sequel with a happier ending.

Whether you are drawn to ghost stories, mythical creatures, time-slip romances or magical kingdoms, these supernatural sageuk K-dramas prove that Korea’s historical dramas are at their most imaginative when fantasy enters the picture. With The East Palace poised to bring another chilling tale of palace hauntings and Korean folklore to Netflix, there has never been a better time to explore the genre’s most unforgettable titles.

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