Loved the historical setting in Dear Hongrang? 3 K-dramas set in the Joseon dynasty that are a must-watch

Netflix's latest historical K-drama, Dear Hongrang, gained much popularity and saw an increased interest in Korea's history.

This fictional tale starring Lee Jae-wook and Jo Bo-ah is set in the Joseon Dynasty, where the son of a wealthy merchant suddenly goes missing. When an identical man returns twelve years later claiming to be him, the quest for truth begins.

While the K-drama is being praised for its gripping storyline, fans are also fascinated with the Joseon Dynasty, which is the period between 1392–1897 and is an important part of Korean history.

Many K-dramas use the Joseon dynasty as a setting for their characters to meet and fall in love with. It is often used in many political K-dramas, too.

Here are 3 historical K-dramas set in the Joseon dynasty if you liked Dear Hongrang.

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3 K-dramas with Joseon dynasty setting if you liked Dear Hongrang

1) Mr. Queen

The most famous historical K-drama set in the Joseon dynasty is tvN's Mr. Queen, which debuted in 2020. Perfectly in contrast to the serious undertones of Dear Hongrang, this historical K-drama is a perfect blend of mystery and humour, making it a must-watch.

Starring Kim Jung-hyun and Shin Hye-sun in the titular roles, Mr. Queen follows Jang Bong-hwan, a chef in modern-day Seoul who time-travels to the Joseon dynasty after a near-death experience at his job.

The sudden change not only transports him to the Joseon dynasty, but he also finds himself in the body of Queen Cheorin. Just like Dear Hongrang, the K-drama plays on mistaken identities as Bong-hwan tries his best to return to his own time by cooking and winning Queen Sunwon's favors.

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2) Kingdom

Zombie apocalypse meets Joseon setting in this highly popular K-drama Kingdom, which debuted in January 2019.

If you liked the intense storyline in Dear Hongrang, you will likely enjoy this thriller series, set in a fictional and medieval-inspired Joseon Dynasty, amid some political conflicts. To add tensions, the kingdom is plagued by a zombie apocalypse.

Kingdom stars The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call fame Ju Ji-hoon, who plays Lee Chang, the Crown Prince of Joseon. The K-drama explores his efforts to uncover the origins of this mysterious illness while protecting his throne from outside forces.

The Joseon setting works perfectly well for the zombie apocalypse genre, which is mostly only explored in urban settings.

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3) Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung

If Dear Hongrang piqued your interest about the Joseon setting, this 2019 K-drama is the perfect watch for you, as it is partly based on the story of the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty.

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung stars Shin Se-kyung in the titular role as a free-spirited historian, who is frustrated by the casual objectification of females during the Joseon period. She uses education and her knowledge to break free from society's clutches and defend the weak and fallen women.

The K-drama also stars Cha Eun-woo as a young prince, secretly working as a romance novelist, whose novels are extremely famous among women readers.

Against the backdrop of the Joseon dynasty, their stories intertwine, and the K-drama beautifully explores the realities of the Joseon dynasty.

Dear Hongrang is streaming on Netflix.

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Also Read: Dear Hongrang star Lee Jae-wook starred in another historical K-drama