Korean dramas have captured the hearts of viewers worldwide with their distinctive storytelling and fascinating narratives.
One specific theme that has all the time had immense recognition is time journey.
These dramas skillfully weave collectively the complexities of the previous, current, and future, inviting viewers on an exciting journey via time.
The attract of time travel lies not solely within the imaginative plotlines but in addition within the emotional depth it provides to the narratives.
Characters discover themselves dealing with extraordinary circumstances as they grapple with the implications of altering the course of historical past or trying to rectify previous errors.
This exploration of the human situation, accompanied by a contact of fantasy, creates a profound and thought-provoking viewing expertise.
Furthermore, Okay-dramas usually infuse time journey narratives with components of romance, heightening the emotional stakes and including a layer of the dramatics that we’ve all come to know and love with Okay-dramas.
The intricate relationships that develop between characters throughout totally different time intervals lend an aura and longing, making these dramas all of the extra fascinating.
On this article, we’ll delve into the world of Okay-dramas that function time journey! So fasten your seatbelts as we embark on an exciting journey via time and uncover the enchanting realm of Korean dramas about time journey.
Mr. Queen, tvN (2020 – 2021)
Mr. Queen is a historic fantasy drama collection that tells the story of Jang Bong-hwan, a womanizing, free-spirited chef working within the Blue Home who will get transported again in time and finds himself inhabiting the physique of Queen Cheorin within the Joseon dynasty.
Jang Bong-hwan should negotiate the difficult world of the royal courtroom, the place political intrigue and energy struggles are widespread whereas dealing with the confusion of being in a girl’s physique.
In his position as Queen Cheorin, he’s pressured to depend on his resourcefulness and uncanny partnerships to outlive after changing into embroiled in a plot to depose the king.
Queen and I, tvN (2012)
Queen and I is a fantasy romantic comedy-drama that revolves round Kim Bung-do, a scholar within the Joseon dynasty.
He’s additionally one of many supporters of the rightful Queen In-Hyun, who had beforehand been deposed by a royal concubine.
A magical talisman by some means transports Bung-do to the current the place he encounters the well-known Queen In-hyun – who occurs to simply be a personality in a brand new Okay-drama – and finally ends up falling in love with the actress who performs her, Choi Hee-jin.
Nevertheless, their romance faces quite a few challenges and Bong-gu should navigate the complexities of the unknown future, all whereas striving to discover a approach again to the previous.
Splash Splash Love, MBC (2015)
Splash Splash Love is a Korean time-travel romantic drama that follows the story of Danbi, a highschool pupil who, in a bid to flee a serious arithmetic examination, makes use of her time-travel skills to move herself to the Joseon period throughout a rainstorm.
Regardless of hating math in her personal timeline, she turns into referred to as the neatest on this kingdom!
She and the King inexplicably fall in love, however Danbi makes the exhausting option to return to her personal time.
King Lee Do swears that he’ll discover her once more and as soon as once more throughout a rainstorm, the 2 are reunited via Lee’s reincarnation.
The King: Everlasting Monarch, SBS TV (2020)
The King: Everlasting Monarch is a fantasy romance drama that follows the parallel worlds of the modern-day Republic of Korea and the Kingdom of Corea.
Emperor Lee Gon of Corea discovers a portal connecting the 2 worlds and crosses over to seek out detective Jung Tae-eul, who’s a well-known face related along with his father’s homicide.
As they navigate their variations and the political tensions in each worlds, they uncover a harmful conspiracy and try to guard their family members.
Love blossoms between them, however they face immense challenges, together with a power-hungry villain who seeks to use the portal for his personal achieve.
Story of the 9 Tailed 1938, tvN (2023)
Some of the just lately aired collection on the record is Story of the 9 Tailed 1938, which really only recently wrapped up its twelfth and last episode.
It serves because the second season of the favored supernatural fantasy drama Story of the 9 Tailed, however the storyline can be considerably of a prequel.
Following the occasions with Nam Ji-ah within the authentic collection, protagonist Lee Yeon is transported again in time to 1938 and the then Japanese occupation of Korea.
Dr. Jin, MBC (2012)
Dr. Jin is a historic medical drama that follows the story of Jin Hyuk, a superb neurosurgeon within the current day who, due to his extremely analytical thoughts, can generally be chilly and detached.
After affected by a private tragedy involving his girlfriend, he will get transported again in time to the Joseon dynasty.
Struggling to adapt to the primitive medical practices of the period, Jin Hyuk makes use of his trendy data to save lots of lives and make developments in medication and even medical units.
He meets individuals who assist him, however his actions quickly begin interfering with the course of historical past.
Rooftop Prince, SBS (2012)
In a fancy story of intersecting fates and (doable) reincarnations throughout timelines and generations, Rooftop Prince weaves romance into comical misunderstandings and heartwarming moments.
Crown Prince Lee Gak and his three loyal servants time-travel from the Joseon period to present-day Seoul in a bid to unravel the mysterious demise of his beloved Crown Princess.
He poses because the misplaced grandson of a rich CEO – who he occurs to resemble precisely – and encounters a girl who additionally appears to be like precisely like his late spouse.
Getting nearer to her would possibly assist clear up the thriller of her demise again of their timeline, however he could find yourself hurting another person alongside the best way.
Reside As much as Your Title, tvN (2017)
Within the historic medical drama Reside As much as Your Title, Heo Im is a revered physician and acupuncturist within the Joseon period, tending to the poor by day and the nobles by evening.
Nevertheless, he’s mistakenly charged with treason and supposedly killed. As an alternative he wakes up in present-day Seoul!
Within the trendy period, he meets and types an unlikely partnership with Choi Yeon-kyung, a practical and impressive cardiothoracic surgeon.
Collectively, they navigate the conflict between conventional and trendy medical practices whereas overcoming private obstacles and regularly creating a deep bond.
Religion, SBS TV (2012)
Also called The Nice Physician, Religion begins in a historic setting the place the King’s spouse is fatally injured in an accident.
He orders his Captain of the Royal Guard, Choi Younger, to enter a portal to retrieve the “Heaven’s Physician” that they heard of of their legends.
Choi Younger travels to modern-day Seoul and brings again Eunsoo, an precise physician, who then saves the queen.
He had promised to carry her again as soon as her responsibility was carried out, however they each quickly get embroiled in schemes to maintain Eunsoo previously as increasingly individuals turn into selfishly taken with her medical prowess.
Life on Mars, OCN (2018)
In a barely totally different theme from the earlier exhibits on the record, Life on Mars is a criminal offense thriller collection that follows a proficient forensic scientist who additionally leads a criminal offense investigation group.
After an accident, Taejoo awakens to seek out himself transported again to 1988 with no concept how he received there or why.
Now a detective previously, he works along with his present group to unravel a serial murder case with the antiquated know-how and strategies of the period with the intention to additionally clear up the thriller behind his time journey.
Sign, tvN (2016)
Sign is yet one more crime thriller collection that’s much less about precise bodily time journey and extra a couple of mysterious connection between previous and current that stems from a seemingly innocuous object: a walkie-talkie.
Park Hae-young is a younger legal profiler from the current day who stumbles upon a mysterious walkie-talkie that helps him clear up a homicide chilly case via its potential to attach him to a detective from the previous, Lee Jae-han.
By means of the walkie-talkie, they collaborate to unravel chilly circumstances and forestall crimes from occurring, however penalties quickly comply with.
Occasions, OCN (2021)
Just like Sign, OCN’s political thriller collection Occasions connects the previous and current, however this time via a telephone and between two journalists: Jinwoo in 2015 and Jungin in 2020.
They work collectively at first to stop the homicide of Jungin’s father, who’s the present president of South Korea.
Alongside the best way, they uncover a harmful conspiracy involving political corruption and manipulation of time and work collectively to combat in opposition to the forces that search to manage the long run to allow them to protect their nation’s tomorrow.
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Coronary heart Ryeo, SBS TV (2016)
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Coronary heart Ryeo is a historic drama collection primarily based on a Chinese language novel.
Like most of the earlier exhibits on this record, the collection options the protagonist (named Hajin) touring approach again in time however this time, to the Goryeo dynasty to the yr 941.
On high of that, she finds herself within the physique of Haesoo, one of many many male princes of the present ruling household who’re all preventing for the crown.
As she navigates political rivalries and intense love triangles, Ha-jin discovers her personal future and the tragic destiny that awaits these round her.
Chicago Typewriter, tvN (2017)
Within the in style fantasy drama collection Chicago Typewriter, viewers will meet three central characters whose tales unfold over the course of time – particularly, two totally different timelines.
There’s Sejoo, a good-looking and famend author with many followers who suffers from despair; Seol, a veterinarian and fan of Sejoo; and Jinoh, a proficient ghostwriter.
As their paths converge, a mysterious typewriter helps them uncover how their previous lives have been linked throughout the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 1930s, and the way their friendship then crossed many years into the current.
Manhole, KBS2 (2017)
If we may time journey, we’d all the time be tempted to return in time to stop the issues that we don’t need to occur.
In Manhole, Bongpil does simply that when he discovers a manhole that permits him to journey again in time.
What does he do when he will get to the previous? Nicely, something to cease his dream lady’s wedding ceremony from occurring!
Nevertheless, his efforts usually result in hilarious and chaotic penalties.
Alongside his loyal pals, he navigates the challenges of altering the previous and learns beneficial classes about love, friendship, and the significance of residing within the current.
Hit the High, KBS2 (2017)
Hit the High is a mixture of humor and nostalgia, and takes place primarily within the consistently evolving world of Okay-pop.
Again within the early Nineteen Nineties, in style Okay-pop idol Hyunjae unintentionally time travels to 2017, the place he quickly discovers that he had been within the information for mysteriously disappearing and subsequently presumed lifeless.
As he adjusts to his vastly totally different life sooner or later, he tries to research the reason for his time journey.
On the similar time, an aspiring Okay-pop trainee crosses his path – one who he’s extra linked with than both of them anticipated.
My First Love, OCN (2018)
The South Korean romantic fantasy drama My First Love facilities on Kang Shinwoo, a person in his 30s who goes again in time to his highschool years.
Shin-woo runs into his youthful self and his past love, Han Jisoo, when he travels again in time. Shin-woo makes an effort to rewrite their destiny and win Jisoo’s affection in an effort to change the tragic course of their historical past.
On the similar time, Shinwoo discovers necessary classes about love, remorse, and the worth of honoring the current as he wrestles with the repercussions of fixing the previous.
Tomorrow, with You, tvN (2017)
Tomorrow, with You is a romance collection that follows the story of Yoo Sojoon, a time-traveling CEO of an actual property company who can foresee his future via subway rides, and his spouse Marin, a cheerful and optimistic newbie photographer.
To alter his impending tragic destiny that he unintentionally glimpses, he marries Marin and collectively, they navigate the complexities of marriage whereas battling in opposition to their very own private struggles.
Ultimately, Sojourn learns to actually love her amidst the implications of altering future.
Marry Him If You Dare, KBS (2013)
One more romance drama on the record is KBS’ Marry Him If You Dare, which is ready on the planet of tv broadcasting.
It follows the story of Na Mirae, a younger girl who receives a mysterious alternative to journey again in time to vary her future.
The current Mirae is married to information anchor Kim Shin however travels to go to her 32-year-old self to stop that from occurring.
This causes her to go down a totally totally different path to actually pursue the desires she had all the time wished.
Acquainted Spouse, tvN (2018)
The choices we make impression the highway our lives go down; one totally different determination may catapult issues in a route we by no means would have anticipated.
That’s what occurs in Acquainted Spouse, a romantic fantasy drama that tells the story of Joohyuk, a married man who regrets the alternatives he made in his life.
At some point, he encounters a mysterious alternative to journey again in time and alter his previous.
Within the blink of a watch, the life he knew along with his spouse Woojin and finest good friend Joonghoo is gone and his past love Hyewon comes again into the image.
Go Again Couple, KBS2 (2017)
It’s difficult sufficient when an individual goes again in time to vary their earlier choices, however what occurs when two individuals time journey collectively? Particularly when these two individuals have a life collectively within the current?
Go Again Couple follows married couple Bando and Jinjoo, who’re dad and mom to a younger boy and have turn into deeply unhappy with their lives – household, profession, and relationship-wise.
All of the sudden, the couple is transported 18 years again to once they have been college college students, the place they make totally different decisions and be taught the enduring energy of affection.
The Gentle in Your Eyes, JTBC (2019)
The Gentle In Your Eyes is also referred to as Dazzling and emphasizes the significance of valuing the individuals who trigger the lights in our eyes to shine all through our lives.
Within the drama collection, we meet a younger girl named Hyeja who possesses a particular watch that permits her to control time. Nevertheless, utilizing the watch causes her to age quickly.
After having used it one too many occasions, Hyeja is now passing the time at an aged care heart the place she meets Joonha, an worker who appears to be like just like the younger Hyeja’s husband.
9: 9 Time Travels, tvN (2013)
A information anchor named Park Sunwoo finds 9 magical incense objects that allows him to journey 20 years again in time within the fantasy thriller drama entitled 9: 9 Time Travels.
Sunwoo makes quite a few journeys to the previous in an effort to vary the tragic occasions which have occurred in his life, altering each his choices and the course of historical past.
He quickly learns, although, that each change has unintended penalties each for himself and people he loves round him, and he’s pressured to cope with the ethical dilemmas that comply with.
Sisyphus: The Fable, JTBC (2021)
Within the dystopian science fiction collection Sisyphus: The Fable, engineer and good quantum physicist Taesul crosses paths with a mysterious girl from the long run named Seohae.
In Seohae’s current, she explores a war-torn Korea and travels again in time to each stop Taesul’s demise and his invention of the time journey machine she used.
In the meantime, Taesul is making an attempt to research the unusual circumstances round his brother’s demise and a time-travel conspiracy the place he finds himself embroiled in a harmful sport the place previous, current, and future collide.
Tunnel, OCN (2017)
Some crimes can span many years, with the case passing via the fingers of a number of groups and detectives with out ever getting resolved.
Within the crime thriller Tunnel, we start the story in 1986 when Detective Park Gwangho is sizzling on the tail of a serial killer.
He chases the perpetrator via a tunnel and leads to 2016 the place the identical killer continues to be on the unfastened and simply starting to proceed his homicide spree.
Gwangho groups up with Detective Kim Seonjae and legal profiler Shin Jaeyi to race in opposition to time and apprehend the killer earlier than they’ll commit additional crimes.
Alice, SBS TV (2020)
Science fiction drama collection Alice weaves a fancy story of affection, destiny, and the implications of tampering with time.
The title is a reference to the time-traveling company in 2050 that sends shoppers to the previous with the intention to discover peace and closure with lifeless family members and in addition makes certain these journeys are carried out correctly.
Viewers meet Alice brokers Taeyi and Minhyuk as they journey virtually 60 years to the previous on a mission, however their private lives get intertwined and have an effect on the current – 2020.
My Good Stranger, KBS2 (2023)
My Good Stranger is without doubt one of the latest exhibits on this record, having simply completed airing in June of this yr!
The romance thriller tells a lovely story of two strangers who time journey again to 1987.
Haejun is a seemingly aloof newscaster who’s making an attempt to hunt the reality behind a serial killing case; Yoonyoung is an editor at a publishing firm who desires to stop the wedding of her dad and mom.
They discover themselves previously and in addition uncover that their objectives are extra intertwined than they suppose.
Kairos, MBC TV (2020)
Kairos is comparable to some different exhibits because the time journey happens in parallel timelines that join characters as an alternative of really touring via time.
Nevertheless, additionally it is a uncommon one because the timelines are just one month aside!
Seojin is an organization govt whose daughter all of a sudden goes lacking whereas Aeri is a younger girl residing one month behind and whose mom additionally disappears.
When Seojin and Aeri meet via a telephone name, he asks the latter to assist discover his daughter whereas serving to to seek out her mom in his future timeline.
God’s Reward: 14 Days, SBS (2014)
God’s Reward: 14 Days tells the story of Kim Soohyun, a distraught mom whose daughter is kidnapped and killed, who miraculously will get the possibility to journey again to the 2 weeks previous to the tragedy.
Soohyun is in a race in opposition to time to seek out the kidnapper and cease horrible issues from occurring as a result of she is set to vary the result.
She discovers that the reality is far more difficult and dangerous than she had anticipated as she digs deeper into the murky secrets and techniques surrounding her daughter’s demise.
365: Repeat The Yr, MBC TV (2020)
In the event you may repeat the final yr of your life, would you?
Within the thriller thriller 365: Repeat The Yr, 10 persons are given the chance to reset their lives by going again one yr in time.
They take part in a time-traveling experiment, hoping to vary their fates and undo their regrets.
Nevertheless, they quickly understand that altering the previous has dire penalties, and so they should unravel the thriller behind the experiment to save lots of their lives.
Reunited Worlds, SBS (2017)
In Reunited Worlds, a person named Sung Haesung mysteriously reappears 12 years after his premature demise.
Whereas he hasn’t aged, he finds that everybody round him has modified and gone on with their lives.
Haesung reconnects along with his childhood pals, together with his past love Jung Jungwon, as he navigates the difficulties of his new actuality.
Collectively, they be taught the reality about his time journey and work to fix relationships, sever previous wounds, and discover happiness within the current.
See You in My nineteenth Life, tvN (2023)
See You in My nineteenth Life relies on the webtoon of the identical identify that was revealed on Naver.
It tells the story of Jieum, who has lived out a number of lifetimes via reincarnation and has the supernatural potential to recollect all of her previous lives.
Her 18th life is tragically minimize brief resulting from an accident and as she lives out her nineteenth, she knowingly heads down a path that may lead her to reconnect with a person from her earlier life.
UPCOMING TIME TRAVEL Okay-DRAMAS
A Time Referred to as You, Netflix (2023)
We’ve come throughout our first upcoming collection on the record with the romance drama A Time Referred to as You, which is scheduled to premiere on Netflix within the third quarter of 2023.
It’s an adaptation of a Taiwanese collection and follows Junhee, who continues to mourn her boyfriend Yeonjun’s demise one yr later.
One way or the other, she finds herself transported again to 1998 and within the physique of an 18-year-old named Minju, who meets Siheon, a boy who appears to be like like her deceased accomplice.
Marry My Husband (2023)
One other upcoming collection is Marry My Husband, which is scheduled to premiere in 2023 as effectively however continues to be fairly early within the manufacturing phases!
Solid members have been set but it surely’s but unclear which community will probably be broadcasting the present.
Marry My Husband follows Jiwon, described as a “time-limited girl”, who has the chance to return 10 years.
In her new current, she desires of exacting revenge on her dishonest, murderous husband who killed her after having an affair along with her finest good friend.
The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract, MBC (2023)
Lastly, we come to the final present which has but to premiere within the second half of 2023: The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract.
The fantasy romance collection tells the story of Park Yeonwoo, a lovely girl from the Joseon dynasty who loses her husband on the primary evening of their marriage.
She all of a sudden finds herself transported to the twenty first century and beneath a contemporary marriage contract with Kang Taeha, who appears to be like precisely like her husband.