Korean Dramas

Maids is about a noblewoman who becomes a maid after her father is framed and executed for treason. It takes place in Joseon during the reign of King Taejong and the life of Joseon's founder King Taejo.

The King's Face is about the rise of Prince Gwanghae to the throne. Unlike Hong Gil Dong, a Robin Hood drama which casts King Gwanghae in the role of Prince John, this drama portrays Gwanghae as an honorable man who saves Joseon from a Japanese invasion and rightfully earns the crown, befriending, along the way, the author of the original Hong Gil Dong stories.

Hong Gil Dong is about a Robin Hood type hero. It is set in Joseon. The credits identify the King as Gwanghae, who reigned from 1608-1623, but events in the series take place 20 years into his 15-year reign, and events don't match up with history.

The Tree with Deep Roots is about King Sejong, the 4th king of Joseon, and his invention of the Hangul alphabet, which is used for writing Korean to this day.

Six Flying Dragons is about six people involved with the founding of Joseon. These include the historical figures Sambong, a Confucian scholar who conceived of the new nation, Lee Sung Gye, who became its first king, and his son Lee Bong Won, who became the third king and was the father of Great King Sejong.

Little Mom Scandal is a serious drama about a teenage girl who becomes pregnant and the friends who help her out.

Hwajung (2015) is about the younger sister of King Gwanghae, covering the latter portion of Gwanghae's reign, all of Injo's, and the beginning of Hyojong's. It finds a nice balance for its portrayal of Gwanghae, who is neither the villain of Hong Gil Dong nor the hero of The King's Face. Because it covers a longer period in the same number of episodes, it does not cover the characters it shares with Cruel Palace in as much depth.

Hwarang (2017) takes place during the reign of King Jinheung of Silla. I watched after Six Flying Dragons, because that show had an organization called Moomyung that dated back to Silla, and this had a character called Moo Myung, but if there was any connection, it was not explored in this drama.

To The Beautiful You is a gender bender romantic comedy about an American-Korean girl who disguises herself as a boy to attend a boy's school, hoping to give moral support to the athlete who inspired her to do her best.

The Sword and the Flower, or the Blade and Petal as it is called here, takes place in Goguryeo shortly before Silla conquers it. In this story, the princess falls in love with the illegitimate son of the man who later murders her father in a coup. The main story is about how her desire for revenge and his loyalty to his father get between them.

Mischievous Kiss

Jewel in the Palace is about the first woman in Korean history to rise to the position of the king's personal physician. It takes place mainly during the reign of King Jungjong, who reigns from 1506-1544.

Bang Ja Chronicles, a.k.a. Servant: The Untold Story of Bang-Ja. A man-servant and a gisang's daughter who has a noble father fall in love.

Beethoven Virus is about musicians working with a conductor to form an orchestra mainly full of amateur musicians.

Gumiho: Tale of the Fox's Child is about a nine-tailed fox and her daughter. A nine-tailed fox is a creature from Korean mythology that can take on the form of a fox or a beautiful woman. The central question of this drama is, who are the real monsters?

Hwang Jin Yi is about a famous gisaeng (Korean geisha) of the 16th century. Like Jewel in the Palace, it mainly tales place during the reign of King Jungjong. Although the title character is renowned for her skills as a musician, the music played in this drama is unimpressive. It will sometimes get replaced by more contemporary background music, which is always the same and not very impressive.