Top 10 Best Korean Time-Travel Dramas

The King: Eternal Monarch is a Korean time-travel drama that doesn't revolve around mythology. What draws viewers in are the two main stars: Lee Min Ho and Kim Go Eun. The plot centers on the romantic relationship between Emperor Lee Gon and police officer Jeong Tae Eul, who live in two parallel worlds. One world is set in modern-day South Korea, while the other is a fictional realm where South Korea is still ruled by a royal dynasty.

This drama is written by acclaimed screenwriter Kim Eun Sook and has earned widespread popularity among Korean audiences. It stands out for its high production values, impressive special effects, and memorable soundtrack, making it a top-tier time-travel series to enjoy.

DETAILS:

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Time-Travel
Director: Baek Sang-hoon
Cast: Lee Min-ho, Kim Go-eun, Woo Do-hwan, Kim Kyung-nam, Jung Eun-chae, Lee Jung-jin, Kim Yeong-ok

Episodes: 16

Alice revolves around a hotel that serves as a refuge for time travelers. Yoon Tae Yi (Kim Hee Sun) is a brilliant physicist who holds the key to time travel, while Park Jin Kyum (Joo Won), a detective with many secrets, seeks to unlock the mysteries of his past and the world through time travel. The story follows individuals separated by time who come together through the power of time travel.

Park Jin-Gyeom (Joo Won) is a stoic detective investigating a mysterious case when he discovers the existence of time travelers. These travelers come from the future and use a space called Alice to arrive in the present. Jin-Gyeom fights to prevent the negative consequences caused by Alice. Along the way, he reunites with Yoon Tae-Yi (Kim Hee-Seon), a woman who died in the past. He believes their encounter is fate. Yoon Tae-Yi is a genius physicist who holds the key to time travel. As they work together to unravel the secrets behind time travel, she uncovers a hidden truth about herself.

DETAILS:

Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance

Director: Baek Soo-chan
Cast: Kim Hee-sun, Joo Won

Episodes: 16

Be with You is based on the bestselling novel by Takuji Ichikawa, which is also known in Vietnam as 'Em sẽ đến cùng cơn mưa.' The story follows a woman (Son Ye Jin) who makes an incredible promise to her husband (So Ji Sub) before her death: she will return to him on a rainy day, one year after her passing. True to her word, she appears to her husband and son, but with no memory of them. Woo Jin struggles to help Soo A regain the memories she has forgotten, piece by piece, from their first date in high school to their first kiss. Once again, Woo Jin and Soo A fall in love.

DETAILS:

Director: Lee Jang-hoon

Cast: So Ji-sub, Son Ye-jin

Duration: 132 minutes

Saimdang, Light's Diary is a historical romance with elements of fantasy and time travel. The series features two prominent Korean actors, Lee Young Ae and Song Seung Hun.

The plot revolves around the life and career of Shin Saimdang, a renowned artist and calligrapher from the Joseon Dynasty. The story begins when Seo Ji Yoon (Lee Young Ae), an art history professor at a Korean university, discovers a long-lost diary belonging to this historical figure. Through her investigation, she uncovers the mystery behind an ancient painting recently rediscovered and gains insight into the extraordinary life of Shin Saimdang. Along the way, Ji Yoon uncovers a mysterious connection between herself and Shin Saimdang.

DETAILS:

Genre: Historical, Romance

Director: Yoon Sang-ho

Cast: Lee Young-ae, Song Seung-heon

Episodes: 30

Tunnel is a 16-episode TV series inspired by a famous serial murder case in South Korea during the 1980s and 1990s. The story follows a talented detective, Park Gwang Ho, in 1986.

After finding true love and getting married, Gwang Ho is drawn into investigating a series of murders. While chasing a suspect through a tunnel, he unexpectedly finds himself transported 30 years into the future.

DETAILS:

Genre: Thriller, Crime

Director: Shin Yong Hwi

Main Cast: Choi Jin Hyuk, Yoon Hyun-min, Lee Yoo Young

Episodes: 16

Moon Lovers is a South Korean time-travel drama based on the famous Chinese novel 'Bu Bu Jing Xin' by Tong Hua. Directed by Kim Kyu Tae, this heart-wrenching adaptation evokes just as many tears as the original Chinese film.

The series follows Hae Soo (played by IU), a modern-day woman who, during a solar eclipse, jumps into a river to save someone and is mysteriously transported back to the Joseon era. There, she becomes entangled in a web of love, friendship, and royal power struggles among the princes. Ultimately, her journey ends in heartbreak, staying true to the original story's emotional conclusion.

DETAILS:

Genre: TV series, Romance, Historical, Fantasy

Director: Kim Kyu-tae

Main Cast: Lee Joon-gi, Lee Ji-eun, Kang Ha-neul, Hong Jong-hyun, Byun Baek-hyun, Seohyun, Nam Joo-hyuk

Episodes: 20

Signal is a South Korean drama that explores a unique time-travel twist: instead of traveling to the past, a person in the past receives a radio signal from the future. This gripping show was released in 2016 and delves into a thrilling crime investigation.

The plot centers on Lee Jae Han (played by Cho Jin Woong), a police officer from 1989, who begins receiving mysterious radio signals from a modern-day lieutenant, Park Hae Young (Lee Je Hoon), in 2015. The two officers, communicating through these interconnected radios, collaborate to solve cold cases and uncover shocking secrets that span both time periods.

DETAILS:

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Fantasy

Director: Kim Won-seok

Main Cast: Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-soo, Cho Jin-woong

Episodes: 16

Sisyphus: The Myth is an action-packed sci-fi series that follows the brilliant engineer Han Tae Sool (played by Jo Seung Woo) and his savior, Kang Seo Hae (Park Shin Hye). Han Tae Sool, a co-founder of the company Quantum and Time, is renowned as a genius in the world of technology and encryption.

His groundbreaking work has elevated Quantum and Time to international prominence, earning him hero status in South Korea and acclaim in the global tech world. However, his personal life is a different story. Ten years after the sudden death of his brother, Han Tae Sool’s eccentric behavior causes fluctuations in his company's stock value. One day, he uncovers an astonishing truth about his brother’s death, which sets him on a perilous journey that could change everything.

DETAILS:

Genre: Sci-fi, Thriller

Director: Jin Hyuk

Main Cast: Cho Seung Woo, Park Shin Hye, Kim Byung Chul, Chae Jong Hyeop

Episodes: 16

Jang Bong Hwan, a talented modern-day chef, accidentally time-travels to the past and ends up trapped in the body of Queen Kim So Yong. From here, a series of comedic and dramatic events unfold. The show is a remake of the popular Chinese web series, The Imperial Concubine’s Promotion.

The story of a 'queen' with the soul of a modern man wreaking havoc in the royal palace provides a rich emotional experience. Viewers laugh out loud at the hilarious moments, enjoy the exquisite culinary skills of the 'queen,' and at times, are moved by the heartfelt scenes.

DETAILS:

Genre: Historical, Comedy, Fantasy

Director: Yoon Sung-sik

Main Cast: Shin Hye-sun, Kim Jung-hyun

Episodes: 20

Eighteen Again is the third web drama from jTBC this September and also the third show with a time-travel theme. The story follows 33-year-old Hong Dae Young (played by Yoon Sang Hyun), who once had a promising career as a basketball player but left it all behind to build a life with his pregnant girlfriend.

Feeling disillusioned, Hong Dae Young runs away from home and is involved in an accident. When he wakes up, he finds himself back in his 18-year-old body, taking on the new name of Go Woo Young (played by Lee Do Hyun) to start a fresh chapter of his life. This series is a remake of the American film Seventeen Again.

DETAILS:

Genre: Psychological, Fantasy

Director: Ha Byung-hoon

Main Cast: Lee Do-hyun, Kim Ha-neul, Yoon Sang-hyun

Episodes: 16