These Top Best Historical Korean Series 2025/2026

Historical Korean dramas have always carried a special weight. They're more than just hanboks, palaces, and power struggles. They hold stories of loyalty, betrayal, forbidden love, lost identity — and above all, people trying to survive a brutal world with dignity.

In 2025 and 2026, historical K-dramas are not just back — they’re better than ever. With bold leads, sharp writing, and heart-wrenching choices, these shows remind us why the past still speaks so loudly.

If you miss the feeling you got from Mr. Sunshine, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, or The Red Sleeve, this list is for you.

Here are the top best historical Korean series in 2025/2026 that you shouldn't miss.

1. The Crown’s Secret (2025) — Politics/Romance/Thriller

A crown prince lives in hiding after his father’s assassination. Years later, he returns — not to claim power, but to uncover the truth. But when he falls for the daughter of his enemy, everything changes. Dark, layered, and full of tension.

2. Rain Under the Palace Roof (2026) — Tragedy/Romance

She was born a servant. He’s the king’s adopted son. Their love is impossible — but unshakable. When war breaks out, she disappears, leaving behind only a letter. This one hurts in the best way.

3. The Scribe’s Daughter (2025) — Historical/Mystery/Drama

Her father kept palace secrets. After he’s killed, she disguises herself as a male scholar to finish his final task — uncovering a hidden betrayal. Smart, suspenseful, and beautifully written.

4. Flame of the North (2026) — Action/War/Romance

Set in the northern border during the Goryeo dynasty, a general protects a town under threat from invaders — while falling for a healer hiding her own secrets. A drama of strength, strategy, and sacrifice.

5. Threads of the Court (2025) — Palace Intrigue/Drama

A royal tailor becomes caught in court politics after witnessing something she shouldn’t have. Her skill with fabric becomes her only weapon in a place full of lies. Unique and visually stunning.

6. The Shadow Guard (2026) — Action/Mystery

He protects the king. But when he finds evidence that the king is involved in a massacre, he must choose: stay loyal, or reveal the truth. Sharp action scenes and moral complexity make this a standout.

7. Beneath the Plum Tree (2025) — Romance/Healing

A widowed noblewoman opens a private school for girls in a remote village. There, she meets a traveling physician with a broken past. Their quiet bond becomes a soft love story in a world full of noise.

8. The Masked Court (2026) — Revenge/Drama

She enters the palace under a fake identity, determined to destroy the queen who destroyed her family. But what she finds isn’t just vengeance — it’s truth, history, and pain passed down. Intense and unforgettable.

9. Kingmaker’s Son (2025) — Political/Drama

Born as the illegitimate child of a powerful noble, he rises through the ranks with wit, not blood. Every alliance he forms hides a motive — and every smile hides a scar. Perfect for fans of layered plots and ambition.

10. The Night Flower (2026) — Romance/Supernatural

A woman who can see ghosts is summoned to the palace to solve a string of strange deaths. She falls for the Crown Prince — a man haunted by more than spirits. A haunting and romantic blend of mystery and history.

11. Sand and Ink (2025) — Slice of Life/Youth

Unlike most sageuks, this one focuses on the daily lives of scholars, teachers, and young students in a Confucian academy. Full of poetry, debates, quiet love, and the burden of expectations.

12. Rise of the Blue Empress (2026) — War/Politics/Power

Based loosely on a real historical figure, this drama follows a woman who rose from concubine to empress by outwitting every man around her. Her path is dangerous, and her victories come at great cost.