Korean dramas are renowned for their engaging stories and dramatic flair, drawing viewers into richly woven narratives.

Among them, some series are inspired by real-life events, which adds a layer of depth and authenticity to their narrative.

These dramas tackle the topic of historical struggles and notorious crime cases, offering a vivid portrayal of Korea's past.

By blending fact with fiction, they create a powerful lens through which audiences can understand and relive significant moments in Korean history.

The dramas on our list highlight 13 notable series that are based on true events. Each show brings historical and real-life stories to life with engaging storytelling and emotional resonance.

From revolutionary movements to personal sagas, these dramas offer an engaging look at Korea's rich and complex past, demonstrating how real events can be transformed into powerful narratives that surprise and educate audiences.

1. Signal (2016)

Signal is a South Korean television series written by Kim Eun-hee and directed by Kim Won-seok. The show stars Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-soo, and Cho Jin-woong. It is based on the 2000 film Frequency and inspired by real-life crime incidents in Korea, including the Hwaseong serial murders.

In 2015, criminal profiler Park Hae-young (Lee Je-hoon) discovers a mysterious walkie-talkie. It communicates with Detective Jae-han (Cho Jin-woong) from the past, even though they have never met. With Jae-han's help, Hae-young solves a 15-year-old kidnapping and murder case involving a former classmate.

This success led to a cold case team led by Detective Cha Soo-hyun (Kim Hye-soo). She has been searching for her long-lost mentor and unrequited love, Jae-han, for 15 years. Together, they solve other cold cases that have remained unsolved for years.

As Hae-young and Jae-han attempt to make amends for the past and capture the criminals, unintended consequences follow in the present. The mystery surrounding Jae-han’s disappearance in 2000 deepens, drawing Hae-young deeper into the investigation.

• Displayed: January 22, 2016 – March 12, 2016
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Lee Je Hoon, Kim Hye Soo, Jo Jin Woong
• Streaming platform: Disney+, Netflix, Prime TV

2. The Hymn of Death (2018)

The Hymn of Death is a 2018 South Korean miniseries based on true events. Starring Lee Jong-suk and Shin Hye-sun, the series depicts the tragic romance between Joseon's first soprano Yun Sim-deok and the genius playwright Kim Woo-jin.

Kim Woo-jin, a drama writer, lives during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Despite being married, he falls in love with Yun Sim-deok. Yun Sim-deok, known as the first Korean soprano, recorded “Praise of Death,” Korea’s first pop song, in 1926.

Their love story is marked by passion and tragedy. The series follows their deep connection and their struggles under oppressive circumstances.

In the end, Woo-jin and Sim-deok's fate ends in heartbreak, leaving a poignant legacy behind.

• Displayed: November 27, 2018 – December 4, 2018
• Number of episodes: 6
• Cast: Lee Jong Suk, Shin Hye Sun
• Streaming platform: Netflix

3. Through the Darkness (2022)

Through the Darkness is a 2022 South Korean TV series starring Kim Nam-gil, Jin Seon-kyu, and Kim So-jin.

Based on the 2018 nonfiction book by Korea's first criminal profiler Kwon Il-yong and journalist Ko Na-mu, it highlights Kwon's field experiences.

Set in the 1990s, Seoul is terrorized by a mysterious figure known as the “Red Cap,” who stalks and kills women at random.

His unpredictable attacks leave detectives scrambling to identify his next move. The fear gripping the city spurs a new approach to catching the serial killer.

Gook Young Soo, head of the Criminal Behavior Analysis team, recruits Song Ha Young, a shrewd former detective, to use criminal profiling.

Inspired by the success of the American FBI, Gook believes that this psychological method will help capture 'Red Cap'.

However, homicide expert Yoon Tae Goo and her officers are skeptical of this new approach.

To prove her worth, Song Ha Young must gain the trust of criminals and outwit them, while demonstrating the emotional resilience required for the job. The series showcases the challenges and advances of using criminal profiling in a high-risk environment.

• Displayed: January 14, 2022 – March 12, 2022
• Number of episodes: 12
• Cast: Kim Nam Gil, Jin Seon Kyu, Kim So Jin
• Streaming platform: Netflix

4. The Red Sleeve (2022)

The Red Sleeve is a South Korean TV series starring Lee Jun-ho, Lee Se-young, and Kang Hoon. Based on a novel, it tells the story of a royal court romance in Joseon. The series focuses on the King of Joseon, who prioritizes duty over love, and a court lady who values ​​her chosen life.

Set in 18th century Korea, Prince Yi San is a perfectionist haunted by the murder of his father.

He is next in line to the throne, awaiting the death of his cruel grandfather, the current king. Despite his emotional scars, Yi San aims to be a benevolent ruler, seeking to reform the laws of the kingdom.

At court, Yi San meets Sung Deok Im, a witty and intelligent young woman. While Yi San falls in love and proposes that she become his concubine, Sung Deok Im struggles with the constraints of royal life. She deals with the responsibilities and restrictions that come with being a royal consort.

As their love deepens, Sung Deok Im begins to see the potential for their union to bring positive change to the troubled kingdom. The series offers a fictionalized account of King Jeongjo and his royal consort Ui-bin Seong, highlighting their personal and political challenges.

• Displayed: November 12, 2021 – January 1, 2022
• Number of episodes: 17
• Cast: Lee Jun Ho, Lee Se Young, Kang Hoon
• Streaming platform: Viki

5. Fight For My Way (2017)

Fight For My Way is a 2017 South Korean television series starring Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won, along with Ahn Jae-hong and Song Ha-yoon.

The story revolves around underdogs with big dreams struggling to succeed in careers they are underqualified for. It also showcases the budding romance between longtime friends Ko Dong-man (Park Seo-Joon) and Choi Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won).

Ko Dong-man has always aspired to be a famous taekwondo athlete, but now he has a mundane job as a contract worker.

His friend Choi Ae-ra dreams of becoming a television anchor, but works at the information desk of a department store. Despite their childish dynamic, their friendship begins to blossom into romance.

Their friends, Kim Joo-man and Baek Seol-hee, have been dating for six years, but they face challenges that threaten their relationship. The series investigates whether the four friends can achieve their dreams despite their “third-rate” qualifications.

Interestingly, Fight For My Way is inspired by the real-life couple Choo Sung Hoon and Yano Shiho, known as The Return of Superman. The series captures the emotional depth of Dong-man and Ae-ra's relationship, drawing parallels to the couple's story.

• Displayed: May 22, 2017 – July 11, 2017
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Park Seo Joon, Kim Ji Won, Ahn Jae Hong, Song Ha Yoon
• Streaming platform: Netflix

6. Move to Heaven (2021)

Move to Heaven is a 2021 South Korean television series directed by Kim Sung-ho and written by Yoon Ji-ryeon. A Netflix original series, it stars Lee Je-hoon, Tang Jun-sang, and Hong Seung-hee.

The story follows Geu-ru (Tang Jun-sang), a young man with Asperger's, and his guardian, Sang-gu (Lee Je-hoon), as they work as trauma cleaners.

Geu-ru meets her ex-convict uncle Sang-gu for the first time after her father's sudden death.

Sang-gu, now Geu-ru’s guardian, helps run the family’s trauma cleaning company, “Move to Heaven.” Together, they uncover untold stories of the deceased as Sang-gu struggles with his painful past and the incident that landed him in prison.

The series is based on the nonfiction essay “Things Left Behind” by Kim Sae Byul, a first-generation trauma cleanser.

Sae Byul describes his profession of cleaning up the belongings of those who have passed away and cleaning the areas where they were found. He shares stories of his clients, such as a 70-year-old man who died alone.

Each episode reveals the tales of those who have passed away before their deaths. One notable story in episode six features a janitor and his beloved wife who died without a family to mourn them. Geu-ru finds a way to honor them, highlighting the show’s poignant exploration of life and death.

• Displayed: May 14, 2021
• Number of episodes: 10
• Cast: Lee Je Hoon, Tang Jun Sang, Hong Sung Hee
• Streaming platform: Netflix

7. DP (2021)

DP is a South Korean military action television series on Netflix. Directed by Han Jun-hee, it is based on the webtoon DP Dog's Day by Kim Bo-tong and stars Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Sung-kyun, and Son Suk-ku. The first season premiered on August 27, 2021, and the second season premiered on July 28, 2023.

Set in 2014, DP follows a team of Korean military police officers tasked with capturing defectors.

The series exposes the harsh realities of military life in South Korea, highlighting widespread bullying and hazing. A “survival of the fittest” mentality prevails, with the weakest suffering horrific experiences at the hands of their superiors and peers.

Private Ahn Jun-ho and Corporal Han Ho-yeol are assigned to track down deserters. As they embark on their mission, they uncover the brutal truth about the Korean military.

Their journey reveals the severe bullying and hazing that drives soldiers into the wilderness, highlighting the harrowing nature of mandatory military service in Korea.

Adapted from the webtoon DP Dog Days, the drama is fictional but based on the real-life experiences of Korean soldiers. DP aims to expose the dark side of the Korean military, focusing on abuses in the system, although some aspects may be exaggerated for dramatic effect.

• Displayed: August 27, 2021
• Number of episodes: 12
• Cast: Jung Hae In, Koo Jyu Hwan, Kim Sung Kyun, Son Suk Ku
• Streaming platform: Netflix

8. Juvenile Justice (2022)

Juvenile Justice is a 2022 South Korean legal drama that premiered on Netflix on February 25, 2022. Written by Kim Min-seok and directed by Hong Jong-chan, it stars Kim Hye-soo, Kim Mu-yeol, and Lee Sung-min.

The series follows judge Shim Eun-Seok, who is known for her disdain for minors and is appointed to a juvenile court in Yeonhwa District.

Eun-Seok is an elite judge with a cold personality, and she breaks traditional methods to punish young offenders.

The courtroom drama sends a powerful message about society’s role in juvenile crime. As Eun-Seok tackles complex cases, she must balance her aversion to minor offenders with her firm beliefs in justice and punishment.

The show highlights sensitive issues such as juvenile crime, poverty and failures in the justice system.

Loosely based on real-life crimes committed by teenagers in South Korea, the drama emphasizes the social and systemic factors that contribute to these issues.

Despite the dark themes, it also portrays the potential for troubled teens to reform when guided by the right adults.

Juvenile Justice explores the complexities of justice and society’s responsibilities in shaping the future of young offenders. It offers a nuanced view of how legal and social systems impact young people and the possibility of redemption and change.

• Displayed: February 25, 2022
• Number of episodes: 10
• Cast: Kim Hye Soo, Kim Mu Yeol, Lee Sung Min, Lee Jung Eun
• Streaming platform: Netflix

9. Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016)

Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth is a 2016 South Korean television series starring Park Seo-joon, Go Ara, and Park Hyung-sik. Set in the Silla Kingdom (57 BC–935 AD), the series revolves around an elite group of young men called the Hwarang. These warriors discover passion, friendship, and love amidst the turmoil of the kingdom.

Queen Jiso (Kim Ji-soo) rules Silla as regent after the death of her father, King Beopheung, while keeping her son, Sammaekjong (Park Hyung-sik), hidden from enemies. As Sammaekjong comes of age, impatience grows among the citizens and officials for the queen to cede power.

However, powerful nobles who have grown accustomed to their privileges continue to covet the throne, causing Jiso to fear the consequences of relinquishing his authority.

To undermine the power of the nobles, Jiso creates the Hwarang, an elite group of young men destined to cut through the existing power factions and protect her son and the throne. Unbeknownst to them, the young King Sammaekjong and Kim Sun-woo (Park Seo-Joon), a commoner with a secret past, are among their ranks.

The Hwarang were real elite warriors from high-ranking families in the Silla Kingdom. Although the novel and the plot of the show are fictional, it is rooted in the historical concept of the Hwarang, known for their youth and beauty, as portrayed in poems and songs.

• Displayed: December 19, 2016 – February 21, 2017
• Number of episodes: 20
• Cast: Park Seo Joon, Go Ah Ra, Park Hyung Sik
• Streaming platform: Netflix, Viki

10. Youth of May (2021)

Youth of May is a South Korean drama set in 1980 during the Gwangju Uprising. It centers on the love story of medical student Hwang Hee-tae (Lee Do-hyun) and nurse Kim Myung-hee (Go Min-si).

Unlike many historical dramas, it focuses on the lives and relationships of young people during this tumultuous time.

Hwang Hee-tae becomes the pride of Gwangju when he enters Seoul National University College of Medicine with top grades.

His friend, Kyung-soo (Kwon Young-chan), a pro-democracy activist, convinces him to open an illegal clinic for students fleeing the government.

When a factory worker is injured during a protest, Hee-tae is coerced into attending a meeting with a potential marriage partner arranged by his father to cover transportation costs.

During this meeting, he meets Myung-hee, a nurse who is struggling with life's hardships. Myung-hee agrees to the meeting in place of her friend Soo-ryeon (Keum Sae-rok) to raise funds to study in Germany.

However, she and Hee-tae fall in love. In May 1980, amidst the fervent calls for democracy in Gwangju, Hee-tae and Myung-hee find their lives intertwined by fate.

Although the characters' story is fictional, Youth of May is rooted in the Gwangju Uprising. During this period, citizens and students protested against the military government led by General Chun Doo-hwan.

The government's violent response, deploying tanks and helicopters, resulted in several injuries and deaths, marking one of the bloodiest moments in South Korean history. The drama, although fictional in its romance, truthfully portrays the turmoil of the era, a subject rarely explored in K-dramas.

• Displayed: May 3, 2021 – June 8, 2021
• Number of episodes: 12
• Cast: Lee Do Hyun, Go Min Si
• Streaming platform: Netflix, Viki, Prime Video

11. Crash Landing on You (2019)

Crash Landing on You is a South Korean television series written by Park Ji-Eun and directed by Lee Jeong-hyo. The show stars Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Seo Ji-hye, and Kim Jung-hyun. Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) is a successful South Korean businesswoman and chaebol heiress. One day, while paragliding in Seoul, she is blown off course by a tornado and crashes in the North Korean part of the DMZ.

Ri Jeong-hook (Hyun Bin), a member of the North Korean elite and captain of the Korean People's Army, discovers Se-ri while on patrol. He is persuaded to hide her and help her return to the South.

The series is immensely popular, having broken records previously held by Goblin and, for a time, was the highest-rated tvN series before the end of Queen of Tears.

The inspiration for Crash Landing on You came from a 2008 incident involving actress Jung Yang, who accidentally crossed the border into North Korea during a boat accident.

In a 2021 interview, Park Ji-eun revealed that this incident sparked the idea for the story. She envisioned a woman who, through a paragliding accident, finds herself stranded on the border of North Korea, leading to a love story that entertained many viewers.

• Displayed: December 14, 2019 – February 16, 2020
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Hyun Bin, Seo Ye Jin, Seo Ji Hye, Kim Jung Hyun
• Streaming platform: Netflix

12. Taxi Driver (2021)

Taxi Driver is a South Korean television series starring Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, and Bae Yoo-ram, with Esom in the first season and Shin Jae-ha in the second. Based on the webtoon The Luxury Taxi (Red Cage) by Carlos and Lee Jae-jin, the series is inspired by real-life heinous crimes committed in Korea. It has received praise for its performances and engaging storylines.

Do Gi, a former Special Forces officer, is devastated when a serial killer murders his mother. Struggling with his grief, he meets Jang Sung Chul, who recruits him to work at Rainbow Taxi.

This is no ordinary taxi service, but a secret organization that seeks revenge for victims who the law has failed. As a star driver for Rainbow Taxi, Do Gi seeks justice through revenge.

Ha Na, a prosecutor, investigates the activities of Rainbow Taxi. While she is furious at their disregard for the law, she is conflicted by their ability to solve cases that the legal system cannot handle.

The series shows the tension between those who see revenge as a form of true justice and those who uphold the law.

While the plot itself is fictional, it is set against a backdrop of crimes that closely mirror real events in Korea, adding a layer of chilling realism to the gripping narrative.

• Displayed: April 9, 2021 – May 29, 2021
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Lee Je Hoon, Esom, Kim Eui Sung, Pyo Ye Jin
• Streaming platform: Netflix, Prime Video, Viki

13. The Glory (2022)

The Glory is a South Korean psychological revenge thriller series on Netflix, created by Kim Eun-sook and directed by Ahn Gil-ho. Starring Song Hye-kyo, Lee Do-hyun, Lim Ji-yeon, Yeom Hye-ran, Park Sung-hoon, and Jung Sung-il, the series is divided into two parts: Part 1 premiered on December 30, 2022, with Part 2 releasing on March 10, 2023.

The plot follows Moon Dong-eun, a victim of school violence who seeks revenge against her former bullies after becoming a homeroom teacher at the school of the bully leader's daughter, Ha Ye-sol.

The series is inspired by a 2006 incident in Cheongju, South Korea, where elementary school students severely abused a classmate.

The idea for The Glory was sparked by Kim Eun-sook’s daughter, who asked whether it would be more painful to beat someone nearly to death or to be beaten nearly to death. This led Kim to investigate the violence of the Korean school system, creating a fictional story that resonates with real-life bullying issues.

• Displayed: December 30, 2022
• Number of episodes: 8
• Cast: Song Hye Kyo, Lee Do Hyun, Im Ji Yeon, Yeon Hye Ran, Park Sung Hoon, Jung Sung II
• Streaming platform: Netflix

Read the full post about 13 Korean dramas based on real events that you need to watch and that bring Korea's past to the small screen