Korean History
A historical Timeline, according to Kdramas and movies
As of July 20, 2021: All Kings of Joseon portrayals accounted for (Some will be in the "Historical Fiction" List instead, depending on historical accuracy and relevance)
Emperor (2012) is a 2012 American-Japanese historical drama film set in post-WWII
https://mydramalist.com/list/b4qNoK61
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1. Northern Limit Line
Korean Movie - 2015
2002
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2. Default
Korean Movie - 2018
Late 1990s IMF Crisis
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3. The Spy Gone North
Korean Movie - 2018
1993
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4. As One
Korean Movie - 2012
1991, World Olympics
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5. Snowdrop
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Snowdrop takes place in 1987, a pivotal year in South Korean history that included the June 1987 Democracy Movement, a mass protest movement with the purpose of forcing the dictatorship in South Korea to hold fair elections, and the resulting December 1987 democratic elections, which led to the end of the authoritarian Fifth Republic of Korea and the establishment of the democratic Sixth Republic of Korea.
Snowdrop is set in November and December 1987.
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6. 1987: When the Day Comes
Korean Movie - 2017
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7. The Drug King
Korean Movie - 2018
1970s
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8. In Love and the War
Korean Movie - 2011
1950
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9. A Little Pond
Korean Movie - 2010
1950
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10. Road Number One
Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes
1940-1950s?
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11. Comrades
Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes
1950-1953
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12. The Front Line
Korean Movie - 2011
1951
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13. Operation Chromite
Korean Movie - 2016
1950
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14. The Battle of Jangsari
Korean Movie - 2019
1950
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15. Ayla: The Daughter of War
Korean Movie - 2017
1950
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16. 71: Into the Fire
Korean Movie - 2010
August 11, 1950; True Story
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17. Seoul 1945
Korean Drama - 2006, 71 episodes
Ep1 1950 april
Ep2 1933 -
18. Eyes of Dawn
Korean Drama - 1991, 36 episodes
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19. The Battleship Island
Korean Movie - 2017
1945 Timestamp, OSS Training Area
Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (6 and 9 August 1945) -
20. My Way
Korean Movie - 2011
1928-1948
Primarily 1938-1944 D-Day
1948 Olympics -
21. Malmoe: The Secret Mission
Korean Movie - 2019
1940s
Features Japanese polices for the Korean language during Japanese occupationThe Japanese administrative policy shifted more aggressively towards cultural assimilation in 1938 (Naisen ittai) with a new government report advising reform to strengthen the war effort. This left less room for Korean language studies and by 1943 all Korean language courses had been phased out. Teaching and speaking of Korean was prohibited.[164] Although the government report advised further, more radical reform, the 10-year plan would never fully go into effect.[165]
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22. Love, Lies
Korean Movie - 2016
1943
Historical figure: Singer Lee Nan-young -
23. The Last Princess
Korean Movie - 2016
1925-1962
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24. Dong Ju: The Portrait of a Poet
Korean Movie - 2016
Yun Dong Ju (Lived 1917-1945)
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25. Assassination
Korean Movie - 2015
1911-1949 (Primarily in the 1930s, 1933 onwards)
Real History portrayed
1911 Attempted assassination Terauchi Masatake (1910–1916)
1933 Japanese Concession of Shanghai
Kim Gu
Kim Wonbong
Special Investigation Committee of Anti-National Activities (1948-1949) -
26. Different Dreams
Korean Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
1931-1933
Kim Won-bong (August 13, 1898 – c.1958) was a Korean anarchist, independence activist, communist, and statesman from North Korea.
Features the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai
Events:- Bombing of Joseon General Governor's Offic
- Attempted assassination, and actual assassination of Chichi.... one of the Japanese military members
- Assassination of General Murai
- Assassination of Yoo Tae Joon
- Japanese invasion of Manchuria and Shanghai 1932
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27. The Age of Shadows
Korean Movie - 2016
1920s-1930s
Mentions Heroic Corps, but it seems that all names were substituted. So there are no directly identifiable historical characters.
Quotes Terauchi Masatake within the movie, but it's hard to tell whether Terauchi is still in power or not. -
28. Anarchist from Colony
Korean Movie - 2017
1923
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29. The Hymn of Death
Korean Drama - 2018, 6 episodes
~1920-1926; Based on true Historical Main Characters
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30. The Battle: Roar to Victory
Korean Movie - 2019
1920
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31. 1919 Yoo Kwan Soon
Korean Movie - 2019
Documentary
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32. A Resistance
Korean Movie - 2019
1919-1920
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33. That Day: Korean Independence
Korean TV Show - 2016, 10 episodes
1910-1945?
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34. Freedom Fighter, Lee Hoe Young
Korean Drama - 2010, 5 episodes
1910
Lee Hoe-young (1867–1932)
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35. Mr. Sunshine
Korean Drama - 2018, 24 episodes
1900-1910, Hanseong; Righteous Army
King Gojong of Joseon
includes some fictional main charactersIncludes portrayal of Heungseng Daewongun (Lived 1820 – 22 February 1898, Regency 21 January 1864 – 31 October 1873)
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36. Gabi
Korean Movie - 2012
1896
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37. Man of Will
Korean Movie - 2017
1890s
Kim Gu (August 29, 1876 – June 26, 1949) -
38. The Nokdu Flower
Korean Drama - 2019, 48 episodes
1894-1895; Donghak Peasant Revolution
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39. Jejoongwon
Korean Drama - 2010, 36 episodes
1885
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40. Gunman in Joseon
Korean Drama - 2014, 22 episodes
1876
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41. King Maker: The Change of Destiny
Korean Drama - 2020, 21 episodes
1858 – 1872
Princess Lee Bong-ryun, King Cheoljong's daughter
Lee Ha-eung, Prince Heungsun, Gojong's father and an ambitious royal family
Dowager Queen Jo
King Cheoljong, the 25th King of Joseon and Lee Bong-ryun's father
Lee Jae-hwang, Emperor Gojong, Lee Ha-eung's 2nd son and the first emperor of Joseon.
Min Ja-young, Empress Myeongseong -
42. Empress Myeongseong
Korean Drama - 2001, 124 episodes
Lived 1851-1895
Includes portrayal of Heungseng Daewongun (Lived 1820 – 22 February 1898, Regency 21 January 1864 – 31 October 1873)
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43. The Sound of a Flower
Korean Movie - 2015
1867
Includes portrayal of Empress Myeongseong
Includes portrayal of Heungseng Daewongun (Lived 1820 – 22 February 1898, Regency 21 January 1864 – 31 October 1873) -
44. The Sword with No Name
Korean Movie - 2009
1866-1895
Includes portrayal of Heungseng Daewongun (Lived 1820 – 22 February 1898, Regency 21 January 1864 – 31 October 1873)
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45. The Map Against the World
Korean Movie - 2016
Joseon (1804–1866)
Heungseng Daewongun (Lived 1820 – 22 February 1898, Regency 21 January 1864 – 31 October 1873) -
46. Daewongun
Korean Drama - 1990, 32 episodes
Heungseng Daewongun (Lived 1820 – 22 February 1898)
- Regency: 21 January 1864 – 31 October 1873
- Ruled through regency for King Gojong, last king of Joseon, first Emperor of Korea
- Father in-law of Empress Myeongseong of "The Last Empress" Musical
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47. Love in the Moonlight
Korean Drama - 2016, 18 episodes
1800-1834
Based on a novel, Moonlight Drawn by Clouds
King Sunjo of Joseon (Reign 1800-1834) -
48. Heung Boo: The Revolutionist
Korean Movie - 2018
Heonjong of Joseon (8 September 1827 – 25 July 1849) was the 24th king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea.
Reign 18 December 1834 – 25 July 1849 -
49. The Book of Fish
Korean Movie - 2021
1801 about the Joseon era scholar Jeong Yak-jeon (1758–1816)
Exiled to Heuksando Island during the Catholic Persecution of 1801 in King Sunjo of Joseon’s reign. There he wrote a pishine encyclopaedia titled Jasaneobo. -
50. The Great Merchant
Korean Drama - 2010, 30 episodes
Kim Man-deok (1739-1812)
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51. The Fatal Encounter
Korean Movie - 2014
(1777)
Jeongjo of Joseon (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800, reign 27 April 1776 – 18 August 1800) -
52. Conspiracy in the Court
Korean Drama - 2007, 8 episodes
Includes portrayal of Jeongjo of Joseon (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800, reign 27 April 1776 – 18 August 1800)
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53. Eight Days Mystery of Jeong Jo Assassination
Korean Drama - 2007, 10 episodes
Focusses on the eight days leading up to the coronation
Includes portrayal of Jeongjo of Joseon (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800, reign 27 April 1776 – 18 August 1800)
Includes portrayal of King Yeongjo of Joseon (Reign 1724–1776) -
54. Yi San
Korean Drama - 2007, 77 episodes
Jeongjo of Joseon (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800, reign 27 April 1776 – 18 August 1800)
King Yeongjo of Joseon (Reign 1724–1776) -
55. Warrior Baek Dong Soo
Korean Drama - 2011, 29 episodes
Based on a true historical character of Baek Dong Soo
King Yeongjo of Joseon (Reign 1724–1776) - Supporting Role
Includes portrayal of Jeongjo of Joseon (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800, reign 27 April 1776 – 18 August 1800) -
56. The Red Sleeve
Korean Drama - 2021, 17 episodes
Jeongjo of Joseon (Yi San): Storyline encompassing 1759-1800
- Lived 28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800
- Crown Prince 10 March 1759 – 27 April 1776
- Reign 27 April 1776 – 18 August 1800
Features Yeongjo of Joseon (End of Life)
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57. Secret Door
Korean Drama - 2014, 24 episodes
King Yeongjo of Joseon (Reign 1724–1776) - Main Cast
Includes portrayal of Jeongjo of Joseon (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800, reign 27 April 1776 – 18 August 1800) -
58. The Throne
Korean Movie - 2015
King Yeongjo of Joseon (Reign 1724–1776) - Main Cast
Includes portrayal of Jeongjo of Joseon (28 October 1752 – 18 August 1800, reign 27 April 1776 – 18 August 1800) -
59. The Royal Gambler
Korean Drama - 2016, 24 episodes
King Sukjong of Joseon (Reign 1674–1720) - Main Cast
King Gyeongjong of Joseon (Born 1688; Reign 1720–1724) - Main Cast -
60. Haechi
Korean Drama - 2019, 48 episodes
1720-1725 approx
King Sukjong of Joseon (Reign 1674–1720)
King Yeongjo of Joseon (Reign 1724–1776) - Main Cast
Gyeongjong of Joseon (Reigned 1720–1724) -
61. Damo
Korean Drama - 2003, 14 episodes
King Sukjong of Joseon (1661-1720)
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62. Dong Yi
Korean Drama - 2010, 60 episodes
King Sukjong of Joseon (Reign 1674–1720)
Royal Noble Consort Choi Suk Bin (Tenure 1699-1718)
Includes portrayal of Yeongjo of Joseon (Reign 1724–1776)
Includes portrayal of Gyeongjong of Joseon (Reigned 1720–1724) -
63. Jang Ok Jung
Korean Drama - 2013, 24 episodes
1670-1701
King Sukjong of Joseon (Reign 1674–1720)
Royal Noble Consort Jang Hui-bin (Lived 1659-1701)
Includes portrayal of Hyeonjong of Joseon (Reigned 1659–1674) -
64. Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River
Korean Movie - 2016
1620s-50s
Fiction (Based on ancient novel)
King Hyojong (Died 1659; Reign 1649–1659) - Guest Appearance -
65. Horse Doctor
Korean Drama - 2012, 50 episodes
1645-1674
King Injo (Died 1649; Reign 1623–1649)
King Hyojong (Died 1659; Reign 1649–1659)
King Hyeonjong (Lived 1641-1674; Reigned 1659–1674) - Main cast
Young King Sukjong (Lived ) -
66. Cruel Palace - War of Flowers
Korean Drama - 2013, 50 episodes
1630-1650
King Injo of Joseon (Reign 1623–1649) - Main Cast?
Royal Consort Jo Gwi-in (Lived 1617-1652)
King Hyojong (Died 1659; Reign 1649–1659) -
67. The Slave Hunters
Korean Drama - 2010, 24 episodes
1640-1650
Includes portrayal of Hyojong of Joseon (Lived 1619-1659; Reign 1649–1659)
Crown Prince Sohyeon (Lived 1612-1645)
King Injo of Joseon (Reign 1623–1649) -
68. Tamra, the Island
Korean Drama - 2009, 16 episodes
1640
King Gwanghaegun of Joseon (Reign 1608–1623)
King Injo of Joseon (Reign 1623–1649) -
69. The Fortress
Korean Movie - 2017
1636
Second Manchu invasion of Korea
King Injo of Joseon (Reign 1623–1649)
(Based on a novel) -
70. Iljimae
Korean Drama - 2008, 20 episodes
1633 -1650 approx, Joseon
King Injo of Joseon (Reign 1623–1649)
(loosely based on the comic strip Iljimae, published between 1975 and 1977, written by Ko Woo-young based on Chinese folklore from the Ming dynasty about a masked Robin Hood-esque character during the Joseon era.) -
71. Strongest Chil Woo
Korean Drama - 2008, 20 episodes
1623–1649
King Injo of Joseon (Reign 1623–1649)
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72. The Reputable Family
Korean Drama - 2010, 16 episodes
1636-1680s
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73. Splendid Politics
Korean Drama - 2015, 50 episodes
1600-1620
King Seonjo of Joseon (Reign 1567–1608)
King Gwanghaegun of Joseon (Reign 1608–1623)
King Injo of Joseon (Reign 1623–1649)
King Hyojong of Joseon (Died 1659; Reign 1649–1659) -
74. The Tale of Nokdu
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
1615-1620
Includes portrayal of King Seonjo of Joseon (Reign 1567–1608)
King Gwanghaegun of Joseon (Reign 1608–1623)
King Injo of Joseon (Reign 1623–1649) -
75. Hong Gil Dong
Korean Drama - 2008, 24 episodes
1610-1623 approx
King Gwanghaegun of Joseon (Reign 1608–1623)
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76. The Crowned Clown
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
King Gwanghaegun of Joseon (Reign 1608–1623) - Main Cast
Includes portrayal of King Seonjo of Joseon (Reign 1567–1608) -
77. Masquerade
Korean Movie - 2012
King Gwanghaegun of Joseon (Reign 1608–1623) - Main Cast
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78. The King's Face
Korean Drama - 2014, 23 episodes
King Seonjo of Joseon (Reign 1567–1608)
King Gwanghaegun of Joseon (Reign 1608–1623) - Main Cast -
79. The Admiral: Roaring Currents
Korean Movie - 2014
1597
Includes portrayal of King Gwanghaegun (reigned 1608–1623)
Includes portrayal of King Seonjo of Joseon (Reign 1567–1608) -
80. Goddess of Fire
Korean Drama - 2013, 32 episodes
King Seonjo of Joseon (Reign 1567–1608)
King Gwanghaegun of Joseon (Reign 1608–1623) - Main Cast -
81. The Swordsman
Korean Movie - 2020
Includes portrayal of King Gwanghaegun (reigned 1608–1623)
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82. Bossam: Steal the Fate
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
King Gwanghae = Gwanghaegun (reigned 1608–1623)
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83. The King's Woman
Korean Drama - 2003, 42 episodes
Includes portrayal of King Gwanghaegun (reigned 1608–1623)
Includes portrayal of King Seonjo of Joseon (Reign 1567–1608) -
84. Blades of Blood
Korean Movie - 2010
1592
King Seonjo of Joseon (Reign 1567–1608)
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85. Warriors of the Dawn
Korean Movie - 2017
1592
King Seonjo (Reign 1567–1608)
Prince Gwanghaegun of Joseon (Reign 1608–1623)
Imjin War -
86. The Jingbirok: A Memoir of Imjin War
Korean Drama - 2015, 50 episodes
1592
King Seonjo (Reign 1567–1608)
Prince Gwanghaegun of Joseon (Reign 1608–1623)
Imjin War -
87. Three Kingdom Wars - Imjin War 1592
Korean Drama - 2016, 5 episodes
1592
Includes portrayal of King Gwanghaegun (reigned 1608–1623) -
88. Mirror of the Witch
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
1575-1615
Heo Jun (허준, Lived 1546 – 9 October 1615)
King Myeongjong (Reign 1545–1567)
King Seonjo of Joseon (Reign 1567–1608) -
89. Hur Jun, the Original Story
Korean Drama - 2013, 135 episodes
1575-1615
Heo Jun (허준, Lived 1546 – 9 October 1615)
Includes depictions of King Gwanghaegun (reigned 1608–1623)
Seonjo (Reign 1567–1608)
King Myeongjong (Reign 1545–1567) -
90. Heaven's Soldiers
Korean Movie - 2005
1572
Yi Sun Sin
Fantasy, Time Travel -
91. The Legendary Courtesan Hwang Jin Yi
Korean Movie - 2007
Hwang JinYi (Lived 1506-1560)
King Jungjong of Joseon (Reign 1506–1544) -
92. Hwang Jin Yi
Korean Drama - 2006, 24 episodes
Hwang JinYi (Lived 1506-1560)
King Jungjong of Joseon (Reign 1506–1544) -
93. The Flower in Prison
Korean Drama - 2016, 51 episodes
1544-1567
King Jungjong (Reign 1506–1544)
King Myeongjong (Reign 1545–1567)
Young King Seonjo (Lived 1552-1608) -
94. Heaven's Order
Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes
1544-1545
During Reign of King Injong (Reign 1544–1545)
King Jungjong of Joseon (Reign 1506–1544)
Inlcudes portrayal of Myeongjeong (r. 1545–1567)
(aka. Fugitive of Joseon) -
95. Saimdang, Light’s Diary
Korean Drama - 2017, 28 episodes
1510-1551
Poet Saimdang (Lived 1504-1551)
Jungjong of Joseon (Reign 1506–1544)
Injong of Joseon ( r. 1544–1545) -
96. Ladies of the Palace
Korean Drama - 2001, 151 episodes
Yeonsangun of Joseon (r. 1494–1506)
King Jungjong (Reign 1506–1544)
Injong of Joseon ( r. 1544–1545) -
97. Monstrum
Korean Movie - 2018
1527-1528; 22th year of rule
Jungjong of Joseon (Reign 1506–1544)
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98. Queen for Seven Days
Korean Drama - 2017, 20 episodes
1506
Jungjong of Joseon (Reign 1506–1544)
Yeonsangun of Joseon (r. 1494–1506)
Seongjong of Joseon (reign 1469–1494) -
99. The Treacherous
Korean Movie - 2015
1504-1506
Yeonsangun of Joseon (r. 1494–1506)
Includes portrayal of Jungjong of Joseon (Reign 1506–1544) -
100. The King and the Clown
Korean Movie - 2005
Yeonsangun of Joseon (r. 1494–1506)