Welcome, dearies!
I’m sure you love KDramas as much as I do, but if you came here looking for a list of dramas like Scarlet Heart Ryeo… I understand that. I’ve been there too, staring at my screen like, “there has to be something that feels the same.” But the truth is, it depends.
If you want some of the elements of it, yes, I have a list for you.
But if you’d like that same multiple characters arc, drama, Goryeo, love, tragic, and so many other genres thrown in there in a perfect blend? There are none, unless you go and read the book (Bu Bu Jing Xin) or watch the Chinese TV show, I think it is a show.
But I haven’t watched or read the original story because it is in Chinese, and I haven’t found an official book translation.
The Missing Parts
So, why not? As I said, there are way too many things in the drama that make it good, and not only the casting (IU, Lee Joon-gi, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kang Ha-neul, Yoon Sun-woo, Byun Baek-hyun), these are all great actors who gave life to the story in a way that has you following each of the princely brothers closely, and by the end of it, you are utterly destroyed by how each of them ends up, so, it’s a complete masterpiece.
Now, there are other doramas where you have some of these elements, and I haven’t watched them all, but I do have some in my To-watch list, and I will gracefully share that list with you, dearies.
If you want: palace politics + morally grey princes
So, basically if you are a romance book lover, who likes the drama, the morally grey characters, that ML character that you are rooting for secretly, then you might like these stories. Full disclosure, I have not watched these shows myself, so I’m going on descriptions:
Moon Embracing the Sun
해를 품은 달 (Haereul Pum-eun Dal) — 2012
A young king loses his first love to palace scheming, only to find her years later as a shaman with no memory of him. Royal romance, political manipulation, and a love story that stretches across time and tragedy. A classic for a reason.
Captivating the King (2024)
세작, 매혹된 자들 (Sejak, Maehokdwen Jadeul) — 2024
A king who survived betrayal and political war meets a woman who gets close to him for revenge, and the two end up falling for each other instead. High-tension slow burn with strategy, complex characters, and a morally grey king you’ll root for anyway.
Empress Ki
기황후 (Gi Hwanghu) — 2013-2014
Genghis Khan built an empire spanning vast regions in East Asia and East Europe. One woman held immense power in the Yuan Dynasty he founded for 37 years. She was not of Mongol descent or Han Chinese, but from Goryeo, a small kingdom in the Far East. Taken against her will as a Gungnyeo (palace woman), she overcame her status to become the last empress in another land—Empress Ki.
The King’s Affection
연모 (Yeonmo) — 2021
When the Crown Prince is killed, his twin sister steps into his place and rules as king, while secretly falling for her first love. Identity, hidden secrets, and forbidden romance in the Joseon court. Won an International Emmy, which tells you something.
If you want: time travel / “I don’t belong here”
This is the mechanism side of Scarlet Heart, you know how she falls back in time, and has to relearn to live? Then these also have that style. From the list below I have only watched 1 show, the others don’t take my word for it, I would recommend checking out a trailer first, which is what I’ll do before watching them:
Queen and I
인현왕후의 남자 (Inhyeon Wanghu-ui Namja) — 2012
Kim Bung Do, a scholar who supported Queen In Hyeon’s reinstatement after her removal by Jang Hui Bin, travels 300 years into modern Seoul and meets actress Choi Hui Jin, who hopes to revive her career playing Queen In Hyeon in a TV drama.
Live Up to Your Name
명불허전 (Myeongbulheojeon) — 2017
A brilliant Joseon acupuncturist time-travels 400 years into the future and lands in modern-day Seoul, where he clashes with a cardiothoracic surgeon. Equal parts funny and sweet, with a back-and-forth between timelines that keeps you on your toes.
Mr. Queen
철인왕후 (Cheorin Wanghu) — 2020-2021
A modern-day man wakes up in the body of a Joseon queen, palace chaos ensues. It’s chaotic and hilarious, but underneath all the comedy there are actual stakes, court politics, and a slow-burn romance that sneaks up on you.
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty
폭군의 셰프 — 2025
The series delves into the life of a South Korean French cuisine chef who, having achieved the pinnacle of her profession, who time-slips to the past and encounters the king, known as both the ultimate gourmet and the most feared tyrant.
That was a longer list than I had anticipated!
That’s all for this one, dearies! Let me know in the comments which of these you’ve already watched, or which one you’re adding to your list first. Are you more of a palace politics fan or a time travel romantic? 👀
And if you know a fellow Moon Lovers fan still searching for their next watch, send this their way!
Happy Watching!
