One of my many delusions as a Korean enthusiast is living as a royal (Queen consort or princess) in the Joseon Dynasty. 

Yes! You heard me right, I said “Royal”. Who wants to be a commoner? Well, not me. 

What is the inspiration behind that delusion? Now you finally ask what I want to answer. I’ll tell you, apart from the respect and enjoyment that comes with being of royal blood in the Joseon dynasty, I’m deeply in love with how some actors depict real-life kings in Korean dramas. It’s so real and believable that I wish to meet those kings for real. 

Although some of these kings are not necessarily connected to the Joseon dynasty as some of them are from the Goryeo dynasty and other eras, for accuracy and for people who like accuracy in history, this will be a list of real kings characterized in 2020-2023 historical K-dramas.

King Jeoljong of Joseon  

• King Maker: The Change of Destiny (2020)
• MR Queen (2020-2021)

King Jeoljong was the 25th ruler of the Joseon dynasty. He reigned from 1849 to 1864. They depicted his early life as a struggling king in the K-drama MR Queen while they depicted his late life as the father of the princess in the K-drama King Maker: The Change of Destiny.

King Pyeongwon of Goguryeo 

• Rivers Where the Moon Rises (2021)

King Pyeongwon was the 25th ruler of Goguryeo who ruled from 559 to 590. Though not as the main lead, they characterized him in the K-drama “Rivers Where the Moon Rises”     

King Gwanghae-gun of Joseon 

• Bossam Steal the Fate (2021)

King Gwanghae-gun was the 15th ruler of the Joseon dynasty. He reigned from 1608 to 1623. He was characterized as the father of the widowed princess in the K-series “Bossam Steal the Fate”

King Yeongjo and King Jeongjo of Joseon 

• The Red Sleeve (2021-2022)

While The Red Sleeve gives a mini account of the life of King Yeongjo who was the 21st monarch of Joseon and also the grandfather of King Jeongjo, the series focuses on giving a fictionalized account of the lives of King Jeongjo, the 22nd monarch of Joseon and his royal consort. King Yeongjo reigned from 1724 to 1776, while King Jeongjo reigned from 1776 to 1800. 

King Seongjong of Joseon 

• Joseon Attorney (2023)

King Seongjong was the 9th ruler of Joseon who succeeded his uncle. He ruled from 1469 to 1495. In the 2023 K-drama “Joseon Attorney”, they depicted him as a king who wanted to strengthen his royal authority and establish a state of law. 

King Injo of Joseon

• My Dearest (2023)

Known as the 16th ruler of Joseon, King Injo reigned from 1623 to 1649. He was the ruling king in the 2023 K-drama “My Dearest”

King Hyeonjong of Goryeo

• Korea-Khitan War (2023)

King Hyeonjong was the 8th ruler of Goryeo, and he reigned from 1009 to 1031. The drama tells the story of the King’s life. He led the war against the Khitans and he united Goryeo. 

Are you a lover of history? I am and that’s why I wish to experience the life of the Korean pre-modern eras. But since wishes are not horses and it is humanly impossible, I’ll say Sageuks are the best way to grant this wish, especially in dramas like this that tell the story of the Korean pre-modern time directly or indirectly. 

Other than the dramas that I have mentioned, is there any non-fiction, historical drama that has made you experience Korean historical life? Also, who is your favorite Sageuk king? Feel free to let us know in the comment section.