Snuggling up on the couch fora late night binge sessionof your favoriteKorean dramais only the best feeling ever. And when those dramas involve an unique time travel premise combined with adventure, heartfelt romance, or mysteries spanning eras, it makes for the perfect escape.
Korean dramas are no longer a novel experience for the global audience. The medium’s capacity to engage a wider audience with its compelling storytelling and gripping character drama is enormous, and the more genres it dives into, the more it stands out.
Among the many exciting tales told over decades, those surrounding time travel are particularly exhilarating thanks to how the subject seamlesslyblends science fiction, history, and romance, and generates high re-watch value. Imagining what it might be like to travel back in time or see the future is endlessly entertaining, and the possibilities are endless.
While it’s impossible for humans to time travel (sort of), you can live vicariously through these incredible stories. We’ve brought together an intriguing list of 20 Korean dramas that incorporate time travel into their alluring stories about star-crossed lovers and brave protagonists willing to right historical wrongs — or just puzzled individuals displaced through time. Whatever time travel tale you’re in the mood for, this list has it.
20Queen and I (2012)
When a time-traveling scholar named Kim Boong Do finds a magic talisman and travels from Joseon dynasty to modern-day Seoul, 300 years into the future, he has one goal — to find Queen In Hyun.
Apparently, when she was being deposed by the council, Boong Do was her only supporter. But upon arriving in the future, he realizes that she’s a mere character being played in a drama by up-and-coming actress Choi Hee Jin.
A Time-Traveling Scholar’s Accidental Love Story
Queen and Iperfectly blends history, comedy and romance throughthe fish-out-of-water scenariowhere Boong Do has to not only adapt to the traditions of the modern world, but also find a way to travel back to the Joseon era.
Starring Ji Hyun Woo and Yoo In Na, the drama features an unconventional partnership and blossoming romance against the backdrop of royal intrigue. Yoo In Na also won massive acclaim for her performance, makingQueen and Ia huge hit.
19Splash Splash Love (2015)
The main protagonist ofSplash Splash Loveis Dan Bi, a high school student who hates math. On the day of her KSAT exam, she decides to run away and ends up on a playground in the middle of a freak rain which transports her to the Joseon kingdom.
She arrives hundreds of years in the past, in the middle of a drought. Dan Bi then meets King Lee Do, a man who yearns to be intellectual. Since Dan Bi’s high school level mathematics is still way ahead of Joseon’s teachings, she schools Lee Do and inspires him to bring change to the kingdom.
A Charming Tale of Transformation
The K-drama won hearts for its charming take on time travel andfeel-good romance. For the most part, the episodes are heavy with emotion, balancing the more serious tone of the era with subtle glances and earnest dialogue. The leads, Kim Seul-gi and Yoon Doo-joon are extremely likable. Paired with the beautiful songs, the two-episode miniseries seems as breezy as it is breathtaking.
Stream Splash Splash Love on Kocowa
18Rooftop Prince (2012)
InRooftop Prince, Crown Prince Lee Gak finds himself mysteriously transported to modern-day Seoul along with his three retainers. There, he meets Hong Se Na, who is the spitting image of his beloved wife, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances.
It does not help that Lee Gak bears a striking resemblance to the grandson of the CEO of Se Na’s company. He tries to get close to her with the hopes that he’ll learn clues about the murder of the Crown Princess.
Related:20 K-Dramas With No Boring Episodes
Crown Prince Finds Himself Out Of Place And Time
With Park Yoo-chun and Han Ji-min taking up the lead roles, it’s impossible for the drama to go wrong. What’s better is thatRooftop Princehas a multi-layered storyline that intertwines to reveal a greater plot, making the series more engaging episode after episode.
Seeing historical royals experience 21st century culture shock provides comic relief, and the time slip romance between Lee Gak and Se Na is simply marvelous.
Stream Rooftop Prince on Kocowa
17Times (2021)
Timeshas a premise Hollywood has played with a number of times. Lee Jin Woo is an exceptionally talented reporter who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth about a case. When a mysterious phone call connects him to another hard-as-nails reporter named Seo Jung In, he’s shocked to discover that she’s speaking to him from five years in the future.
Jung In warns Jin Woo about the threat against her father, South Korea’s President, and together they work to find the culprit and break free of the strange time warp.
A Reporter’s Race Against Time
The drama is botha political thrillerand a mind-bending time travel mystery. What makes it stand out is the intense performances from the lead actors, Lee Seo-jin and Lee Joo-young. Their chemistry with one another, especially when developed just over the phone, makes the show more endearing, and the suspenseful plot adds a gripping urgency to each episode.
Moreover, by charting away from a traditional time travel storyline, which often turns to be about romance, this innovative crime-solving drama subverts expectations.
Stream Times on Rakuten Viki
16Hit the Top (2017)
As a member of a popular K-pop idol group, Yoo Hyun-Jae is nothing short of a star. Especially if you consider the ‘90s, when the group was at the height of its fame. However, when Hyun-Jae travels from 1993 to 2017, he finds out that he goes missing in the year 1994 and is presumed dead shortly after.
Determined to uncover the truth about his disappearance, he befriends Lee Ji Hoon and Choi Woo Seung, two aspiring young musicians.
Lighthearted, Feel-Good, But Complicated
We’re currently witnessing an evolution in the K-pop industry, with new talents emerging from the ground to become massive superstars. But it all started a bunch of years ago, andHit the Topbrings back the nostalgia and humor of the time.
Moreover, its predictable storylinenever feels dull because of the upbeat soundtrackand dazzling performances. Definitely an underrated gem,Hit the Topis a must-watch in the genre.
15Tomorrow, with You (2017)
Instead of going back centuries or traveling to the present day,Tomorrow, with Youtakes an innovative approach towards time travel and introduces us to Yoo So Joon, the CEO of a real estate company, who holds the power to decide when he wants to travel back in time.
Once, on a subway, he sees a future in which he’s unhappy and dissatisfied with life. To avoid facing it, he marries Song Ma Rin, a free-spirited photographer, unaware of her personal struggles.
A Bittersweet Romance
Taking the road less traveled, this brilliant Korean drama explores the complexities and sorrows of a loveless marriage through a time-travel premise.
Helped by outstanding performances from lead actors Shin Min-a (who you may know fromHometown Cha-Cha-Cha) and Lee Je-hoon, this poignant melodrama tugs at the heartstrings with its slow-burn romance. Overall, the touching story reminds us to cherish the present and appreciate the little things in life.
14Signal (2016)
Much likeTimes,Signalfeatures a mysterious time-travel phenomenon involving walkie-talkies and an unidentified serial killer. Park Hae Yeong, a criminal profiler and police officer, stumbles upon a walkie-talkie and connects with a detective from the past, Lee Jae Han.
He reminds Hae Yeong of a crime he witnessed as a child and encourages him to solve cold cases with him. Together, they work on several investigations and solve decades-old crimes.
A Detective Duo Communicating Across Time
What’s interesting about the drama is thatit is inspired by real-life crime storiesand a murder case. The way it blends procedural thrills and heartfelt character drama is immensely terrific.
Concept-wise,Signalis truly unique and consistently full of suspense, making it hard not to binge. The pacing is beautiful, the actors, including Cho Jin-woong and Lee Je-hoon, as well as the young cast, are phenomenal in their roles.
Stream Signal on Paramount+
13Familiar Wife (2018)
Going back in time and changing certain regretful events always has consequences. Playing with the same idea,Familiar Wifeintroduces us to Cha Joo Hyuk, who has been married to his college sweetheart Seo Woo Jin. But he is dissatisfied with the decisions he’s made and the life he’s living.
When a car accident sends him into the past, he experiences a drastic shift in his destiny by doing tiny things differently. Joo Hyuk ends up causing more trouble than before, including with his first love, Lee Hee Won.
Related:Movies Where Time Travel Actually Made Sense
Underrated and Unforgettable
Familiar Wifeprobably has one of the most unique executions on time travel ever seen in Korean dramas. Even though the premise seems unoriginal, it is the series’ ability to reflect on relationships, provide meaningful lessons on self-growth, and deliver a truckload of emotions that makes it stand out from the rest. Not heavy on drama but still pretty intense on chemistry, the series leaves an indelible mark on viewers.
12Go Back Couple (2017)
Adapted from the webtoonDo it One More Time,Go Back Coupleis a fun, 12-episode drama that follows an unhappily married couple. Choi Ban Do and Ma Jin Joo were adorable sweethearts when they married, but growing up together took a toll on them and how they simply cannot stand each other.
When they find themselves traveling back to their college days, away from career responsibilities and their young son, the two vow to make different choices and rekindle the lost romance.
Second Chances and First Loves
Instead of throwing one person back in time,Go Back Couplesends two people back to when they weren’t dating. It also combines moving insights on relationships, the complications and pitfalls of marrying young, and the beauty of being in love, with an enormous amount of humor and top-notch writing. Son Ho Jun and Jang Na Ra are truly exceptional as a couple, sharing swoon-worthy moments with an effortless and natural dynamic.
Stream Go Back Couple on Rakuten Viki
11The Light in Your Eyes (2019)
With a melancholic start and an all-consuming end,The Light in Your Eyesis a beautiful, albeit heartbreaking drama. It follows 25-year-old Kim Hye Ja, who is in possession of a mysterious watch that can turn back time. In a desperate attempt to save her father, Hye Ja turns the watch several times and ends up aging herself to seventy years old.
Grappling with her situation, and realizing everybody she knew no longer recognizes her, she finds solace in the company of Lee Joon Ha, the man she once loved.
A Tragic Time-Travel Romance
The 2019 drama soars high because of its heartbreaking portrayal of romance between two souls torn apart by tragedy. StarringOne Spring Night’sHan Ji Min andStart-Up’sNam Joo Hyuk,The Light in Your Eyesis filled with stunning cinematography and emotionally moving storytelling.
The contrast between decades as well as the parting lessons towards the finale leave few dry eyes. That said, the series has remained among the more underappreciated gems.
