Korean dramas are renowned for their compelling stories and dramatic flair, drawing viewers into richly woven narratives. Among these, some series are inspired by real-life events, which adds a layer of depth and authenticity to their storytelling.
These dramas touch upon 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 remarkable 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 provide a compelling sneak of Korea’s rich and complex past, demonstrating how real events can be transformed into powerful narratives that stun and educate audiences as well as.
1. Signal (2016)
Signal is a South Korean TV 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 criminal incidents in Korea, including the Hwaseong serial murders.
In 2015, criminal profiler Park Hae-young (Lee Je-hoon) discovered a mysterious walkie-talkie. He communicates with Detective Jae-han (Cho Jin-woong) from the past, even though they’ve 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 try to fix the past and catch the criminals, unintended consequences follow in the present. The mystery surrounding Jae-han’s disappearance in 2000 deepens, drawing Hae-young further into the investigation.
- Aired: Jan 22, 2016 – Mar 12, 2016
- No 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 genius playwright Kim Woo-jin.
Kim Woo-jin, a stage 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 challenges under oppressive circumstances.
Ultimately, Woo-jin and Sim-deok’s fate ends in heartbreak, leaving a poignant legacy behind.
- Aired: Nov 27, 2018 – Dec 4, 2018
- No 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 non-fiction 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 ‘Red Cap,’ who stalks and kills women randomly. His unpredictable attacks leave detectives struggling to identify his next move. The fear gripping the city prompts a new approach to catching the serial killer.
Gook Young Soo, head of the Criminal Behavioral Analysis team, recruits Song Ha Young, a perceptive former detective, to utilize criminal profiling. Inspired by the American FBI’s success, Gook believes 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 its 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 breakthroughs of using criminal profiling in a high-stakes environment.
- Aired: Jan 14, 2022 – Mar 12, 2022
- No 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 tale 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 his father’s murder. He is next in line for 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 kingdom’s laws.
At court, Yi San meets Sung Deok Im, a spirited and intelligent young woman. While Yi San falls in love and proposes she become his concubine, Sung Deok Im struggles with the constraints of royal life. She grapples with the responsibilities and restrictions that accompany being a royal consort.
As their love deepens, Sung Deok Im starts to see their union’s potential to bring positive change to the troubled realm. The series offers a fictionalized account of King Jeongjo and his royal consort Ui-bin Seong, highlighting their personal and political challenges.
- Aired: Nov 12, 2021 – Jan 1, 2022
- No 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 TV 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 for which they are underqualified. It also showcases the evolving 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 works a mundane job as a contract employee. His friend Choi Ae-ra dreams of becoming a television anchor but works at a department store’s information desk. 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 face challenges that threaten their relationship. The series delves into 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.
- Aired: May 22, 2017 – Jul 11, 2017
- No 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 TV series directed by Kim Sung-ho and written by Yoon Ji-ryeon. An original Netflix 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 his ex-convict uncle Sang-gu for the first time after his father’s sudden death. Sang-gu, now Geu-ru’s guardian, helps run the family trauma cleaning company, “Move to Heaven.” Together, they uncover untold stories of the deceased while Sang-gu grapples with his painful past and the incident that landed him in jail.
The series is based on the nonfiction essay “Things Left Behind” by Kim Sae Byul, a first-generation trauma cleaner. Sae Byul describes his profession of clearing out 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 who died alone.
Each episode reveals the tales of the departed before their demise. One remarkable story in episode six features a janitor and his loving wife who died with no family to mourn them. Geu-ru finds a way to honour them, highlighting the show’s poignant exploration of life and death.
- Aired: May 14, 2021
- No of Episodes: 10
- Cast: Lee Je Hoon, Tang Jun Sang, Hong Sung Hee
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
7. D.P (2021)
D.P. is a South Korean military action TV series on Netflix. Directed by Han Jun-hee, it is based on the webtoon D.P 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 on July 28, 2023.
Set in 2014, D.P. follows a team of Korean military police tasked with capturing deserters. The series exposes the harsh realities of military life in South Korea, emphasizing the widespread bullying and hazing. The “survival of the fittest” mindset prevails, with the weakest enduring 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 set off on their mission, they uncover the brutal truth about the Korean military. Their journey reveals the severe bullying and hazing that drive soldiers to the desert, highlighting the distressing nature of mandatory military service in Korea.
Adapted from the webtoon D.P. Dog Days, the drama is fictional but draws from the real experiences of Korean soldiers. D.P. aims to expose the dark side of the Korean military, focusing on the abuse in the system, although some aspects may be exaggerated for dramatic effect
- Aired: Aug 27, 2021
- No 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 juveniles and gets appointed to a juvenile court in the 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 flaws in the judiciary. Loosely based on real-life crimes committed by teens in South Korea, the drama emphasizes the societal and systemic factors contributing 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 showcases the complexities of justice and the responsibilities of society in shaping the futures of young offenders. It offers a nuanced look at how legal and social systems impact juveniles and the possibility for redemption and change.
- Aired: Feb 25, 2022
- No 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-AD 935), the series revolves around an elite group of young men called Hwarang. These warriors discover their passion, friendship, and love amid the kingdom’s turmoil.
Queen Jiso (Kim Ji-soo) rules Silla as regent after her father, King Beopheung’s death, keeping her son, Sammaekjong (Park Hyung-sik), hidden from enemies. As Sammaekjong comes of age, impatience grows among 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 her authority.
To undermine the nobles’ power, Jiso creates the Hwarang, an elite group of male youths meant to cut across 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. While the show’s romance and storyline are fictional, it is rooted in the historical concept of the Hwarang, known for their youth and beauty, as depicted in poems and songs.
- Aired: Dec 19, 2016 – Feb 21, 2017
- No 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 centres 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 period.
Hwang Hee-tae becomes the pride of Gwangju by entering Seoul National University College of Medicine with top marks. His friend, Kyung-soo (Kwon Young-chan), a pro-democracy activist, persuades 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 secure transport costs.
At this meeting, he encounters Myung-hee, a nurse enduring life’s hardships. Myung-hee agrees to the meeting in place of her friend Soo-ryeon (Keum Sae-rok) to raise funds for studying in Germany. However, she and Hee-tae fall in love. In May 1980, amidst the fervent cries for democracy in Gwangju, Hee-tae and Myung-hee find their lives intertwined by fate.
While 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 numerous injuries and deaths, marking one of the bloodiest moments in South Korean history. The drama, though fictional in its romance, truthfully portrays the era’s turmoil, a subject rarely explored in K-dramas.
- Aired: May 3, 2021 – Jun 8, 2021
- No 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 crash-lands in the North Korean portion of the DMZ.
Ri Jeong-hook (Hyun Bin), a member of the North Korean elite and a captain in the Korean People’s Army, discovers Se-ri while patrolling. 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 Queen of Tears finale.
The inspiration for Crash Landing on You came from an incident in 2008 involving actress Jung Yang, who accidentally crossed the North Korean border during a sailing mishap. 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 lost on the North Korean border, leading to a love story that has entertained many viewers.
- Aired: Dec 14, 2019 – Feb 16, 2020
- No 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 Deluxe Taxi (Red Cage) by Carlos and Lee Jae-jin, the series is inspired by actual heinous crimes committed in Korea. It has garnered praise for its performances and compelling storylines.
Do Gi, a former Special Forces officer is devastated when a serial killer murders his mother. Struggling with his grief, he encounters Jang Sung Chul, who recruits him to work for Rainbow Taxi. This is no ordinary taxi service but a secret organization that seeks revenge for victims whom the law has failed. As a star driver for Rainbow Taxi, Do Gi delivers justice through revenge.
Ha Na, a prosecutor, investigates Rainbow Taxi’s activities. While she is infuriated by their disregard for the law, she is conflicted by their ability to solve cases that the legal system cannot address. The series shows the tension between those who see revenge as a form of true justice and those who uphold the law.
While the storyline itself is fictional, it is set against the backdrop of crimes that closely mirror actual events in Korea, adding a layer of eerie realism to the gripping narrative.
- Aired: Apr 9, 2021 – May 29, 2021
- No 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 revenge psychological thriller 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 on her former bullies after becoming a homeroom teacher at the school of the bully leader’s child, Ha Ye-sol. The series draws inspiration from a 2006 incident in Cheongju, South Korea, where middle schoolers severely abused a classmate.
The idea for The Glory was sparked by Kim Eun-sook’s daughter, who asked whether it would be more heartbreaking to beat someone nearly to death or to be beaten nearly to death. This led Kim to investigate the Korean school system’s violence, creating a fictional story that resonates with real-life bullying issues.
- Aired: Dec 30, 2022
- No 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
