Korean period dramas evolve with fantasy, occult twists

Scenes from the SBS hybrid period drama "The Haunted Palace" / Courtesy of SBS

Korean historical dramas, or "sageuk," are undergoing a transformation. Once defined by historically-based storytelling centered on royal courts and political intrigue, recent offerings are mixing genres in new ways — blending fantasy, mystery, romance and even horror to meet the expectations of a global streaming audience.

The occult romance period drama "The Haunted Palace” is drawing viewers in for its fresh premise — a romance between an "imugi" (a mythical serpent) and a shaman. Set in a fictionalized late Joseon Dynasty-era (1392-1910) backdrop, the drama is earning praise for its distinctive perspective on ghost stories, distinguishing itself from conventional occult narratives.

Each episode introduces new spirits with tragic backstories. Rather than portraying these spirits simply as chilling figures meant to heighten tension and fear, the show gives them a sense of humanity.

A "drowned ghost" living in the palace well turns out to be a court lady who took her own life after being wronged by the reckless Prince Yeongin. With female lead Yeo-ri’s help, she is able to resolve her deep-seated grudge and avoid becoming an evil spirit. The "luminous ghost" with its adorable, childlike appearance has become a scene-stealer, while another drowned ghost named Makdol, who was drowned while trying to save his daughter, moved viewers to tears with his deep paternal love.

Despite its supernatural premise, the drama pays close attention to romance, palace politics and action, elevating the show beyond a traditional occult narrative by blending different genres.

A scene from the Netflix series "Dear Hongrang" / Courtesy of Netflix

Netflix's drama "Dear Hongrang," which premiered on May 16, also weaves mystery and romance into epic drama. Also set in the Joseon era, the story centers on Hongrang, a rich merchant family's son who returns home with no memory of his past after going missing for 12 years, and his half-sister Jae-yi, who is the only one who mistrusts his unexplained reappearance. Despite the period setting, the drama leans into the mystery, combining it with melodrama conventions familiar to modern audiences.

Disney+ will soon join the mix with its first original Korean period drama "The Murky Stream," slated for the second half of this year. It is a fictional historical epic about a man who starts out as a ruffian at Maponaru — Joseon's logistics and economic hub on the Han River — and becomes a legend. The drama unfolds around his fateful entanglement with a principled and righteous woman and a man who dreams of becoming an honest official.

Next month, KBS is also scheduled to release "The First Night With the Duke," a fantasy romance based on a web novel. The story follows an ordinary female college student who finds herself transformed into a minor character in her favorite romance novel and spends a night with the novel’s male protagonist. The original fantasy setting is reimagined within a Joseon backdrop, incorporating the concept of possession to the period drama genre.

A scene from the SBS drama "The Haunted Palace" / Courtesy of SBS

From fact-based to more fictionalized storytelling

Experts note that in the past, Korean epic dramas largely focused on real historical events, but there is now a trend of moving away from factual representations toward more fictionalized narratives. New forms of historical dramas that incorporate genre elements such as romance, action and occult themes are gaining prominence.

“The prevailing trend now is the normalization of hybrid sageuk. When you watch today’s historical dramas, you might even question whether they’re truly sageuk, as the changes are so noticeable. This is because genre elements have been incorporated," culture critic Jung Duk-hyun said.

He explains that this tendency makes these period dramas appealing to global audiences who are already familiar with genre-driven content.

“‘The Haunted Palace’ features a shaman battling spirits, which is quite similar to exorcism rituals commonly seen in Western occult genres. While it adopts the stylistic elements of the occult genre, it incorporates a distinctly Korean version — much of it reinterpreted through the lens of Korean folktales, like those once featured in 'Korean Ghost Stories' (a horror drama based on Korean folk tales that aired in the 1970s and was revived in 2008.) For international viewers, it may feel like a familiar occult story, but with a unique twist that makes it stand out," he said.

"Dear Hongrang" also adopts the missing-person mystery formula and reinterprets it within a historical setting, adding elements of melodrama and psychological tension.

"Koreans are known as the people of fusion, the people of mixing — so we excel at creating hybrid genres. We have a knack for blending disparate elements into a complete combination and presenting it as a cohesive work and that’s the true strength of Korean content,” Jung emphasized.