The Biggest Surprises: 6 K-Dramas That Are Modern And Historical Mash-Ups

Modern K-dramas are relatable, and historical K-dramas are always so stunning. Modern series depict our day to day lives, while historical ones deliver gorgeous fashion and classic romances. What if you could combine the two incredible genres to make the perfect K-drama? “Mr. Queen,” “Scarlet Heart: Goryeo,” “Splash Splash Love,” and many more have made this wish a reality! Modern and historical mash-ups combine the elements you love to give you the most satisfying K-drama.

Let’s learn a little more about these K-dramas now.

1. “Mr. Queen”

The soul of a modern chef mysteriously finds a new home in Queen Kim So Young (Shin Hye Sun), and he experiences life through her eyes. The kingdom is upside down with her husband, who is King Cheol Jong (Kim Jung Hyun), being unofficially stripped of his power by the late king’s widow.

“Mr. Queen” is the ideal K-drama for fans of “Come Back Alive,” or even enthusiasts of supernatural shows that resemble “Oh My Ghostess.” It’s fun to see another person adapt to life in a new body. This delivers the best kind of comedy through their simple mistakes and everyday awkwardness.

Start watching “Mr. Queen” now:

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2. “Queen In Hyun’s Man”

Yoo In Na and Ji Hyun Woo star in the shocking story about art imitating life. Choi Hee Jin (Yoo In Na) is an actress, who is portraying a historical queen, that time travels to the Joseon Dynasty. A noble scholar named Kim Bung Do (Ji Hyun Woo) is trying to reinstate a queen in the kingdom with the same name. Of course the pair meets and a love story that transcends time begins.

A mysterious talisman is Choi Hee Jin’s method of supernatural transportation. Many K-dramas feature the incarnated version of characters, but rarely do we witness a star playing royalty and facing reality in another century! It is fun to see a show within a show, and “Queen In Hyun’s Man” delivers a good version of it. It’s sweet to watch the authentic on-screen chemistry of the main stars in this modern historical mash-up!

3. “Scarlet Heart: Goryeo”

A 21st century woman named Hae Soo (IU) is magically transported to the the Goryeo Dynasty during a total solar eclipse. Her incarnated self gets involved in several princes’ struggle for power to be the next King of Goryeo. She even ends up falling in love with the future king!

“Scarlet Heart: Goryeo” is utterly spellbinding. The gorgeous clothes, stunning cinematography, and handsome princes are just three reasons this series is unforgettable. The clothes during Goryeo Dynasty make any of today’s attire pale in comparison. Her traveling from one era to another will leave you speechless. You will never think of solar eclipses the same way again. It was also based on the Chinese hit series “Scarlet Heart”!

Watch the C-drama “Scarlet Heart” now:

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4. “Splash Splash Love”

Puddles on a rainy day transform into mystical things when it helps a troubled teenager time travel to the Joseon Dynasty. The teen named Dan Bi (Kim Seul Gi) is struggling with math in the present day, but she becomes a math scholar in the glorious past. During her brief visit, King Lee Do (Yoon Doo Joon) is taken by Dan Bi and vows to love her forever.

Dan Bi uses a puddle to travel from one century to the next. She visits the past and returns to her modern time using the puddle. It appears that the king uses the same magic to find her in the present. This fantasy series really opens up everyone’s imagination. Because of “Splash Splash Love,” we start seeing magic in the smallest things in life. Even puddles become a thing of beauty. The fact that this series is only two episodes long and features gifted actors makes it a must see! Their acting talent is way beyond their young years.

Watch “Splash Splash Love” now”:

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5. “Saimdang, Light’s Diary“

This is one of the most relatable K-dramas in the modern historical mash-up. Lee Young Ae plays an art history professor who starts reading an ancient diary. The diary gives her a detailed backstory of a Joseon Dynasty painting. Discovering the truth about Saimdang (Lee Young Ae) and Lee Gyeom’s (Song Seung Heon‘s) love story promises to help her career and personal life.

This is such a pure love story! “Saimdang, Light’s Diary” allows Lee Young Ae and Song Seung Heon to portray a first love that never dies. They do an incredible job showing the audience an example of unconditional love even when Saimdang marries someone else.

Start watching “Saimdang, Light’s Diary” now:

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6. “Live Up to Your Name”

Traditional and modern medicine clash in this fantasy series about two doctors from different eras. Stars Kim Ah Joong and Kim Nam Gil take on the roles of surgeon Choi Yeon Kyung and traditional medicine doctor Heo Im, respectively. Moments before he drowns in the Joseon Dynasty, Heo Im travels hundreds of years to the present day where he meets Choi Yeon Kyung, and their story begins.

Fans of Kim Ah Joong and Kim Nam Gil are bound to fall in love with the roles they portray. They are talented veterans who have done very well playing many different characters over the years. In “Live Up to Your Name,” the pair plays medicine experts, and you’ll be both anxious and excited to see them compete against each other. Who will win the most patients and cure them in record time? You’ll have fun seeing them bicker and work together.

Hey Soompiers, which modern historical mash-up is your favorite? Is there a certain actor that stands out among the rest?

KMoody is a Soompi writer who is a longtime Korean drama fan. Her favorite dramas include “Boys Over Flowers,” “Dream High,” and “Love Alarm”! For more information about her personal and professional writing journey, follow her on Instagram at BTSCelebs.