The fantasy genre is gaining more and more popularity every year, and the cinema of South Korea plays an important role in this. The main feature of Korean dramas is the variety of colorful and fascinating stories about fairy-tale and mythical creatures. Gorgeous plots, skillfully adapted to the modern world, - the perfect balance of fantasy, history and everyday life. If you are a true fan of the fantasy genre, then you can appreciate these 7 best Korean dramas.
1. My girlfriend is kumiho (2010)
What if, according to mythology, you are a kumiho, a werewolf woman, designed to seduce other men and devour their livers - but you just want cookies and pens?
A fresh take on the old legend of the nine-tailed fox - kumiho.
According to Korean mythology, kumiho is a symbol of deceit. Any fox that has lived for a thousand years can turn into a kumiho. By becoming a kumiho, a fox can take on the form of a werewolf, and in order to survive, she needs to feed on human flesh.
Once, one cute fox was imprisoned in a temple painting and held there for 500 years, until one negligent boy accidentally released her. Having found freedom, the young kumiho, in the form of a beautiful girl, desired to fulfill her old dream - to become a man for good.
2. Mysterious Garden (2010)
I drank. I fell asleep. I woke up in a strange body.
- Rumors are creeping … Now, if you were more often at work … - I already come on Tuesdays and Thursdays! - It is necessary on other days … - I don’t want to. Traffic jams on the roads!
What do a stunt girl and a spoiled mall owner have in common? Nothing! Except for one small circumstance, thanks to which two completely different people are forced to be together. By a mystical chance, the characters change their bodies. But is this metamorphosis so accidental, or was their meeting already predetermined from above?
3. Prince from the attic (2012)
Even if you are a little over 30, there is hope that a prince is lying around in your attic.
What dies during life and comes to life after death? A riddle that runs through the entire series as a red thread. Can you solve it before the truth is revealed?
In the era of glorious Joseon, one fine and fair man ruled. He was well-read, curious and good-natured. Prince Lee Gakka had a beloved beautiful wife and an interesting companion in the person of her younger sister. Life seemed simple and straightforward, and nothing foreshadowed trouble. But one morning, the prince found his wife drowned in a pond. How could this misfortune have happened and was it an accident? In search of answers to these questions, the prince embarks on a long journey. A mysterious mystical sign saves Li Gakka from unknown pursuers, clearly thirsting for his death, and sends the prince along with his devoted retinue to our time. Oh, and it will not be easy for him in a world where terrible iron carts are everywhere, incomprehensible people settled in the palace, and the first girl he meets is an uneducated boor who has no idea how to behave with princes.
4. Lord of the sun (2013)
Don't you still believe in ghosts? Then we go to you!
Gong Shil's life was divided into before and after the accident. Before she was a successful girl with attractive prospects and interesting acquaintances. After - only a shadow of the former Gong Shil remained from her. Now the girl's life is an eternal struggle for sleep and peace, because wherever she appears, ghosts follow her. And they all want only one thing for Gong Shil to help them: to avenge their unjust death, to whitewash the defamed name, to finish the job. There are many ghosts, and Gong Shil is alone, and therefore her life is a pitch hell. But once fate brings her to an unusual person, one touch of which makes the ghosts immediately disappear. Sticking to this person once and for all is all that Gong Shil now dreams of. Here are just a casual "savior" with such a fate does not agree.
5. Man from the Star (2013)
What happens if you take one smart alien and one stupid but beautiful female person?
In Joseon, on the day the first snow falls, all lies are forgiven. Rumor has it that on this day even lies to the king are forgiven.
400 years ago, during the Joseon dynasty, an alien landed on our planet. Not differing in any way outwardly from an ordinary person, at the same time he had remarkable physical and mental abilities. Centuries passed … The era was replaced by the era, but the newcomer remained unchanged. He longed for nothing more than returning home to his planet, but for some reason his compatriots were in no hurry to take him. The alien adapted to life on Earth, but never learned to trust and love people, until one day he met a very stupid, but beautiful actress, whose motto was: the world is beautiful thanks to me!
6. Goblin / Tokkebi (2016)
Immortals cry too, or how to have fun when you've lived for nine centuries.
You will become immortal and you will see how everyone who is dear to you die. You will not forget a single death. This is the reward that I will give you and the punishment that you will incur.
Centuries ago, the great General Kim Shin was betrayed and executed by his master. However, his soul did not find peace, for much blood was shed by his battle sword, and his soul longed for vengeance. This is how Tokkebi appeared - an immortal creature with dark powers. And he has no happiness or peace as long as he lives on this earth.
Only one person in the world is able to save Tokkebi from torment and to rest his soul forever - a young girl, whose birth was predetermined from above. The hour of reckoning has finally come and peace is getting closer … but less and less want to die.
7. Hwayugi / A Korean Odyssey (2017)
Monsters live among us. Some of them are very cute.
In ancient times, when people believed in Gods, and the Gods protected them, a monkey was born on a fiery mountain. She was very strong and bad-tempered. Constantly making a commotion. Heaven had no choice but to pacify the monkey by making it a celestial. After that, the monkey gave itself the name of the Great Sage, equal to Heaven.
One small and proud monkey was deprived of everything and cast down from the Olympus of the gods. How to return rewards … honestly earned, if other gods consider you pathetic and unworthy? To do this, you will have to go to the human world and atone for your guilt.
