Time-slip and fantasy dramas

A time-slip drama is a story in which characters jump to the past or future. Typical plots include people from the past arriving in the present or modern characters going back to change history. Combined with romance, historical drama and thrillers, time travel has become a popular theme in Korean dramas.

Yes. SBS's Rooftop Prince (2012) follows a Joseon crown prince and his retainers who land in a rooftop apartment in modern Seoul, roughly 300 years later. Their surprise at modern life brings laughs, while a romance and mystery connect past and present. It is a classic example of time travel told with humor.

Yes. tvN's Nine: Nine Time Travels (2013) follows a man who can travel 20 years into the past by burning one of nine incense sticks. Each time he changes the past, the present shifts in unexpected ways. Its tightly woven plot makes it a frequently cited standout of the time-slip genre.

Signal is a 2016 tvN drama written by Kim Eun-hee. Detectives in the past and present are connected through an old walkie-talkie and work together to solve cold cases. It combines the fantasy of radio contact across time with the tension of a crime thriller. It was also remade overseas, including in Japan.

Yes. SBS's My Love from the Star (2013 to 2014) depicts a romance between a top actress and an alien who landed in Joseon 400 years ago and has lived on Earth ever since. It was written by Park Ji-eun. Blending fantasy with romantic comedy, it became very popular in many countries.

Yes. SBS's Faith (2012) follows a Goryeo-era warrior who brings a modern woman doctor back to his time. It was written by Song Ji-na. The story unfolds as a fantasy historical drama in which a doctor with modern skills gets caught up in royal politics in Goryeo.

Yes. MBC's Dr. Jin (2012) follows a modern surgeon who ends up in 1860s Joseon. It is based on Motoka Murakami's Japanese manga JIN, with the setting moved to Korea. The drama portrays a doctor's struggle to save lives in an era without modern medical equipment.

Yes. SBS's Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016) is based on Chinese author Tong Hua's novel Bu Bu Jing Xin. A modern woman travels to the Goryeo era and becomes caught up in love and power struggles among princes, with the original Qing setting moved to Goryeo. It is well known among international fans.

Yes. tvN's Mr. Queen (2020 to 2021) is a historical comedy in which the soul of a modern man ends up in the body of a Joseon queen. It is based on the Chinese web drama Go Princess Go. The clash between modern speech and behavior and strict palace etiquette creates the humor.

Lovely Runner is a 2024 tvN time-slip romance about a woman who goes back in time to save the star she adores. It is based on the web novel Tomorrow's Best by author Kim Bbang. It drew attention for its blend of romance and humor as the story moves between school days and the present.

Yes. Stories in which a character who dies or faces disaster returns to the past to live again are popular. JTBC's Reborn Rich (2022), adapted from a web novel, follows a man betrayed by a chaebol family who is reborn as the family's youngest son. It shows how a trend from web novels spread to TV dramas.

Yes. SBS's The King: Eternal Monarch (2020) moves between two parallel worlds: the Republic of Korea and a constitutional monarchy called the Kingdom of Corea. It was written by Kim Eun-sook. Romance and mystery unfold when an emperor from one world meets a police detective from the other.

Yes. tvN's Hotel del Luna (2019) is a fantasy drama set in a hotel for spirits who have not yet moved on from this world. It was written by the Hong sisters, Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran. The story of the hotel's owner, bound there by a past sin, and its manager unfolds with striking production design.

Beings from Korean folklore, such as dokkaebi goblins, nine-tailed foxes, grim reapers and gods, appear often. Rather than being frightening, they are frequently portrayed as characters who reflect on love, fate, life and death. Retelling traditional folktales as modern romance is a hallmark of Korean fantasy dramas.

Time-slip stories bring to life a wish almost everyone has had: What if I could go back? Fixing past mistakes or meeting a lost loved one again makes it easy to empathize. They also offer humor from the gap between past and present, and suspense over what happens when history changes.

Time-slip dramas mix several timelines, so watching for on-screen year captions and changes in characters' clothes and hairstyles helps. It is best to watch episodes in order without skipping. If you get lost, check the character chart or episode summaries on the official website.

Web novels and webtoons have long explored fantasy themes like regression, body possession and reincarnation, and their stories have already been tested with readers. As a result, production companies increasingly adapt popular originals into dramas. Lovely Runner and Reborn Rich are both based on web novels.

Because time-slip dramas are fantasy, they often change events and characters freely even when borrowing a historical setting. Even when real figures appear, their personalities and relationships may be invented. If a drama sparks your interest, check the real history in reliable sources.

Effects for fantasy dramas are usually created by filming in front of a green screen and then compositing computer graphics. Time-travel scenes, superpowers and imaginary spaces are often completed in post-production by VFX companies. Some productions now also film in front of large LED screens that display the background.

Lovely Runner is often recommended for a light, heart-fluttering romance, and Signal for a tense crime thriller. If you want a historical drama full of laughs, Mr. Queen is a good choice. Deciding on the mood you want first makes picking much easier.