If you’ve got a soft corner for time travel Korean drama, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re gonna delve into the mesmerizing world of Time Travel Korean Dramas, and I promise it’s gonna be ‘ek dum jhakaas’! 💫
So, tighten your seatbelts as we embark on a whirlwind journey through history, romance, and riveting suspense. Let’s find out which ones have truly mastered the ‘samay ka jaadu’.
Stay tuned, and let the time travel begin! 🚀🕰️
1. Mr Queen
Airing on tvN from December 12, 2020, to February 14, 2021, Mr Queen is a Korean drama inspired by the Chinese web series “Go Princess Go.”
Jang Bong-hwan, a modern womanizing chef, lands in Queen Cheorin’s body in the Joseon period after a near-death experience. King Cheoljong, a figurehead under Queen Sunwon’s power, reveals a dark side.
Bong-hwan, seeking Sunwon’s favor through his culinary skills, aims to return to his own body while uncovering Queen Cheorin’s secret.
Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video Viki, HiTV
Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong, Queen Cheorin
Kim Jung-hyun as Yi Won-beom, King Cheoljong
Release Year: 2021
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 20
Genre: Historical, Romantic comedy, Fantasy, Body swap
Running Time: 70–90 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.7
2. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, which is based on the Chinese novel Bu Bu Jing Xin, aired on SBS from August 29 to November 1, 2016.
During a solar eclipse, Go Ha-jin, a 21st-century woman, is transported to the Goryeo Dynasty in 941. She, as Hae Soo, navigates palace politics among King Taejo’s sons.
Initially in love with the kind 8th Prince Wang Wook, she eventually aligns with the feared 4th Prince, Wang So, becoming entangled in the battle for the throne.
Where to Watch: Viu, HiTV
- Lee Joon-gi as 4th Prince Wang So
- Lee Ji-eun as Go Ha-jin / Hae Soo
- Kang Ha-neul as 8th Prince Wang Wook
Release Year: 2021
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 20 + 2 special episodes
Genre: Historical, Romance, Fantasy, Melodrama, Time travel
Running Time: 60 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.7
3. Signal
“Signal,” broadcasted on tvN between January 22 and March 12, 2016, is inspired by true criminal events in Korea. Its concept is rooted in the 2000 movie “Frequency.”
Park Hae-young, a criminal profiler, uses a mysterious walkie-talkie to solve a baffling kidnapping case, sparking the creation of a cold case team led by Det. Cha Soo-hyun.
They tackle unresolved cases with the help of Det. Lee Jae-han, who communicates from the past via the walkie-talkie, leading to unintended consequences from altering history.
Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HiTV
- Lee Je-hoon as Park Hae-young
- Kim Hye-soo as Cha Soo-hyun
- Cho Jin-woong as Lee Jae-han
Release Year: 2016
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Procedural, Drama, Thriller, Fantasy
Running Time: 80 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.5
4. Chicago Typewriter
One of the best time travel Kdrama, Chicago Typewriter, portrays three 1930s Korean resistance fighters reincarnated as a struggling writer, a fan, and a ghostwriter.
Their quest to uncover their past amid Japanese occupation unravels a tale of friendship, love, and betrayal spanning 80 years. The unearthed truth threatens to alter their present lives.
Where to Watch: HiTV, WeTV
- Yoo Ah-in as Han Se-joo / Seo Hwi-young.
- Im Soo-jung as Jeon Seol / Ryu Soo-hyun / Anastasia
- Go Kyung-pyo as Yoo Jin-oh / Shin Yool
- Kwak Si-yang as Baek Tae-min / Heo Young-min
Release Year: 2017
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Comedy
Running Time: 70 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.3
5. Tunnel
“Tunnel,” which aired from March 25 to May 21, 2017, draws inspiration from the Hwaseong serial murders.
In 1986, diligent detective Park Gwang-ho is drawn into a time-travel tunnel during a serial homicide investigation, landing in 2016. Partnering with Kim Seon-jae, an exceptional, eccentric detective, they discover the murderer’s pattern matches the unresolved case from 30 years ago.
The duo collaborates with criminal psychologist Professor Shin Jae-yi, to crack the cold case and apprehend the elusive killer.
Where to Watch: Netflix, HiTV, WeTV, Viki
- Choi Jin-hyuk as Park Gwang-ho
- Yoon Hyun-min as Kim Seon-jae
- Lee Yoo-young as Shin Jae-yi
Release Year: 2017
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Thriller, Crime
Running Time: 65 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.3
6. Go Back Couple
Go Back Couple is adapted from the Naver webtoon series “Do it one more time”. It tells the tale of Choi Ban-do and Ma Jin-joo, both 38 and unhappily married with a son, who find their daily lives arduous.
Ban-do, a pharmaceutical salesman, assists his cheating boss, while Jin-joo, a lonely housewife, yearns for purpose. At their relationship’s breaking point, they inexplicably wake up as 20-year-old students.
Uncertain of their circumstances’ duration, they decide to relish this opportunity, making different life choices that inevitably affect their families and friends.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Viki
- Son Ho-jun as Choi Ban-do
- Jang Na-ra as Ma Jin-joo
Release Year: 2017
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 12
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Running Time: 70 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.2
7. My Perfect Stranger
My Perfect Stranger released in 2023, portrays the unusual yet captivating time-journey of two individuals who find themselves ensnared in the year 1987.
Yoon Hae-Joon, a trailblazing news anchor, and Baek Yoon-Young, a writer-turned-publisher under stress, unexpectedly travel back to 1987. While Hae-Joon investigates a serial murder case, Yoon-Young seeks to prevent her parents’ marriage.
Initially, their goals appear unconnected, but they soon realize an intertwined destiny. Their journey delivers shocking revelations, altering their understanding of the present and themselves.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Viki
- Kim Dong-wook as Yoon Hae-jun
- Jin Ki-joo as Baek Yoon-young
Release Year: 2023
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
Running Time: 65 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.1
8. The King: Eternal Monarch
Lee Gon, the modern-day Emperor of the Kingdom of Corea, seeks to cross into an alternate reality where the Republic of Korea replaces his Kingdom.
Encountering detective Jeong Tae-eul, familiar from his childhood, he confronts his father’s assassination. Meanwhile, his uncle, Lee Lim, the assassin, amasses power traversing these parallel worlds.
Where to Watch: Netflix, HiTV
- Lee Min-ho as Lee Gon / Lee Ji-hun
- Kim Go-eun as Jeong Tae-eul / Luna
- Woo Do-hwan as Jo Yeong / Jo Eun-sup
- Kim Kyung-nam as Kang Shin-jae / Kang Hyeon-min
- Jung Eun-chae as Koo Seo-ryeong / Koo Eun-ah
- Lee Jung-jin as Prince Imperial Geum, Lee Lim / Lee Seong-jae
Release Year: 2020
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Running Time: 70 – 79 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.1
9. Life on Mars
Life on Mars aired on OCN from June 9 to August 5, 2018. It is based on the 2006–07 British series of the same name. The series follows the life of Han Tae-joo, a data-trusting crime investigator, who mysteriously awakens in 1988 while probing a serial murder case.
Uncertain of his circumstances, he becomes a detective in a small city police station. To return to his time, he must solve the ongoing serial murder mystery.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
- Jung Kyung-ho as Han Tae-joo
- Park Sung-woong as Kang Dong-chul
- Go Ah-sung as Yoon Na-young
- Oh Dae-hwan as Lee Yong-gi
- Noh Jong-hyun as Jo Nam-sik
Release Year: 2018
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Police procedural, Crime, Science fiction
Running Time: 65 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.1
10. Reborn Rich
Yoon Hyun-woo, a faithful employee at Soonyang Group, is betrayed and killed by a family member to hide a tax evasion plot.
He resurrects in 1987, reincarnated as Jin Do-jun, the Soonyang family’s youngest grandson. Utilizing this twist of fate, he embarks on a revenge mission, scheming a hostile takeover of Soonyang Group.
Where to Watch: Watch Asian
- Song Joong-ki as Jin Do-jun / Yoon Hyun-woo
- Lee Sung-min as Jin Yang-chul
- Shin Hyun-been as Seo Min-young
Release Year: 2022
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Fantasy, Period, Revenge
Running Time: 60–87 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.1
11. God's Gift: 14 Days
“God’s Gift – 14 Days” was broadcasted on SBS from March 3 to April 22, 2014. The show follows Kim Soo-hyun whose daughter is kidnapped and killed, who discovers she can travel back two weeks prior to the tragedy.
Determined to save her daughter and uncover the plot, she teams up with Ki Dong-chan, an ex-cop turned private investigator, whose mentally challenged brother is falsely accused of murder.
As they race against time, they unearth secrets far darker than anticipated. Watch this time-travel Korean drama to know what happens next.
Where to Watch: Kocowa, Watch Asian
- Lee Bo-young as Kim Soo-hyun
- Cho Seung-woo as Ki Dong-chan
- Kim Tae-woo as Han Ji-hoon
- Jung Gyu-woon as Hyun Woo-jin
- Kim Yoo-bin as Han Saet-byul
- Baro as Ki Young-gyu
- Han Sun-hwa as Jenny
Release Year: 2014
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Time travel, Thriller
Running Time: 65 mins
IMDb Rating: 8
12. Queen and I
“Queen and I” aired on cable channel tvN from April 18 to June 7, 2012. In 1694, noble scholar Kim Bung-do, the sole survivor of a massacre, supports the reinstatement of deposed Queen In-hyun.
Fast-forward to 2012, aspiring actress Choi Hee-jin lands a breakthrough role as Queen In-hyun in a TV drama. A mystical talisman transports Kim to 2012, where he meets and falls in love with Choi.
Where to Watch: MX Player, Apple TV
- Ji Hyun-woo as Kim Bung-do
- Yoo In-na as Choi Hee-jin
- Kim Jin-woo as Han Dong-min, Hee-jin’s ex-boyfriend
- Ga Deuk-hee as Jo Soo-kyung, Hee-jin’s friend and manager
Release Year: 2012
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Running Time: 45 mins
IMDb Rating: 7.9
13. Rooftop Prince
After killing his cousin in the U.S., Yong Tae-mu returns to Korea, engaging in a secret affair with his secretary, Hong Se-na. Concurrently, four Joseon-era men, including a prince who resembles Tae-mu’s “dead” cousin, time travel to modern Seoul.
The prince believes Se-na is his wife’s reincarnation, while a wealthy company president mistakes him for her long-lost grandson.
Amid this confusion, Park-ha, Se-na’s lost stepsister, navigates her growing feelings for the prince while uncovering a web of deception, mystery, and reincarnation.
Where to Watch: Netflix, WeTV, Viki
- Park Yoo-chun as Crown Prince Lee Gak / Yong Tae-yong
- Han Ji-min as Park-ha / Hong Bu-yong
- Jeong Yu-mi as Hong Se-na / Hong Hwa-yong
- Lee Tae-sung as Yong Tae-mu / Prince Muchang
- Lee Tae-ri as Song Man-bo
- Jung Suk-won as Woo Yong-sool
- Choi Woo-shik as Do Chi-san
Release Year: 2012
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 20
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama, Time travel
Running Time: 70 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.9
14. Hit the Top
“Hit the Top” aired on KBS2 from June 2 to July 22, 2017. Pop idol Yoo Hyun-Jae unexpectedly time-travels from 1993 to 2017, discovering his presumed death in 1994.
As he adjusts to the future, he investigates his mysterious disappearance. Concurrently, Lee Ji-Hoon, a secret idol trainee, grapples with hiding his aspirations from his unsuspecting parents.
Where to Watch: HiTV, Viki, Apple TV
- Yoon Shi-yoon as Yoo Hyun-jae
- Lee Se-young as Choi Woo-seung
- Kim Min-jae as Lee Ji-hoon
- Cha Tae-hyun as Lee Gwang-jae
Release Year: 2017
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 32
Genre: Slice-of-life, Comedy, Drama, Youth, Romance
Running Time: 35-45 mins
IMDb Rating: 7.6
15. Familiar Wife
“Familiar Wife” was aired on tvN from August 1 to September 20, 2018. Married couple Cha Joo-hyuk and Seo Woo-jin experience an abrupt change in their fates after a bizarre incident.
Joo-hyuk’s consequential decision erases his life with Woo-jin and best friend Yoon Joong-hoo, leading him to an altered existence. How will his first love, Lee Hye-won, affect this new reality, and can he reclaim his former life?
If you are interested in watching a romantic time travel Kdrama, this Kdrama is perfect for you.
Where to Watch: Netflix, HiTV, Viki, WeTV
- Ji Sung as Cha Joo-hyuk
- Han Ji-min as Seo Woo-jin
- Jang Seung-jo as Yoon Joong-hoo
- Kang Han-na as Lee Hye-won
Release Year: 2018
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Drama, Comedy
Running Time: 75 mins
IMDb Rating: 7.6
16. Hello, Me!
Ban Ha Ni, a timid, 37-year-old temp worker, feels her life lacks spark and is burdened by job insecurity and her single status. This monotonous existence is disrupted when her spirited 17-year-old self, full of optimism and brightness, time travels from the past.
This unexpected encounter compels her to confront her current life and brings a much-needed change, creating a stark contrast between her past and present selves.
Where to Watch: Netflix, HiTV
- Choi Kang-hee as 37-year-old Ban Ha-ni
- Lee Re as 17-year-old Ban Ha-ni
- Kim Young-kwang as Han Yoo-hyun
- Choi Seung-hoon as young Yoo-hyun
- Eum Moon-suk as Anthony / Yang Chun-sik
- Kim Sang-wo as young Chun-sik
Release Year: 2021
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romantic comedy
Running Time: 60-65 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.3
17. Reunited Worlds
On his birthday, high schooler Sung Hae-sung is tragically killed, only to mysteriously awaken 12 years later, unchanged.
He reunites with his girlfriend Jung Jung-won, now a 31-year-old woman, creating a peculiar age-gap. With the help of friends and Jung-won, Hae-sung endeavors to rectify familial wrongs and uncover the enigma behind his death and resurrection.
Where to Watch: Viki, HiTV
- Yeo Jin-goo as Sung Hae-sung (19-years-old)
- Lee Yeon-hee as Jung Jung-won (31-years-old)
- Ahn Jae-hyun as Cha Min-joon (34-years-old)
Release Year: 2017
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 40
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Running Time: 35 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.3
18. Alice
Alice is a science fiction series set in the year 2050. Alice, a temporal agency in 2050, conducts time travel for closure and time incursion regulation.
Agents Yoon Tae-yi and Yoo Min-hyuk journey to 1992 to retrieve a prophecy book but encounter rogue group agent Lee Se-hoon, who murders Tae-yi’s father for the book.
Pregnant Tae-yi disappears, raises her son, Park Jin-gyeom, who has emotional perception difficulties and can manipulate time.
After his mother’s murder in 2010, Jin-gyeom becomes a detective in 2020, uncovering truths about time travelers, Alice, and his mother’s death.
Where to Watch: Netflix, Viki
- Kim Hee-sun as Yoon Tae-yi / Park Sun-young
- Joo Won as Park Jin-gyeom
Release Year: 2020
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Science fiction, Romance
Running Time: 70 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.1
19. Sisyphus: The Myth
Genius engineer Han Tae Sul, co-founder of Quantum and Time, inadvertently uncovers dangerous global secrets due to a baffling incident. Kang Seo Hae, a survivor from a dystopian future, travels back in time to save him.
Together, they embark on a perilous journey to reveal the truth, shaking Tae Sul’s world-class company and challenging their survival skills.
Where to Watch: Netflix, HiTV
- Cho Seung-woo as Han Tae-sul
- Park Shin-hye as Gang Seo-hae
Release Year: 2021
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Science fiction, Thriller, Drama, Action
Running Time: 70 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.0
20. Marry Him If You Dare
KBS2 aired “Marry Him If You Dare” from October 14 to December 3, 2013. The drama takes place in the realm of television broadcasting,where Na Mi Rae time-travels to dissuade her 32-year-old self from marrying news anchor Kim Shin.
This intervention alters her past trajectory, empowering her to chase her genuine life aspirations.
Where to Watch: Watch Asian
- Yoon Eun-hye as Na Mi-rae
- Lee Dong-gun as Kim Shin
- Jung Yong-hwa as Park Se-joo
- Han Chae-ah as Seo Yoo-kyung
- Choi Myung-gil as Na Mi-rae’s future self
Release Year: 2013
No. of Seasons: 1
No. of Episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Drama, Time travel
Running Time: 60 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6
Conclusion
In conclusion, time travel Kdramas offer a unique and captivating viewing experience for genre fans. With their intriguing storylines and memorable characters, time travel Korean dramas are sure to keep audiences hooked from beginning to end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Time Travel Kdrama:
- Mr Queen
(2020) - Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
(2016) - Signal (2016)
- Chicago Typewriter (2017)
- Tunnel
(2017) - Go Back Couple (2017)
- My Perfect Stranger (2023)
The Korean drama where the couple goes back in time is “Go Back Couple”. Released in 2017, this Korean drama depicts a couple, disillusioned and drained by their marriage, who wish they’d never crossed paths. To their astonishment, they find themselves back in their 20-year-old bodies, striving to create a happier future for themselves.
