After watching Goblin, I was hooked. That’s to say, I absolutely went feral looking for any and all fantasy Kdramas to gobble up.
More than 8 years down the line and I’m happy to report that the Kdrama industry hasn’t failed me yet.
There are tons of fantasy Kdramas out there and if this is your jam, trust me, you’ll be spoiled for choice with the many unique offerings.
If you want a new show to watch with visually stunning scenes, enigmatic mythical creatures, ancient prophecies, and gripping narratives, I’ve got you covered.
In this post, I’ve outlined 15 of my favorite fantasy Korean dramas to watch, and I just know you’ll love one (or all) on this list.
Here are some of the best fantasy Kdramas to watch that will leave you spellbound:
1. Hotel Del Luna
This fantasy Korean drama follows Jang Man Wol, a woman cursed by the deities to remain tied to Hotel Del Luna, a mysterious establishment nestled in downtown Seoul.
Having lived more than a thousand years, Man Wol’s only chance for redemption is if she’s able to let go of her resentment and find love – something she’s wholly unwilling to do.
Enter Goo Chan Sung, a former assistant manager thrust into the role by a fateful deal between his father and Man Wol.
With his financial acumen, he may be the key to saving the hotel from its chaotic financial state (due to Man Wol’s overspending) and her redemption.
This Kdrama is romantic in all the ways that matter, and I honestly recommend it to anyone that likes their female leads feisty and strong.
In ancient Goryeo, General Kim Shin stood undefeated until his tragic demise.
Now cursed with immortality, he yearns for an end to his eternal existence as he has watched his loved one die over and over again.
For the 900 years of his immortality, he has been looking for his mortal bride who would remove the sword lodged in his chest and free him from his deep grudge.
On the other hand, Ji Eun Tak is a resilient high school student with the ability to see spirits who bears a life marked by tragedy yet unwavering strength.
Because of the mark on her neck and what the spirits have always said, when she meets Kim Shin, she promptly tells him that she’s his bride and this sets into motion a tragic and enduring love story.
As far as I’m concerned, Gong Yoo is on a mythical level, and if you disagree, you’re wrong.
If you’ve not watched Goblin and you’re looking for a new romantic fantasy to watch, then Goblin is a great place as any to start.
Kkok Du, once a mortal in ancient Korea, now exists as an immortal reaper who punishes humanity every 99 years.
On his latest visit, he occupies the body of skilled doctor Do Jin Woo, complicating his task as he must fulfill Jin Woo’s medical duties.
Along the way, he encounters Han Gye Jeol, a humble doctor with mysterious powers that captivate him.
As Kkok Du struggles between his duty and his growing affection for Gye Jeol, their intertwined fate begs the question: Will he follow his mission or risk everything for love?
This Korean drama is one of the new ones released this year, and it’s been rave reviews everywhere, and I enjoyed it as well.
Kim Jung Hyun is a talented actor, and he was just as amazing in this fantasy Kdrama – you don’t want to miss it!
In this vibrant tale like no other (no, really), Oh Sung Moo, the reclusive creator of a widely-read webtoon called “W” vanishes without a trace while crafting the final chapter of his webtoon.
His daughter, Yeon Joo, who is a cardiothoracic surgeon, then goes into his office but a magical hand appears from the monitor, whisking her away to a rooftop where she sees a wounded stranger.
She quickly springs into action and saves him, and shortly after, she realizes that she has been drawn into the world of “W” and the injured man is Kang Cheol, the protagonist of her father’s webtoon.
Soon enough, she’s going in and out of the webtoon and this adds a thrilling dimension to their already intertwined destinies.
5. A Korean Odyssey
In this amazing fantasy Korean drama, Son Oh Gong and Ma Wang find themselves entangled in an ongoing feud while searching for a beacon of hope in a world overshadowed by evil.
An arrangement struck 25 years ago between Seon Mi and Son Oh Gong gives her the ability to summon Son Oh Gong, and their destiny intertwines their paths once more, forging an unbreakable bond between them.
A Korean Odyssey is one of the finest fantasy pieces out there and if you’ve watched it, then you probably know this isn’t a fib.
I loved so many things about this drama, but chief among them was definitely how the relationship between Oh Gong and Seon Mi developed slowly but surely; it was really the most beautiful thing.
Shin Woo Yeo, a smart and handsome writer and teacher, is actually a 999-year-old nine-tailed fox. To become human, he collects human energy in a bead.
One day, Lee Dam’s drunk friend falls asleep on Woo Yeo’s car, and while trying to help Lee Dam, Woo Yeo’s bead accidentally pops out of him and she unknowingly swallows it.
The bead can only remain in a human for a year before causing their death, and to protect her while finding a solution, Woo Yeo suggests they live together.
Lee Dam, who has never had a boyfriend, now shares her life with Shin Woo Yeo, as they navigate their unique predicament.
7. Alchemy Of Souls
This fantasy Korean drama doesn’t really need an introduction, because if you haven’t watched it, then I’m sure you must have at least heard about it.
Set in the fictional land of Daeho, three young mages, a prince, a serial killer, and a human deity’s fates are intertwined because of a singular event that took place in the past. This Kdrama is also available to watch right now on Netflix!
8. The Scholar Who Walks The Night
After a series of unfortunate events, Kim Sung Yeol, adorned in scholarly attire, decides to live out the rest of his life after he’s turned into a vampire as a last honor to his fallen comrades.
Once human, Sung Yeol discovered the menacing vampire Gwi, who from time immemorial has manipulated the King’s succession.
Determined to combat this darkness, Sung Yeol was transformed into a guardian vampire, and he set out to use his new identity to take down Gwi for good.
This fantasy Kdrama takes place in the Joseon Dynasty, where Hong Chun Ki, a rare female painter despite societal norms, and Ha Ram, a blind astrologer, whose fates have been tied since their births get entangled in a political scheme involving humans and deities.
10. About Time
Michaela Choi, a budding musical actress, has the extraordinary gift of glimpsing people’s life spans, and she’s well aware that her own time is limited.
But, when she encounters Lee Do Ha, the chief director of a cultural foundation, she realizes something utterly crazy – her life clock freezes whenever he’s nearby.
Suddenly, Do Ha becomes her unexpected lifeline, offering a chance to pursue her dreams of musical theater.
However, Do Ha finds himself bemused by Michaela’s sudden intrusion into his life.
This romantic Kdrama definitely made me feel like it was a high-budget The Master’s Sun. You’ll enjoy this if you fancy a Kdrama about finding love in unexpected places.
11. Bulgasal: Immortal Souls
My kryptonite when it comes to Kdrama sagas is when the leads were all connected in their previous lives and still somehow end up getting entangled in their present life, and this Kdrama definitely delivered on that account.
Featuring a woman who endures a cycle of death and rebirth for 600 years, retaining memories of her past lives and a remarkable man – an immortal Bulgasal – who is unable to die or take a life.
For six centuries, he has sustained himself by consuming human blood.
Yet, as their paths intertwine, they forge an extraordinary connection between the immortal and the eternal seeker, and together, they embark on a timeless journey, entangled in the enigmatic realm of life, death, and everlasting existence.
12. The Witch’s Diner
Jung Jin had it all – a fulfilling job, a loving boyfriend – until her world crumbled.
Jobless and heartbroken, she reluctantly opens a restaurant with her mother, only to face bankruptcy. Then, she meets Jo Hee Ra, a sorceress who grants wishes.
Jin agrees to let Hee Ra use her restaurant, where customers trade their souls for magical dishes.
Thrilled by the success, Jin questions if the price is too high, and in this captivating tale, Jin navigates a world of wishes and weighs the cost of Hee Ra’s mystical meals.
I love atmospheric fantasy Korean dramas, and The Witch’s Diner was definitely this and more.
Everything felt spooky and ethereal, and Hee Ra was just the right amount of wacky to keep my attention until the very end.
13. Tale Of The Nine-Tailed
Lee Yeon, a mythical Gumiho, protects the mortal world by vanquishing supernatural threats, but his true goal is to find his lost first love’s reincarnation.
Nam Ji Ah, a talented TV producer, suspects Lee Yeon’s connection to her parent’s mysterious disappearance, and she decides to stick by his side until she figures out what she needs to know.
So good the second season is already airing, this is the perfect fantasy romance Kdrama to watch if you’re looking for a first good watch that absolutely will not disappoint you – I really cannot recommend this enough.
14. Island
Won Mi Ho, the daughter of Daehan Group’s owner, makes a costly mistake that angers her father and lands her on Jeju Island as a high school ethics teacher.
What she doesn’t know, though, is that she has deep ties to the island, and it harbors evil.
Together with the enigmatic Van and Priest Johan, she wrestles for her life while fighting to protect her loved ones.
This is another frankly superb fantasy Kdrama that everyone needs to watch at least twice.
I mean, while the romance isn’t front and center in this one, you’ll enjoy this if you like an impeccable storyline and fantastic cinematography.
15. Mama Fairy And The Wood Cutter
In the Goryeo period, Sun Ok-Nam, a fairy, came to Earth and while bathing in a waterfall on Gyeryong Mountain, a mischievous woodcutter stole her fairy clothes, preventing her from returning to Heaven.
She eventually married the woodcutter and had two children, but he tragically died.
To return to Heaven, Sun Ok-Nam desperately searched for her fairy clothes but couldn’t find them, and now, in the present day, she serves coffee at a cafe on Gyeryong Mountain while patiently waiting for her husband’s reincarnation.
After 699 years, she senses that one of the two men visiting her cafe from Seoul might be her husband, and determined to find out, she follows them to Seoul.
The fantasy Korean dramas on this list are just the tip of the iceberg and there are many other dramas out there just waiting to be seen.
If you want more recommendations, please check out the related posts below, and I’m sure you’ll find something interesting to keep you hooked for hours soon.
