I used to avoid time travel dramas because I felt they would be unnecessarily repetitive, but, guys, I’m a convert.
In this article, I’ve put together a list of the best Korean dramas about time travel that are totally going to captivate you from start to finish.
Here are the best time travel Korean dramas you should watch ASAP:
1. Twinkling Watermelon
Eun Gyeol, a high schooler with deaf parents, time-travels to 1995 where he meets his dad as a teenager and tries to get him together with his future mom while struggling to return to the present.
This time travel drama came to mean a whole lot to me and the characters were all so precious — I love them a whole lot and I know you will too!
2. A Time Called You
Han Jun Hee travels back to 1998 and becomes a high school student, and she then meets a boy who resembles her late boyfriend and she now has to deal with his best friend’s crush on her.
Adapted from a Japanese drama, loads of persons said that this version is faithful to the original and that’s always a good sign.
3. Durian’s Affair
In this melodramatic fantasy Kdrama, two noblewomen from the Joseon Dynasty time-travel to modern-day 2023 and get involved with different men in a family.
4. Tale Of The Nine-tailed 1938
In this fantasy Kdrama, Lee Yeon, a mystical nine-tailed fox, travels back in time to 1938 with a crucial task: retrieve a stolen guardian stone before time runs out, but, a series of unforeseen events traps him in the past.
This captivating drama chronicles Lee Yeon’s quest to return to the present while navigating the perils of the past.
5. Faith
In a desperate attempt to save the dying queen, King Gong Min orders Choi Young to travel through a magical portal to retrieve a heavenly doctor.
But when the portal lands him in modern-day Seoul, Choi Young is forced to bring the doctor, Eun Soo, back to Goryeo through the same portal, and soon enough, Eun Soo soon finds herself embroiled in a dangerous power struggle and forbidden from returning to her own time.
This is the perfect romantic historical Kdrama about time travel that will definitely have you in your feelings and the best is that lots of the extras and leads are now super popular.
6. Longing Heart
Shin Woo carries the weight of his unrequited love for Han Ji Soo, wishing he had expressed his feelings a decade ago. However, a miraculous second chance presents itself when he travels back in time.
Determined to help his younger self win over Ji Soo’s heart, Shin Woo unexpectedly finds himself in competition with his past self when Ji Soo begins to develop feelings for the older version of him.
7. Sisyphus: The Myth
In this time travel Korean drama, Han Tae Su is a brilliant engineer renowned for his game-changing inventions, but when he comes face-to-face with his deceased brother and witnesses something unimaginable, his world is turned upside down.
Enter Gang Seo Hae, a time-traveler from a post-apocalyptic future who lands in the present day seeking his help.
Together, they fight against evil immigrants from the future who want to exploit Tae Sul’s inventions for their own gain.
8. Hit The Top
Yoo Hyun Jae, a beloved pop idol from 1993, is inexplicably transported to the present day.
And as he navigates this unfamiliar world, he uncovers shocking evidence that he was reported missing and presumed dead in 1994.
With his world turned upside down, he embarks on a journey to uncover the truth behind his sudden disappearance in the past, and he tries to unravel the secrets of his past while adapting to the present in this captivating drama.
9. Live Up To Your Name
Heo Im is a gifted medical practitioner whose social status prevents him from achieving higher positions in life.
But his world is turned upside down when he time-travels to the modern era and meets Dr. Choi Yeon Kyung.
Together, they travel back in time to Joseon and fight against the pervasive social discrimination of the time.
Han Tae Joo is a top investigator in the modern era who wakes up in 1988 as a detective in a small-town police station following an accident.
As he navigates his way through this unfamiliar world, he is tasked with solving a case of serial killings while also trying to find a way back to his own time.
11. Go Back Couple
Choi Ban Do and Ma Jin Joo, who were once deeply in love now struggle with their relationship due to work pressures and low self-esteem, embark on a journey to rediscover their love.
In a surprising twist of fate, they travel back in time to their college years in their 20s.
This is one of the best time travel Korean dramas, and I just know you’re going to enjoy watching them work through their problems and try to rekindle their love.
12. My Only Love Song
In the midst of her self-centered world, Sung Soo Jung, a haughty actress, is transported through time to the Goguryeo Kingdom.
There, she meets the opportunistic On Dal, who is willing to do anything for money.
But as she spends more time with him, she begins to see a different side of him. The drama unfolds as Soo Jung and On Dal embark on a journey in one of the three ancient kingdoms of Korea, discovering more about themselves and each other.
13. Rooftop Prince
After being transported from the Joseon period to the present time, Crown Prince Lee Gak meets two sisters, Park Ha and Hong Se Na.
At first, he tries to befriend Hong Se Na, who resembles his deceased wife and former crown princess.
However, as time goes on, Lee Gak finds himself drawn to Park Ha on a deeper level.
Along the way, he navigates through the complexities of modern relationships while unraveling the mystery behind his wife’s untimely demise.
14. Tunnel
Park Gwang Ho, a 1986 detective investigating a serial killer case, accidentally travels through time and ends up in present-day Seoul.
There, he teams up with the brilliant yet quirky detective Kim Sun Jae and a psychology professor, Shin Jae Yi, to solve a murder case.
Together, they navigate the challenges of the present while uncovering clues from the past.
15. Time Slip Dr. Jin
Jin Hyuk, an accomplished but aloof neurosurgeon, is unexpectedly hurled back in time to the Joseon period in 1860.
In this new world, he faces the daunting task of practicing medicine without the modern technology and knowledge he has grown accustomed to.
Determined to make a difference and become a genuine healer, Jin Hyuk strives to adapt to his surroundings and earn the trust of the people he serves.
As he navigates through the complex social hierarchy of Joseon and faces the challenges of life in a bygone era, Jin Hyuk begins to learn the true meaning of compassion and the value of human life.
16. Tinted With You
Jung Eun Ho finds himself transported back in time where he meets the deposed prince, Lee Heon, who lives in constant fear of being assassinated by his power-hungry elder brother.
As Eun Ho and Lee Heon become allies, they work together to overthrow the tyrannical king and restore justice to the kingdom.
This is a fantastic historical BL Kdrama with the time travel twist that I know anyone would enjoy. If you’re in the mood for something different, this drama should be on your list.
17. Blue Birthday
In this high school Kdrama, Oh Ha Rin’s first love Ji Seo Jun died by suicide on her 18th birthday, leaving her devastated.
Ten years later, Oh Ha Rin discovers some mysterious photos of Ji Seo Jun which allow her to time-travel back to the past.
Through the photos, Ye Rim goes back to that fateful day to save Ji Seo Jun and uncover the reason behind his decision to take his own life.
18. Manhole
Bong Pil, an unemployed man who pretends to study for the civil service exam, has been in love with Kang Soo Jin for a long time.
However, Soo Jin is about to get married to someone else. One day, Bong Pil discovers a manhole that takes him back and forth in time.
Using this manhole, he travels to the past to change events and prevent Soo Jin’s wedding.
This drama follows Bong Pil’s attempts to alter the past to win Soo Jin’s heart.
19. The Story Of Park’s Marriage Contract
Park Yeon Woo accidentally travels from the 19th century to present-day Seoul, where she meets a man who resembles her late husband.
Since she’s lost and latching on to the only familiar face around (him), they decide to enter a contract marriage to fulfill his grandfather’s wish and it was the sweetest thing watching them fall for each other.
20. Marry My Husband
Kang Ji Won, a cancer patient, finds out her husband and friend were having an affair and when she’s killed, she’s sent back 10 years into the past.
And then she decides to change her life by orchestrating a marriage between her husband and her friend.
Marry My Husband is still ongoing, but trust me, you’re going to be totally hooked once you give it a chance.
So go ahead and start watching – you never know where (or when) these time travel Korean dramas will take you!
There are so, so, so, so, so many other recommendations, so if you’re looking for a new watch, you’ll be spoiled for choice – Check out the related posts for more stunning recs!
