Sageuk Timeline

[Updated 15 Dec 2022]

Sageuk losely refers to period dramas or movies in South Korea.  They could depict historical figures or periods, or use historical figures and periods as a backdrop while filling up the gaps with fantasy or time travel or soul swaps from the modern era to certain historical periods in Korea.

Recently I came across this website the talking cupboard, which helps explain on korean culture depicted in sageuks.  There was a sageuk timeline, which the webmaster last updated on 21 Feb 2021, that lists sageuk according to the timeline of Korean history.  I found this really helpful, not being familiar with Korean history and being baffled by the sageuks.

Based on the list, I'm also listing the sageuks [I think they are considered more as fantasy sageuks than serious sageuks] than  I've watched so far, to try and make sense chronologically of what had happened during the different periods in Korean history.  I'm stopping my list at the Joseon dynasty, and perhaps start another list for sageuks from the Korean Empire.

Across dynasties

Ruler | Title                   | Drama/Movie | TV station | Year of broadcast | Male and female leads

x        | Hotel Del Luna | Drama             | TvN           | 2019                     | Yeo Jin-goo and IU

Goryeo Dynasty

Ruler | Title                                                         | Drama/Movie | TV station | Year of broadcast | Male and female leads

x        | Guardian: The Lonely & Great God       | Drama | TvN | 2016 | Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun

x        | Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days | Movie | x | 2018 | Ha Jung-woo 

Taejo | Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo           | Drama | SBS | 2016 | Lee Jong-gi and IU

Joseon Dynasty

Ruler               | Title | Drama/Movie | TV station | Year of broadcast | Male and female leads

x                      | The Moon Embracing the Sun | Drama | MBC | 2012 | Kim Soo-hyun and Han Ga-in

x                     | Rooftop Prince | Drama | SBS | 2012 | Park Yu-chun and Han Ji-min

x                     | My Roommate is a Gumiho | Drama | tvN| 2021 | Jang Ki-yong and Lee Hye-ri 

x                     | Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist | Drama | tvN | 2022 | Kim Min-jae and Kim Hwang-gi

Yeonsangun    | The King and the Clown | Movie | x | 2005 | Jeong Jin-yeong and Lee Joon-gi

Jungjong         | Monstrum | Movie | x | 2018 | Kim Myung-min and Kim In-kwon

Gwanghaegun | The Tale of Nokdu | Drama | KBS | 2019 | Janf Dong-yoon and Kim So-hyun

Gwanghaegun | Masquerade | Movie | x | 2012 | Lee Byung-hun and Ryu Seung-ryong

Gwanghaegun | The Crowned Clown | Drama | tvN | 2019 | Yeo Jin-goo and Lee Se-young

Sukjong           | Queen In-hyun's Man | Drama | tvN | 2012 | Ji Hyun-woo and Yoo In-na

Sunjo               | Love in the Moonlight | Drama | KBS | 2016 | Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung

Jeongjo           | The Fatal Encounter | Movie | x | 2014 | Hyun Bin

Jeongjo           | Royal Secret Agent | Drama | KBS | 2020 | Sung Yi-gyum and Kwon Na-ra

Cheoljong       | Mr Queen | Drama | TvN | 2020 |  Shin Hye-sun and Kim Jung-hyun

Well, it does seem like I've watched quite a number of sageuks, most of which are on tvN and of the fantasy genre.  I'm still not quite recognizing most of the leads, less so of the actors who acted as court officials (they resemble each other with their bushy beards and mustaches.)  Now that I've done some sorting, it makes a bit more sense why the costumes of the actors in Moon Lovers deferred so much from those in Mr Queen - different eras altogether!

There are quite a number of articles on Joseon culture in the talking cupboard.  Coupled with the sageuks, I think I might be on my way to learning more about korean history without having to resort to textbooks!