‘The Red Sleeve’ tells the story of a royal court romance and is an adaptation of the same-named novel. This historical Korean drama series explores the complex relationships between the King of Joseon, who was motivated by loyalty to his country rather than by personal passion, and a courtesan determined to preserve the lifestyle she had chosen. Notably, the story is told from the court lady’s own point of view.
This love drama programme, which features Lee Jun-ho, Lee Se-young, and Kang Hoon, gives a fictionalised picture of the lives of King Jeongjo and his royal consort Ui-bin Seong. If you couldn’t get enough of this historical drama, here are eight more suggestions that are comparable that you might want to look into. The majority of these KDramas, including “The Red Sleeve,” are available on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
Empress Ki (2013-2014)
‘Empress Ki’ is a South Korean historical drama television series that was created by Han Hee and Lee Sung-joon and stars Ha Ji-won as the title character. Ki Seung-nyang, a lady born in Goryeo who defies the era’s social boundaries to ascend to importance, is the protagonist of the novel. It follows her journey as she chooses this route over her first love interest, Wang Yoo, and marries Toghon Temür, the emperor of the Yuan dynasty, to become an empress. Empress Ki should be your next watch if you’re looking for a tale about a fearless woman negotiating complex historical and political terrains after “The Red Sleeve.”
Love in the Moonlight (2016)
The Kim Seong-yoon and Baek Sang-hoon-directed film “Love in the Moonlight” unfolds as a coming-of-age story and young love story set during the Joseon Dynasty in the nineteenth century. The series, which was adapted from the web book “Moonlight Drawn by Clouds,” received a lot of accolades for its superb production value, acting, and score.
It depicts the development of Crown Prince Lee Yeong (Park Bo-gum) from a young man into a respected leader while forging an unlikely friendship with eunuch Hong Ra-on (Kim Yoo-jung). Like ‘The Red Sleeve,’ ‘Love in the Moonlight’ is set against the backdrop of the Joseon dynasty and centres on characters from various social classes, but it also has love overtones.
Moon Embracing The Sun (2012)
‘Moon Embracing the Sun’ is a historical-fantasy drama series directed by Kim Do-hoon and Lee Seong-jun that is based on the same-named novel by Jung Eun-gwol. The story reveals a heartwarming tale of love entangled with political intrigue and power struggles between a Joseon Dynasty ruler and a female shaman.
The plot prominently resembles Jane Austen’s classic “Persuasion,” even going as far as to include an eight-year separation similar to that experienced by the young lovers in the book. ‘Moon Embracing the Sun’ and ‘The Red Sleeve’ both take place in the Korean Joseon Dynasty and weave romantic stories amidst palace intrigue and royal romances.
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, a South Korean TV series directed by Kim Kyu-Tae, is based on the Chinese novel “Bu Bu Jing Xin.” The story centres on Go Ha-jin, a 25-year-old woman from the present who unintentionally travels back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty. She awakens as Hae Soo in the year 941, one of the many princes of the Wang dynasty who served King Taejo.
Hae Soo unintentionally gets caught up in palace conspiracies and the power struggle between the princes contending for the throne as the story progresses. After watching “The Red Sleeve,” if you’re craving a historical drama with a time travel element in which contemporary characters are thrust into the past and become entangled in the complexities of palace life and romantic relationships amid political dynamics, “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” will more than satisfy your craving.
Queen In-Hyun’s Man (2012)
In “Queen In-Hyun’s Man,” Choi Hee-jin, a mysterious actress who gets involved in a relationship with Kim Bung-do, a scholar from the Joseon Dynasty who time travels 300 years into the present, serves as the main character. The South Korean drama series, directed by Kim Byung-soo, echoes the storylines of characters from several eras with intertwined love stories that transcend time and social restraints, much like the essence of “The Red Sleeve,” and it combines historical and romantic aspects.
Shine or Go Crazy (2015)
‘Shine or Go Crazy’ is a South Korean TV series that was published in 2015 and was directed by So Hyung-suk and Yoon Ji-hoon. It is based on the same-named novel by Hyun Go-woon. The Goryeo era romance story told in the show centres on the romance between a Goryeo prince and a Balhae princess.
Although Wang So, the main character, is descended from Goryeo’s royal bloodline, he is set aside because of a prophecy that predicts his involvement in shedding the country’s blood. As a result, he is shunned by his royal relatives and exiled from the palace. However, Shin Yool, the princess of Later Balhae, shows him love and acceptance. Check out “Shine or Go Crazy” if you’re desiring a book that has the ideal balance of historical and romantic aspects, akin to “The Red Sleeve.”
Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)
‘Sungkyunkwan Scandal,’ directed by Kim Won-seok and written by Kim Tae-hee, is based on the renowned 2007 book ‘The Lives of Sungkyunkwan Confucian Scholars,’ by Jung Eun-gwol. Kim Yoon-hee (played by Park Min-young) cleverly assumes the identity of her brother, Kim Yoon-shik, to pay for her family’s necessities during a time when women are prohibited from employment and school.
Similar to “The Red Sleeve,” “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” addresses the difficulties of gender roles in ancient societies as its female protagonists work beyond societal expectations and assumed identities to accomplish their goals and support their family. In both works, romantic undertones are explored against a background of political intrigue and royal intrigue.
The Princess’ Man (2011)
Kim Jung-min and Park Hyun-suk are the creators of the period drama series The Princess’ Man, which is set in South Korea. It depicts the illicit relationship between the Grand Prince Suyang’s political rival Kim Jong-seo’s son and Suyang’s daughter. Princess Se Ryung, the ambitious daughter of Grand Prince Suyang, is known for her independent spirit and progressive outlook.
Se Ryung grows fond with the son of her father’s adversary, which complicates their love story as he vies for the throne. Therefore, “The Princess’ Man” checks all the right boxes if you’re yearning a story of passionate and forbidden love set against the backdrop of political conflicts in a mediaeval setting after “The Red Sleeve.”
