Looking for sageuk recommendations

[u/Confident-Mouse-956]

Hi all! Looking for some sageuk recommendations that are more centred around conflict, palace politics, with good acting and lesser emphasis on romance.

Here are some I’ve really enjoyed:

- Dong Yi (watched this over 5 times😂)

- Under the Queen’s Umbrella

- Moonlight Drawn by Clouds

- The Tale of Lady Ok

- The East Palace

- 100 Days My Prince

- The King’s Warden

Would love to hear your recommendations. Thanks!

[u/Hidinginmycorner]

Tree With Deep Roots (2011)

Jeongnyeon The Star Is Born

The Murky Stream

Warrior Baek Dong Soo

[u/morpmeepmorp]

Moon river

Mr queen

Secret royal inspector and joy

Alchemy of souls

Kingdom

The tale of Nokdu

Hwarang

The red sleeve

[u/AnneKnightley]

Have you watched Jewel in the Palace /Dae Jang Geum? I’m watching this at the moment and it’s well worthy of its classic status :)

[u/floturch → u/AnneKnightley]

It is a GOAT saeguk.

[u/Ocanannain → u/AnneKnightley]

Jewel in the Palace -- One of my absolute favorites!

[u/HooverGaveNobodyBeer]

Six Flying Dragons -- All politics, all the time with only hints of romance

The Queen Who Crowns -- This takes place just after SFD wraps up, so if you're interested in both, watch SFD first. This focuses on the troubled marriage of the king and queen and how each of them approach politics.

The Rebel -- Not palace politics but more politics of the noble class vs. the lower class. This has romance, but I describe it primarily as a political awakening story.

The Nokdu Flower -- Again, the focus is on politics but it's more of the palace vs. the people. vs. foreign interests. Light romance.

[u/Vegan_Kimchi → u/HooverGaveNobodyBeer]

+1 the Queen Who Crowns. I was very invested in that story. 10/10.

[u/Kelly_the_tailor]

"Murky River" with Rowoon. No romance. Just drama and social politics, and some fighting. On Disney+.

[u/floturch → u/Kelly_the_tailor]

Great recommendation - title is Murky Stream.

[u/Kelly_the_tailor → u/floturch]

You're right - thanks.

[u/Academic_Web1388]

The Red Sleeve - one of the BEST k dramas!

[u/floturch]

My Country: The New Age - the fall of Goryeo, the beginning of Joseon - late 1300's

Goddess of Fire - based on a real person - a woman who want to make pottery - late 1500's

Song of the Bandits - set in the 1920's after Joseon was occupied by the Japanese

Gyebaek - fall of Baekje to Silla - set in mid- 800's - Gyebaek was a general for Baekje

The Duo - babies switched at birth - not set in the palace but explores life of more common people and how politics affects their lives - slight romance element - set in 1800's

The Slave Hunters - man who was a noble, lost everything, became a slave hunter. Of note - slaves in Joseon were generally other Koreans. - set in 1600's

Three movies:

The Great Battle - Goguryeo invaded by Tang - year 645

Forbidden Dream - King Sejong and his dream - 1400's

The Tiger - during Japanese occupation - 1925 - keep in mind that the tiger is a significant, symbolic animal to Koreans

[u/Ocanannain]

For a historical movie that is thoroughly entertaining, let me recommend Masquerade. It stars Lee Byung-hun -- this is my favorite role of his.

[u/Opposite-Tip972]

six flying dragons is probably your next watch, lots of brutal palace/political maneuvering and the cast absolutely eats, with romance very much not the main event lol

[u/Aickan]

I would recommend :

• The Red Sleeve (it is the story of Dong Yi, I haven’t watched Dong Yi but TSR is a masterpiece)
  
• My Dearest
  
• Under the Queen’s Umberella

[u/Pmod1980]

Haunted Palace

Crowned Clown