Everyone has heard of Goblin, and most K-drama fans have seen The King: Eternal Monarch. However, romantasy—romance wrapped in magic, fate, and impossible worlds—is far more popular than the usual hits. There are many hidden gems and brilliant series in this particular K-drama landscape that are also worth watching. If you’re a fan who wants to swoon while also discovering new content, you’re in the right place.
Some of the best romantasy dramas out there feature gender-bending princes, cursed immortals, mermaids, demon-possessed scholars, and dream-prophesying prosecutors, elevating the supernatural elements and heartfelt romances they find themselves in. Whether you’re a long-time sageuk lover or a modern fantasy fan, these must-watch K-dramas for romantasy fans will remind you why this genre is so easily addictive.
‘The King’s Affection’ (2021)
The King’s Affection is a gender-bending sageuk and though it’s not technically a fantasy, its premise has a “what if” that feels entirely magical, hypothesizing the fate of different-gendered twins and fantastical kings. Park Eun-bin delivers a career-defining performance, balancing royal authority with fragility. Her romance with Rowoon‘s character is tender, if not angsty, and somewhat complex due to a hidden identity element. The King’s Affection won the International Emmy Award and is widely praised for its emotional depth; it was based on the manhwa Yeonmo, which introduces the plot as a hypothesis that a secret king existed between two well-known kings who ruled one after the other throughout history.
The King’s Affection begins with Crown Prince Lee Hwi of Joseon dying in a tragic accident; his twin sister, Dam-yi (Park), who was exiled after being sentenced to death as a child, returns and is persuaded by their grandmother to secretly take Lee Hwi’s place. Dam-yi agrees, and for years she leads a double life, studying, ruling, and concealing her true identity from everyone, including her father, the king. While portraying the crown prince, she falls for her royal tutor, Jung Ji-woon (Rowoon), a bright and kind-hearted man, but he seems to see something hidden in this version of Lee Hwi. Their forbidden romance grows as Lee Hwi fights to protect her secret, navigate murderous court politics, and eventually claim the throne. Not fully fantastic, but still a romance to fantasize about.
‘The Legend of the Blue Sea’ (2016–2017)
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The Legend of the Blue Sea is a romantic fantasy series that many fans also find to be a great comedy. The film features a talented cast including Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Min-ho, set in a stunning fantasy world. It’s pure, joyful, and romantic. Jun’s portrayal of the mermaid is both hilarious and heartbreaking while Lee’s performance is particularly charming. The show has a dual timeline that alternates between Joseon and present day, adding emotional depth to the main romance while featuring stunning underwater cinematography that enhances the magical quality of the narrative.
The Legend of the Blue Sea follows Shim Cheong (Jun), a mermaid caught in a fisherman’s net who is rescued by Heo Joon-jae (Lee), a charming con artist who initially intends to steal from her. Cheong has magical abilities, childlike innocence, and a tragic relationship with Joon-jae’s Joseon-era doppelgänger. As she adjusts to life on land, they gradually discover their shared history while fighting to end a centuries-old curse. The show also features Shin Hye-sun (Mr. Queen) and Lee Ji-hoon (Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung).
‘Lovers of the Red Sky’ (2021)
