Everyone knows Goblin, and most K-drama fans have binged The King: Eternal Monarch. But the romantasy genre—romance wrapped in magic, fate, and impossible worlds—offers far more than just the usual hits. There are hidden gems and brilliant series that deserve your attention. If you're ready to swoon while discovering new content, you've come to the right place.
Some of the best romantasy dramas feature gender-bending princes, cursed immortals, mermaids, demon-possessed scholars, and dream-prophesying prosecutors. These supernatural elements elevate the heartfelt romances at their core. Whether you're a long-time sageuk lover or a modern fantasy fan, these must-watch K-dramas will remind you why this genre is so addictive.
'The King's Affection' (2021)
Though not strictly a fantasy, The King's Affection is a gender-bending sageuk with a premise that feels entirely magical. Park Eun-bin delivers a career-defining performance, balancing royal authority with fragility. Her romance with Rowoon's character is tender, angsty, and complex due to a hidden identity. The series won an International Emmy Award and is based on the manhwa Yeonmo, which imagines a secret king existing between two well-known rulers.
The story begins with Crown Prince Lee Hwi of Joseon dying in a tragic accident. His twin sister, Dam-yi (Park), who was exiled as a child, returns and is persuaded by their grandmother to secretly take his place. For years, she leads a double life, studying, ruling, and concealing her identity from everyone, including her father. While portraying the crown prince, she falls for her royal tutor, Jung Ji-woon (Rowoon), a bright and kind-hearted man who seems to sense something hidden. Their forbidden romance unfolds as Lee Hwi fights to protect her secret, navigate murderous court politics, and claim the throne. It's not fully fantastic, but it's a romance to fantasize about.
'The Legend of the Blue Sea' (2016–2017)
The Legend of the Blue Sea is a romantic fantasy series that many fans also consider a great comedy. With a talented cast including Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Min-ho, it's set in a stunning fantasy world. Jun's portrayal of a mermaid is both hilarious and heartbreaking, while Lee's performance is charming. The show alternates between Joseon and present day, adding emotional depth to the main romance. Underwater cinematography is absolutely stunning and enhances the magical quality of the narrative.
The plot 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, a childlike innocence, and a tragic connection to Joon-jae's Joseon-era doppelgänger. As she adjusts to life on land, they discover their shared history and fight 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)
Lovers of the Red Sky is a stunning and underappreciated sageuk with a strong fantasy theme. The visuals resemble traditional Korean ink paintings, and the romance is truly epic, depicting two wounded people bound by fate, magic, and a love that defies curses. Kim You-jung delivers a stunning performance, while Ahn Hyo-seop embraces both his masculine and gentle sides. The show's pacing keeps you hooked from beginning to end. It was inspired by Jung Eun-gwol's novel of the same name, which features the only female painter of the Korean Royal Academy mentioned in historical records.
Set in a fictional kingdom called Dan, the story follows Chun-gi (Kim You-jung), a female painter born blind who regains her sight after a shaman performs a rain-summoning ritual. Her world collides with Ha Ram (Ahn Hyo-seop), a blind astrologer who lost his sight during the same ceremony and is now possessed by a demon. They realize their fates were sealed by an ancient ritual meant to imprison a powerful evil god. As they collaborate to break a mysterious curse, their intense, star-crossed romance unfolds against a backdrop of court intrigue and magical mythology. Each frame feels like a painting.
'Live Up to Your Name' (2017)
Live Up to Your Name (also known as Deserving of Your Name) is a fantasy sageuk that combines medical drama, comedy, and slow-burn romance. Kim Nam-gil delivers a charismatic and hilarious performance, while Kim Ah-joong portrays a strong yet vulnerable modern doctor. The show's treatment of time travel is clever, and it's a true hidden gem because it features someone from the past traveling to the present, rather than the usual reverse. Most time travel shows have modern characters going back in time; this K-drama defies convention, offering a fish-out-of-water scenario with a man propelled forward through time.
The series follows Heo Im (Kim Nam-gil), a talented but underappreciated acupuncturist in 17th-century Joseon. After a series of events, he time-travels to modern-day Seoul, where he meets a skeptical surgeon (Kim Ah-joong). Their unlikely partnership blends historical medicine with modern techniques, and their romance develops slowly amid comedic misunderstandings and life-saving stakes. It's a refreshing take on time travel that deserves more attention.
For fans craving more magical romance, these K-dramas offer the perfect escape. Whether you're in the mood for a gender-bending royal saga, a mermaid love story, a painter's fateful journey, or a time-traveling acupuncturist, these series prove that romantasy is a genre worth diving into. And if you're looking for more binge-worthy content, check out our list of forgotten Netflix miniseries that deserve a rewatch.
