Thursday, March 28, 2024

Top 10 K-dramas Similar to Alchemy Of Souls

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K-drama fans and those that are not were intrigued as the part one concluded Alchemy Of Souls spread with the energy of the social media down to whispers from ear to ear, the fantasy and twist in the storyline gathered new fans to stay and welcome every released episode bit by bit.

What have you been watching if you’ve not watched Alchemy Of Souls K-drama?! I’m sorry, but you’re missing out on the opportunity to be driven to the fantasy and mystical world like an existing reality!

Check other content we curated on alchemy of souls ;

However, whether you’re on your way to watching Alchemy Of Souls or you’re done and dusted with the episodes; Consider adding the K-dramas in your next scroll that will similarly catch your fancy as the Netflix Alchemy Of Souls with romance and magical blend to scratch more of your fantasy itch, especially while you wait for the premiere of part two of Alchemy Of Souls.

1. Arthadal Chronicles

Arthadal Chronicles is a 2019 South-Korean Ancient Fantasy Drama that premiered internationally on Netflix and aired on tvN through June and September. Arthadal Chronicles was written by Kim Young-Hyun and Park Sang-yeon and directed by Kim Won-Seok. The Arthadal Chronicles is cited as the first ancient Korean fantasy drama, with settings dating back to the Bronze Age. The story features Song Joong-ki as Eun-seom and Kim Ji-won as Tan-ya, as the lead characters, Jang Dong-gun as Ta-gon, and Kim Ok-vin as Tae Al-ha. The series is run for 18 episodes, and it is sure to be a season two coming up!

BRIEF PLOT

The story was set in the mythical land of Arth, and faintly focused on the story of Dangun, the founder of the first Korean kingdom of Gojoseon. The ancient city of Arthardal demanded power clashes as a military troop herded by Ta-gon emerge and take control of the land. A peaceful colony, reside Eun-seom and Tan-ya of the Wahan Tribe, foretold to drag harmony back to the world, as they find themselves and the people of the city on the brink of extinction.

I’m sure K-drama fans might have come across the tv series before, but if you haven’t you should jump on this. You should at least watch out for Song Joong-ki the lead actor (Eun-seom) who is the infamous Mafia consigliere, Vincenzo named after the 2021 Korean drama.

2. A Korean Odyssey

Korean Odyssey

Hong sisters the writers of Alchemy of souls wrote 2017, A Korean Odyssey, a south Korean fantasy tv series. The drama is a modern derivative of the epic Chinese 16th-century novel, Journey to the west. It was released on tvN between December 23, 2017, and March 4, 2018. A Korean Odyssey featured characters like Son Oh-gong (Lee Seung-gi), Woo Ma-wang (Cha Seung-won), and Jin Seon-mi (Oh Yeon-seo)

BRIEF PLOT

The story elaborated the conflict between Son Oh-gong, a monkey king imprisoned in a ghostly imperial house by Heaven for his crimes, and Woo Ma-wang, who directed a young girl, Seon-mi, born with the ability to see ghosts and spirits to the house to fetch a particular fan. Searching for light in the darkness, Seon-mi met Son Oh-gong who convinced her that Woo Ma-wang is dangerous and merely using her. Son Oh-gong was freed by Seon-mi after making her a deal to protect her all her life from dangers which he broke and left Seon-mi stranded in the ghostly place with no memory of him. However, by fate, they met again and love buds in difficult circumstances.

Love hurdles in this story are throat-wrenching when fate comes to drift lovers apart. A revelation you don’t want to miss.

3. Hotel del Luna

Hotel del Luna written by our now favorite Hong sisters premiered in 2019, as a South Korean television series aired on tvN July 13-September 1. The drama features Lee Ji-eun as Jang Man-wol and Yeo Jin-goo as Go Chan-sung as the lead characters. The story revolves around the owner and manager of the bizarre hotel that caters only to ghosts with her manager, a blend of dark fantasy and romantic comedy.

BRIEF PLOT

The supernatural hotel, which only offers reception to ghosts, isn’t visible in real form during daytime and humans can come across it in unique circumstances. The hotel’s staff are all ghosts as well as all clients to finish what they were yet to do before passing through the cycle of afterlife and reincarnation. However, there was a succession of a human to fill in the position of general manager, as the grumpy owner Jang Man-wol whose soul has been bounded to the hotel for a millennium to atone for her sin stroke a deal with the father of Gu Chan-sung to work for her after 20 years to save his son.

Hotel del Luna has a catchy story right there, no doubt why it was mostly recognized to have high viewers of all tvN dramas in 2019. I mean, a human working for a Ghost and Serving Ghosts?!

4. Bulgasal: Immortal Souls

Bulgasal historical south Korean tv series combines thriller and fantastical kind of drama. Beautifully written by a couple team, Kwon So-ra, and Seo Jea-won, and features actors; Lee Jin-wook as Dan Hwal, Kwon Nara as Min Sang-woon/Min Sang-yeon, Lee Joon as Ok Eul-tae, Gong Seung-yeon as Dan Sol / Min Si-ho, Jung Jin-young as Dan Geuk / Kwon Ho-yeol, Park Myung-shin as Hye-suk and Kim Woo-seok as Nam Do-yoon. The drama circulated on tvN between December 18, 2021, and February 6, 2022, and was also available for streaming on Netflix and runs for 16 episodes

BRIEF PLOT

Bulgasal, a mythical creature who has been cursed with immortality and feeds off human blood has lived for 600 years refers to the character Dan Hwal that became an immortal during the Joseon dynasty while serving as a military official and executing a task to eliminate the remnants of the prior dynasty. The story also revolves around a woman, Min Sang-woon / Kim Hwa-yeon who used to be a mortal but goes through a tragic event that turns her into a human— who recollects her previous lives by reiterating death and reincarnation for 600 years.

A series of reincarnations of surrounding characters born again in a new world that differs from their previous lives— how exciting

5. Mr Queen

Mr Queen is a south Korean series television series written by Park Gye-ok and Choi Ah-il as a historical fantasy and romantic comedy that focus on a body swap between a modern and high-spirited chef, Jang Bong-hwan (Choi Jin-hyuk) who finds himself in the body of a queen, Queen Cheorin (Shin Hye-sun) of the Joseon period and revolves around King Cheoljong (Kim Jung-hyun) struggling to be a king who supports his people. Mr Queen was aired between December 12, 2020, and, February 14, 2021, on,tvN for only 20 episodes.

BRIEF PLOT

In the modern age, Jang Bong-hwan is a chef who works at the Blue House. His free-spirited soul swapped and landed in the body of Queen Cheorin. The reigning monarch, King Cheoljong, is a gentle and easy-going person, he is only King in name, while the true power is brandished by the late King Sunjo’s wife, Queen Sunwon (Bae Jong-ok), who has guided Cheoljong to a figurehead that must obey with or without his will. However, Jang now in Queen Cheorin’s body is getting femininely drawn to King Cheoliong while discovering the other dark side of the King to not be what he seems on the outside.

Interestingly a love budding between a male spirit in a female body and the king? You might have watched it, but if not, don’t miss to unravel the mysteries in the story.

6. Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin)

Guardian: The Lonely and Great God— Goblin is a 2017 South Korean television series starring Gong Yoo as Kim Shin in the title role(Goblin) with Kim Go-eun as Ji Eun-tak, Lee Dong-wook as Grim Reaper / Wang Yeo, Yoo In-na as Kim Sun, and Yook Sung-jae as Yoo Deok-hwa. The story is a blend of fantasy, drama and romance focused on a military general cursed to stay immortal forever. The drama was released on tvN between December 2, 2016, to January 21, 2017, written by popular drama writer Kim Eun-sook.

BRIEF PLOT

Kim Shin, a gaudy military general from the Goryeo Dynasty, is rimmed as a betrayer and slain by the young king. Only years after his death he was cursed by the Almighty to stay as an immortal forever. While undergoing the distress of watching his loved ones die as retribution for the soldiers he assassinated to safeguard his country, Kim Shin becomes an immortal goblin, assisting people with his abilities and prevailing a kind man despite his despairing past. The solution to put an end to his immortality is with the Goblin’s bride, Ji Eun-tak a bubbly high school girl that fatedly summoned Goblin, who will aid in pulling out the sword to end his painful immortality. However, Grim Reaper crossed paths with them and it was not a coincidence.

Another humorous love story with fantastical characters with deep deep-rooted and tragic past.

7. Gu Family Book

Gu Family book is not so recent as it was released in 2013, a southern Korean series that stirs a historical fantasy with martial art action and romance. The story written by Kang Eun-kyung surrounds the journey of a man who’s also halved monster in search of a centuries-old book that according to gumiho folklore, encompasses the secret to being human again. The series was released on MBC from April 8 to June 25, 2013 run slated for 24 episodes.

BRIEF PLOT

The unrest started when Lee Sung-jae as Jo Gwan-woong, the villain man that lusted after Yoon Se-ah as Yoon Seo-hwa, framed and killed her father as a traitor, annihilating several existences. Gwan-woong became the mastermind behind a string of murders and a traitorous plan against Joseon and hunts down Lee Seung-gi as Choi Kang-chi. Kang-chi is taken under the wing of Yi Sun-sin (Yoo Dong-geun), a naval commander after his father, Choi Jin-hyuk as Gu Wol-ryung, has been killed before Seo-hwa gave him up to a monk, So-jung (Kim Hee-won). Kang-chi soon became a guhimo, a mystical half-human and monster, while facing his father’s enemy he discovers the existence of the Gu family book meant to help turn him fully into a human.

Sounds quite old and with repeating history in the historical plot and twist, but it is worth taking your time to get to know how it feels to be completely different.

8. The Crowned Clown

The Crowned Clown cited for “The Man Who Became King” is a 2019 south Korean tv series starring Yeo Jin-goo as Ha-seon, the clown / Yi Heon, the King, Kim Sang-kyung as Yi Kyu (Haksan), the Chief Royal Secretary, and Lee Se-young as Yoo So-woon, the Queen. The drama was a remake of the 2012 film Masquerade, the series centers on the tale of a Joseon King and his doppelganger, a clown whom he puts on the throne to escape the intense power struggles afflicting the royal court. It aired through January 7 and March 4, 2019, on tvN for 16 episodes.

BRIEF PLOT

The story takes place in the mid-Joseon period when uproars and power conflicts enveloping the throne had surpassed extremely devastating phases. To circumvent those who plan to assassinate him, the King, Yi Heon puts a clown, Ha-seon who appears as another replica of him, on the throne. As Ha-seon, the clown fits into his role, the palace is upheld as the King’s enemies are baffled by the imposter’s aptitude and his ever-expanding loop of confederates, who are glad to see the “King” yet becoming the leader they have always wished for.

Ain’t nothing like being a clown and crowned, you should be curious to know if the real king will come back or not.

9. Lover of the Red Sky

Lovers of the Red Sky is also a South Korean drama series released in 2021 starring Kim Yoo-jung as Hong Cheon-gi, Ahn Hyo-seok as Ha Ram, Gong Myung as Yi Yul, and Kwak Si-yang as Yi Hu. The story written by Ha Eun which was adapted from the novel of the same name written by Jung Eun-gwol is a historical fantasy and romance drama about the only female painter in the fictional era Dan dynasty, who was briefly documented in the chronological histories. It premiered on SBS TV on August 30 to October 26 2021 for 16 episodes.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS

Established during the Dan dynasty era when ghosts, demons, and gods are entangled with human life, there occurs a fateful relationship between a female painter, Hong Cheon-gi, and a blind astrologer, Ha Ram. In the 3rd year of King Seongjo’s rule, they try to extract Ma Wang (Demon King: god of Death) residing in the prior King Yeongjong’s body to seal it inside a portrait of the King sketched by a divine painter. Although they manage to seal the Demon King successfully with the assistance of Samshin (goddesses of Life), the Demon King places a curse on the country that will suffer from droughts and famine for years to come.

If you are a lover of historical romance, this is your taste. A struggle to overcome a curse and with an ambitious palace dweller to tune in a twist is so yours.

Have you seen: Top 7 Strongest Mage In Alchemy Of Souls

10. Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth

Hwarang is a Historical South Korean romance television series written by Park Eun-yeong starring Park Seo-joon as Moo-myung / Kim Sun-woo / Kim Isabu / Dog-bird, Go A-ra as Kim Ah-ro, and Park Hyung-sik as Sammaekjong / Kim Ji-dwi / Jinheung of Silla. It revolves around an elite group of young men called Hwarang, who discover their passion, friendship, and love in the turmoil of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-AD 935). The series broadcasted on KBS2, from December 19, 2016, to February 21, 2017.

BRIEF PLOT

Queen Jiso, has been the ruler of Silla since the death of her father, King Beopheung, while keeping her son, Sammaekjong, hidden from opposers and murderers. The young King comes of age, but the citizens, officials, and Sammaekjong himself have all grown impatient for her to hand over power. Regardless, the potent nobles are trying to usurp the leverage focused their aim on the throne, and Jiso fears the consequences of her surrendering it. Jiso wanting to break the superiority of the nobles, who have grown accustomed to their privileges under the bone rank system, plans to create a new elite group, the Hwarang, that will cut across the prevailing power sects, and constrain them to protect her son and the throne.

I’d say it’s worth watching, as the plot is a lot like reality when there is a struggle to claim power while rendering the rightful owner incapacitated.

So, these recommendations compiled are bound to catch your fancy while you wait for season two of Alchemy of souls. Fingers crossed.

Tell us which you’ve probably watched before and especially the ones you’d be adding to your watchlist!

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