Best movies & TV Shows like The Legend of the Blue Sea

How can a mermaid from the Joseon era survive in modern-day Seoul?

A unique, carefully handpicked, selection of the best movies like The Legend of the Blue Sea Starring Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Min-ho, Lee Hee-jun, Shin Won-ho, and more. If you liked The Legend of the Blue Sea then you may also like: The Pirates, Lost Flower: Eo Woo-dong, The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure, The Admiral: Roaring Currents, The Huntresses and many more popular movies featured on this list. You can further filter the list even more or get a random selection from the list of similar movies, to make your selection even easier.

A mermaid from the Joseon period ends up in present-day Seoul, where she crosses paths with a swindler who may have ties to someone from her past.

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The Pirates

At the cusp of the founding of Joseon Dynasty, an envoy from China is delivering Emperor’s Ming’s Royal Seal. But nature in the form of a giant whale intervenes and swallows the royal seal. When a generous reward is offered to whomever can retrieve the royal seal from the belly of the whale, the race is on. A group of mountain bandits led by Jang Sa Jung and a group of pirates led by Yeo Wol go after the lost treasure, but who will get to to it first?

Lost Flower: Eo Woo-dong

A triangular relationship between Eo Woo-dong, her husband Lee Dong, and fantasy character Moo-gong, highlights on the first half of the Joseon Dynasty and portrays the contradicted life of the high class people, criticizing the modern day Korean society.

The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure

A gutsy crew of Joseon pirates and bandits battle stormy waters, puzzling clues and militant rivals in search of royal gold lost at sea.

The Admiral: Roaring Currents

The film mainly follows the famous 1597 Battle of Myeongryang during the Japanese invasion of Korea 1592-1598, where the iconic Joseon admiral Yi Sun-sin managed to destroy a total of 133 Japanese warships with only 13 ships remaining in his command. The battle, which took place in the Myeongryang Strait off the southwest coast of the Korean Peninsula, is considered one of the greatest victories of Yi.

The Huntresses

Set in the Joseon Period, three beautiful musketeers fight against a powerful group who tries to overturn the royal family and gain absolute power. The leader of the Beautiful Three Musketeers is Jin-ok, a smart and righteous woman. Hong-dan is the only married woman among the three women. Ga-bi is the youngest among the musketeers and excels at fighting.

The Face Reader

An exceptionally talented face reader becomes entangled in a bloody power struggle between a child king and his uncle who plans to usurp the throne.

The Magician

A Princess in the Joseon Dynasty travels to the Qing Dynasty to marry. On the way to there, she meets a young magician and falls in love with him.

Tomorrow's Cantabile

Musical prodigy Cha Yoo Jin dreams of conducting orchestras, but despite his ambitions and international upbringing, he's begrudgingly stuck in South Korea because of a traumatic childhood accident. Cue Seol Nae Il, a nutty classmate who eschews the rules and plays everything by ear, from music to life. Though initially repelled by her unrefined ways, Yoo Jin slowly discovers Nae Il is the unique melody to his harmony: combined, the two create a song that makes their hearts soar.

Jewel in the Palace

Orphaned Jang-geum becomes the first female physician in the Joseon Dynasty and her determination is tested when people around her start showing their true faces.

Hwang Jin Yi

Hwang Jin Yi is the illegitimate child of a noble and Heon Keum, a noted musician gisaneg. The story centers on the four men in her life and her pursue in the art of dancing. Her first love with a nobleman's son Kim Eun Ho ends in tragedy. Her love affair with Kim Jung Han does not have a happy ending either. Byuk Kye Soo is the Emporer's relative who are obsessed with her and tried every trick but still could not have her. Finally there is her devoted bodyguard Yi Saeng who never deserted her in times of need. Meanwhile, there is Bu Yong who not only is Hwang Ji Yi's rival in dancing but also in love.

My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho

After meeting a mysterious yet very beautiful girl, a wannabe action star discovers that she's, in fact, a gumiho – a legendary fox with nine tails.

Sungkyunkwan Scandal

Kim Yun Hee is a smart, responsible young woman with an independent drive. Since her father passed away she has worked to support her family, but also managed to do well in her studies. When her younger brother's illness worsens and their family is in danger of being evicted from their house for lack of money. In her desperation to support him, Kim Yoon Hee decides to take the men's only national exam under her younger brother's name and disguises herself as a boy. On the day of the exam, Kim Yun Hee meets Lee Seon Joon and becomes friends. Lee Seon Joon comes from a privileged background and also possesses good looks. He is also arrogant. They both pass the national exam and she has to share a room together with him at Sungkyunkwan University, while hiding her true nature. There, she becomes friends with the playboy Goo Yong Ha and rebellious Moon Jae Shin.

The Princess' Man

The Princess' Man is a 2011 South Korean television series, starring Park Si-hoo, Moon Chae-won, Kim Yeong-cheol, Song Jong-ho, Hong Soo-hyun, and Lee Soon-jae. It is a period drama about the forbidden romance between the daughter of King Sejo and the son of Sejo's political opponent Kim Jong-seo. It aired on KBS2 from July 20 to October 6, 2011 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes.

Rooftop Prince

Crown Prince Yi Gak finds that he has been transported from the Chosun Dynasty to modern-day Seoul. He meets Hong Se Na, who bears a striking resemblance to his dead wife, and is determined to solve the 300-year-old mystery of her death. With his own resemblance to the CEO’s grandson at the company where Se Na works, Gak assumes the identity of the young man to stay close to her. Can the Crown Prince navigate a modern corporation to find clues to his own time period?

Faith

After being found in 918, the kingdom of Goryeo faced a critical existential crisis when the powerful Yuan dynasty tried to subjugate them. In the fictional setting of this drama, a warrior living in the timeline of Goryeo meets a plastic surgeon living in the present day. The plastic surgeon gets kidnapped by the warrior who got an order from the king to find a doctor who can cure the fatally injured queen. The two individuals who were not meant to coexist are brought together to fight their way through the ordeals on the land of Goryeo. The warrior makes a promise that he will return her to her world, but a scheming royal advisor persuades the king to force the surgeon to stay as she can be useful to him. There, the surgeon falls in love with the warrior who is the leader of the royal guard. In this era of change and chaos, love that transcends time and space blooms.

Bridal Mask

During the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 1930s, one of the darkest periods of Korean history, heroes came from ordinary men who did extraordinary things in their everyday lives. Lee Kang To is one of those men. A skilled martial artist, Kang To actively participates in the independence movement to fight against the Japanese imperialist regime. He is known as “Gaksital” because he hides his true identity behind a rosy-cheeked traditional bridal mask, known as a “gaksital,” when he fights against the Japanese. But can one man do enough to right the wrongs of a terrifying national enemy?

Queen In Hyun's Man

Kim Boong Do is a scholar who had supported the reinstatement of Queen In Hyun when Jang heebin's schemes resulted in her being deposed and replaced as King Sukjong's queen consort. He travels 300 years into the future of modern Seoul and meets Choi Hee Jin, a no-name actress who is expecting a career renaissance through her role as Queen In Hyun in a TV drama.

Time Slip Dr. Jin

A talented doctor travels over 150 years back in time to when the powerful Joseon dynasty ruled over Korea, and uses his skills to save lives in this intriguing fantasy drama. Dr. Jin Hyuk, the 21st century’s best neurosurgeon meets an unidentified patient and passes out while in despair over an accident that his lover Mina has had. As he wakes up, he's suddenly transported to the time of the Joseon Dynasty. When a plague strikes Joseon, Hyuk treats the dying people and makes a new resolution with Yi Ha Eung, who dreams of the reform of Joseon. But Jin Hyuk hesitates to study and practice medicine to out of fear that he might change history forever. Follow the trials and triumphs of this traveling doctor who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

My Love From Another Star

An alien who came to Earth 400 years ago is almost able to return to his own planet, but when he meets a famous actress, he doesn't want to go home.

The Joseon Gunman

It’s the 19th Century and as western influences spread across Asia, Korea’s Joseon dynasty is experiencing great upheaval and rapid modernization. As the son of the last great swordsman, Park Yoon Kang is caught between two worlds, but the sudden murder of his father and sister catapult him into the new era as he takes up the gun to avenge their deaths. However, it’s not just his family who needs his protection, but his people as well. Is Park Yoon Kang cut out to be the hero of an era?

Queen Insoo

Queen Insoo focuses on the fierce power struggle among three women in the royal court of the Joseon Dynasty.

The Scholar Who Walks the Night

When Jo Yang Sun is driven out of house and home after her father is framed for a crime, she is forced to crossdress in order to make ends meet as a bookseller, where she meets Kim Sung Yeol, a handsome, but mysterious scholar who is actually a vampire. Meanwhile, an evil presence at the royal palace stops at nothing to keep the Crown Prince from claiming his rightful throne.

Splash Splash Love

Dan-Bi is a senior high school student. She has a special ability which allows her to transport to anywhere on rainy days. For her university entrance exam, Dan-Bi can't deal with the pressure and runs off to a playground. Without knowing why, she goes into a puddle and finds herself transported to the Joseon period. There, she meets Lee Do. He is a young King of the Joseon period. Lee Do is in a difficult situation due to droughts and the spread of an epidemic.

Jang Yeong Sil

Drama series follows the life Jang Yeong-Sil: a scientist, technician and inventor during the Joseon period. Jang Yeong-Sil was born in the lower class nobi. King Sejong notices his abilities and brings him to the palace. King Sejong grants him a chance to display his abilities. He invents tools like astronomical instruments, iron printing press and a water clock.

Love in the Moonlight

A young Joseon woman who's lived her whole life as a man ends up as a eunuch in the royal palace, where she begins to bond with the crown prince.

Bring It On, Ghost

Hyun-Ji studied for her 19 years before she died in an accident. She is now a ghost and has wandered around the world for several years. Hyun-Ji then meets exorcist Park Bong-Pal. Hyun-Ji and Bong-Pal listens to various stories from ghosts and sends them to the otherworld.

Goblin

In his quest for a bride to break his immortal curse, a 939-year-old guardian of souls meets a grim reaper and a sprightly student with a tragic past.

The Rebel

During the period of Joseon Yeonsanjo, Hong Gildong was a hero who helped the unfortunate locals and fought against greedy governors. This legendary rebel, Hong Gildong's journey unveils his battle for love and justice.

Chief Kim

An accountant who’s deft at embezzling funds becomes an unintentional hero to his colleagues when he gets a new corporate job.

Empress Myeongseong

Based on the life of Empress Myeongseong (1851 - 1895), the first official wife of King Gojong, the 26th king of the Joseon dynasty. She was killed on October 8, 1895 by Japanese assassins.

Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency

When he becomes king, Lee Soo hires the Flower Crew matchmaking agency to make a noble woman out of his first love, Gae-Ddong. Ma Hoon, Young-soo and Do Joon try to fulfill their client's request.

Joseon Survival

Han Jung-Rok is a former national archer and current deliveryman from 2019. He ends up traveling to the past with his first love, Lee Hye-Jin and meets Im Kkeok-Jeong, a famous thief from the Joseon dynasty. Together, they struggle to survive, put their lives at stake for the people they love, and share a strong friendship.

The Tale of Nokdu

While on the run for his life, a young man discovers that the best place to lie low is in a village of widows — disguised as a woman.

Crash Landing on You

A paragliding mishap drops a South Korean heiress in North Korea -- and into the life of an army officer, who decides he will help her hide.

Meow, the Secret Boy

What if your cat was capable of turning into a charming boy? After taking time off, Sol Ah returns to school as she finds herself a place to live alone. Per her friend’s favor, Sol Ah takes in a cat named Hong Jo, and a story of the life of two housemates unfolds. However, Sol Ah is not aware that the cat, Hong Jo, has the ability to shapeshift into a human. Sol Ah’s friends start to notice weird things about Hong Jo whenever they run into his human form. Things are about to change around the peaceful single-resident complex, and Hong Jo finds it difficult just being a mere cat whenever Sol Ah is too busy with her life to pay attention to him. Will Sol Ah be able to recognize Hong Jo in his human form? Sol Ah and Hong Jo “Welcome!” you into their romance fantasy story.

Tale of the Nine Tailed

A TV producer discovers a secret supernatural world as she becomes entangled with a former deity who's spent centuries searching for his lost lover.

Mr. Queen

In the modern age, Jang Bong-hwan is a chef who works for the country's top politicians at the Blue House. He has a free spirit, but he one day finds himself in the body of Queen Cheorin in the Joseon period.

Royal Secret Agent

During the Joseon Dynasty, the Secret Royal Inspectors are the eyes and ears of the king. They travel the provinces undercover and listen to the plight of the common people, investigating abuses and corruption of government officials.

Lovers of the Red Sky

Set during the Joseon era, Hong Cheon Ki is a female painter with a genius like painting talent. She is picked as the first female painter of the Dohwaseo. Hong Cheon Ki also has a beautiful appearance and a bright personality. For her, painting is everything. One day, she meets Ha Ram.

Must You Go?

A fantasy music romance about a girl who busks and dreams of becoming a singer despite her challenging environment, and meets three people entangled from the past to present.

Moonshine

About human love against the backdrop of the most powerful alcohol prohibition period in the Joseon. The private prosecutor who comes to Seoul to raise the family, a poor man and his wife who start to make drinks to pay off their debts, and the prince who keeps going over the wall to drink; the drama is about three people who can end each other's lives fatefully encountering in front of a secret liquor warehouse.

The King's Affection

When the crown prince is killed, his twin sister assumes the throne while trying to keep her identity and affection for her first love a royal secret.

Nobleman Ryu’s Wedding

Ryu Ho Sun and Choi Hwa Jin are set to have arranged marriage, but she disappears during their wedding. Choi Ki Wan pretends and dresses up as a woman.

See You in My 19th Life

Ban Ji-eum can endlessly reincarnate. But when her 18th life gets cut short, she dedicates the next one to finding her now grown-up childhood love.

Under the Queen's Umbrella

A spirited queen tries to rein in her rowdy sons in order to make one of them the next king of Joseon, while her competitors vie to snatch the throne.

The Worst of Evil

Set in the 1980s, a husband and wife, both detectives, infiltrate a massive criminal organization responsible for the illegal drug trade between Korea, China, and Japan.

The Secret Romantic Guesthouse

The series is about an incident that takes place when the owners of the boarding house called 'Guest Summer Palace', which breaks stereotypes, and boarders with secrets gather to find Lee Seol who disappeared 13 years ago.

The Story of Park's Marriage Contract

A woman travels from 19th century Joseon to modern-day Seoul, her fate takes a twist with a ‘fake marriage’ with a man who resembles her ex-husband.

Moon in the Day

A famous South Korean celebrity Han Joon Oh suffers a car accident and wakes up possessed by a vengeful ancient nobleman Do Ha, seeking revenge for his past life

Captivating the King

Amid a royal and political power struggle, a king entangles with an intriguing woman — whose hidden desire for revenge transforms into unintended love.

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