Best movies & TV Shows like The Tale of the Bookworm

Ancient Korea, 17th century. The powerful Khan of the Jurchen tribe of Manchuria, who fights the Ming dinasty to gain China, becomes the first ruler of the Qing dinasty and demands from King In-jo of Joseon to bow before him; but he refuses, being loyal to the Mings. On December 14th, 1636, the Qing horde invades Joseon, so King In-jo and his court shelter in the mountain fortress of Namhan and prepare to defend the kingdom.

Though it places his own life in danger, a look-alike commoner secretly takes the place of a poisoned king to save his country from falling into chaos.

Ice suddenly becomes a more valuable commodity during the Joseon Dynasty and a gang of eleven professionals are assigned to protect the market situation from irresponsible people.

A true historical drama about King Sejong, the greatest ruler in Joseon history who sought to enhance national prosperity and military power through astronomy, and Jang Yeong-sil, the most remarkable scientist.

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.

In a story of two men switched at birth, noble-born Chun Doong lives as a slave and becomes a heroic outlaw, while beggar-born Gwi Dong lives as a nobleman and police chief; then each falls in love with the same girl, Dong Nyeo.

Painter of the Wind is a 2008 South Korean historical television series starring Moon Geun-young and Park Shin-yang. Based on the bestselling historical fiction novel by Lee Jung-myung that took artistic license with the premise that perhaps the Joseon painter Shin Yun-bok had really been a woman, it centers on Yun-bok, a talented young painter who disguises herself as a boy to search for her father's murderer. She meets Kim Hong-do, a master painter who guides her into becoming a great artist, and they develop a strong friendship of mentor and disciple. The drama has won numerous awards, including the Asian TV Series Special Award at the 2010 Shanghai Television Festival and the silver award at the 2010 Houston International Film Festival, while actress Moon Geun-young received the grand prize at the 2008 SBS Drama Awards, as well as Best TV Actress at the 2009 Baeksang Arts Awards and 2008 Grimae Awards for her role.

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.

Haute couture meets the high court in this drama based on Lady Jang Hui Bin, or Jang Ok Jung, one of the most celebrated royal concubines of the Joseon Dynasty. Lady Jang establishes herself as a coveted fashion designer who quickly finds herself sought after not only by fashionable noblewomen, but by the king himself. Political drama and the catwalk collide in this tale of fashioning dreams into reality!

Set in the Joseon Dynasty period, this drama series follows the Crown Prince Sohyeon, his warriors Heo Seung-Po and An Min-Seo, and a Park Dal-Hyang who is preparing for his military examination.

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?

Set in the 17th Century, Jang Beo-jin is a young female diver on Tamra Island. She doesn't particularly enjoy her situation and dreams of one day leaving the island. One day, to her shock, she discovers a young blond haired man laying on the beach. The young man's name is William and he is a shipwrecked British citizen. Another young man named Park Kyu enters the island under the disguise of one of the many convicts sent to Tamra Island. In actuality, Park Kyu is a budding government official known as a Seonbi. These three young people then become involved in a hilarious love triangle.

Deep Rooted Tree is a 2011 South Korean television series starring Jang Hyuk, Shin Se-kyung and Han Suk-kyu. Based on the novel of the same title by Lee Jeong-myeong, it aired on SBS from October 5 to December 22, 2011 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes. Taking its name from the poem Yongbieocheonga that says that trees with deep roots do not sway, the series tells the story of a royal guard investigating a case involving the serial murders of Jiphyeonjeon scholars in Gyeongbok Palace while King Sejong comes to create the Korean written language.

Drama depicts the dramatic life of historical figure Heo Joon, who wrote the oriental medical textbook "Donguibogam" and became physician for King Seonjo.

A re-imagining of the legendary tale of the troubled father-son relationship between King Yeongjo and his only son Prince Sado. While his father insists on a strong and centralized government, Crown Prince Sado promotes social justice and equality throughout the kingdom. Throughout eight fateful years, the strain on their relationship — both familial and political — eventually evolves into a total breakdown, ending with one of the most tragic stories in Joseon history.

Jingbirok, the name of a book written by real-life Joseon historian and scholar Ryu Seong Ryong (Kim Sang Joong),detailing the Imjin War (1592-1598). The drama will be a telling of historical events with the scholar as the central character, in the samevein as “Jung Do Jun”(who influenced the founding of the Joseon dynasty). Ryu Seong Ryong was an official who served during King Seonjo’s reign in the late 16th century. He was a brilliant Confucian scholar who was put in charge of military operations during the Imjin War, and greatly influenced AdmiralLee Soon Shin.

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

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.

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.

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.

Seo-Ri's mother Queen Sim was unable to have a child. She went to a shaman to help her have a child. With the help of shaman Hong-Joo's black magic, Queen Sim was able to have a boy and girl twins. The girl, Seo-Ri, was put under a curse and abandoned deep in the mountains. She meets Heo Jun, a young man, there.

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.

In the 1700's, Crown Prince Lee Sun fights against Pyunsoo hwe. Pyunsoo hwe is an organization that has accumulated power and wealth through privatizing water all over Joseon. Crown Prince Lee Sun becomes a hope for the people who suffers. Ga-Eun is the woman Crown Prince Lee Sun loves and she helps him grow as a ruler.

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.

Lee Yool falls off a cliff and nearly dies in an attempted assassination. He loses his memory, and wanders for 100 days under a new name and personality. During this period, he meets Hong Sim, head of the first detective agency in Joseon.

In this zombie thriller set in Korea's medieval Joseon dynasty which has been defeated by corruption and famine, a mysterious rumor of the king’s death spreads, as does a strange plague that renders the infected immune to death and hungry for flesh. The crown prince, fallen victim to a conspiracy, sets out on a journey to unveil the evil scheme and save his people.

Set during the Joseon Dynasty period, the series follows three people from different walks of life who came together to help Prince Lee Geum claim the throne and reform the Saheonbu.

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.

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.

A secret royal inspector works as an undercover official who inspects local provinces to expose corruption. He teams up with a lady who is searching for happiness by getting divorced with her current husband. The duo then go on a grand scheme to discover the truth and find corruptions.

It is a fictional historical drama about the story of King Seonjong who ascends to the throne due to a rebellion, and Lee Tae who becomes the King after him.

Prince Lee Hwan receives a cursed letter from a supernatural entity detailing several dark predictions for his future and is horrified to realize that the curses are indeed coming true one by one. Min Jae-yi, on the other hand, finds herself wanted by the local authorities after being unjustly accused of murdering her family members and unilaterally calling off her arranged marriage.

The successful doctor Yoo Sepoong becomes entangled in a conspiracy and is kicked out of the palace. He meets Jihan in Gyesu village and learns to treat those who suffer psychological illness. Finding the cause of their heartbroken feelings and writing a prescription for happiness with Eunwoo, Sepoong grows up as a true psychiatrist.

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.

A romantic comedy drama set in Joseon about a crown prince being bossed around by a woman who will become the princess.