Historical/Sageuk romance dramas with politics & happy ending

[u/Maddehhh]

Please recommend me dramas with a historical/sageuk setting, good romance, a bit of comedy, and some political drama. Happy endings only please! I’d also like to avoid unnecessary serial killers, though thankfully I don’t see those plots as often in sageuk dramas.
I just finished Alchemy of Souls and really enjoyed the setting and fantasy elements, so feel free to recommend fantasy shows too.
Other than AOS, dramas roughly in this category that I’ve recently watched are:

- Mr. Queen (forever chasing this high tbh)

- Bon Appetite Your Majesty (amazing leads and politics)

- My Royal Nemesis (not quite a sageuk but loved the romance)

- Knight Flower (loved the setting and politics/drama, awesome FL, romance was meh for me)

- The King’s Affection (cute, just ok imo)

And here’s my watch history:

• Goblin
• Strong woman
• Weightlifting fairy
• Business proposal
• Crash course in romance
• Hotel Del Luna
• Hometown Cha cha cha
• Summer strike
• Once upon a small town (unfinished)
• Welcome to samdal-ri
• My demon 
• Bon appetite your majesty 
• Tastefully Yours
• Mr. Queen 
• The king’s affection 
• Sold Out On You
• My Royal Nemesis 
• Knight flower 
• Alchemy of Souls

thanks in advance!!

[u/Ready-Screen1426]

100 days my prince

[u/IMIndyJones → u/Ready-Screen1426]

One of the best as far as I'm concerned, for what OP is looking for. Doh Kyung Soo is a joy in this too.

[u/amejnfz]

Moon river! My fave of all time

[u/Character_Waltz]

The Tale of Lady Ok

[u/sadmachine94 → u/Character_Waltz]

yesss came here to rec this. tale of lady ok has the same FL as my royal nemesis

[u/Wide_Examination142]

The Tale of Nokdu - Rom-com that features actual historical characters in supporting roles. ML is raised on a small island and ends up having to disguise himself as a woman in pursuit of an all female assassin group that tried to kill his family who are hiding in a widow’s village. That’s where he meets the FL.

[u/Lderrrrrr]

100 Days my Prince, rhe Haunted Palace, and I feel like there is a good amount of Sageuk in Legend of the Blue Sea.

[u/Celebril63]

You've got a lot of great recommendations, but you're missing what I consider one of the best of all time: Sungkyunkwan Scandal.

It's an older drama but everything about it holds up completely to the day. The story is top tier, the acting is phenomenal as is the chemistry, and the cinematography is amazing. The only way you'd know how old it is, is that the cast is top talent but they're much younger than you remember them. :-D

[u/0hn0shebettad0nt → u/Celebril63]

I’m adding this to MY list. I’ve seen the title but never checked it out. Thanks

[u/0hn0shebettad0nt]

Hello! Fellow sageuk lover 💃🏿 Sageuk isn’t really known for happy endings. Part of what makes them so great is the bittersweet. But here’s my list:

Bossam: Steal the Fate
My First Night with the Duke (sageuk/modern fusion)
100 Days My Prince
Red Sleeve** sad
My Dearest**
Bloody Heart
Seven Day Queen**
To My Beloved Thief (ugh, beautiful)
Our Blooming Youth
Queen for Seven Days
Love in the Moonlight
Moon River (personal fav)
Check in, Hanyang
Captivating the King
Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist
The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract (sageuk/modern fusion so not really sageuk)
Secret Royal Inspector and Joy (a goofy fav of mine)
The Tale of Lady Ok**
The Tale of Nokdu
Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung
Under the Queen’s Umbrella
The Singer (beautiful movie)
The Crowned Clown
My Sassy Girl
The Forbidden Marriage

[u/Maddehhh → u/0hn0shebettad0nt]

Thank you for this amazing list! I know the happy endings are uncommon haha but figure it was worth asking. Appreciate your recs! 

[u/IMIndyJones → u/0hn0shebettad0nt]

There are a few in here that do not have happy endings. Just letting OP know so they don't have their heart ripped out unexpectedly. Lol

[u/Maddehhh → u/IMIndyJones]

Oooh good to know. I don’t mind bittersweet but if there are any that are really tragic I’d rather avoid those. Any on this list that are like that? 

[u/IMIndyJones → u/Maddehhh]

I've only seen The Red Sleeve in is entirety. It's actually excellent but crushing. Lol. Junho won several awards for his performance. He's incredible and makes it hit harder.

I had to stop My Dearest. Lol. I'm lame. I'll be sad for 2 days after a sad ending.

The OP edited in to indicate the sad ones for you. Enjoy the rest of the suggestions. You'll have fun!

[u/0hn0shebettad0nt → u/IMIndyJones]

I’ve watched so much sageuk I’ve forgotten some of the endings

[u/IMIndyJones → u/0hn0shebettad0nt]

I can relate. Except the ones that traumatize me. Lol. I hate sad endings so I don't forget when they have them.

[u/Ok_Style2033]

Captivating the King
The Crowned Clown
Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
To My Beloved Thief

[u/elabymoon → u/Ok_Style2033]

Seconding Rookie Historian! It has all the right amounts of romance, humor, and seriousness for me. I’m not much of a romance fan but I really got behind this one, especially since it’s well balanced with other parts of the story.

[u/fritillarymady]

To My Beloved Thief!!!

[u/seanv507]

My sassy princess

[u/Hairy_Elderberry_472]

Dong Yi!! My favourite kdrama

[u/LouTatin]

To my beloved thief.

[u/Dapper-Ambition1495]

Under the Queen's Umbrella Emperor Owner of the Mask The Crowned Clown Moonshine Secret Romantic Guesthouse The Matchmaker

[u/roryperalta]

The Secret Romantic Guesthouse!!!

[u/mendozebra]

Arang and the Magistrate aka Tale of Arang.

[u/BrooBu]

Perfect Crown! So good.

[u/Kelly_the_tailor]

Right now I'm watching "Flower Crew - Joseon Marriage Agency". I recommend it!

[u/miliwald]

Tale of Nokdu the happiest ending of all happy endings. 😅

Tale of lady Ok 💛

Revel thief who stole the people

My dearest 💛

I dont remember others from what i have watched with full happy endings, and some i dont remember the titles xD
i will go through these recommendations too 😅

[u/FindTheFlan]

Mr sunshine

[u/0hn0shebettad0nt → u/FindTheFlan]

This is NOT a happy ending at all lol

[u/FindTheFlan → u/[deleted]]

That was supposed to be a surprise! Otherwise they won't watch it

[u/kdramarecommends-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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