The 3 Best ‘Moon’ Korean Dramas of All Time

There are several Korean dramas with “Moon” in the title. But only 3 will likely appear on lists of the Best “Moon” Korean Dramas of All Time.

• “Moon in the Day”, a K-drama series, and “The Moon”, a Korean film, were released in 2023. Viki viewers rated them 9.2 and 9.8 out of 10 stars, respectively. However, other reviewers were not so kind. NME gave “Moon in the Day” a rating of 3 out of 5 stars, and India Times gave “The Moon” a rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars. They won’t be among the 3 best. But here’s a summary if you’re interested.

♦ Moon in the Day

This series was a supernatural/fantasy about Do-ha, a warrior and aristocrat from Silla, who died at the hands of Han Ri-ta, his loving wife. Well! He thought she loved him. For thousands of years, his spirit traveled through time because he wanted to take vengeance on her. But each time Han Ri-ta was reincarnated she was killed before he could do anything.

Finally, he meets her again as Kang Young-hwa, a firefighter who saved Han Jun-oh, a celebrity, from drowning. Well! She thought she saved him. When Han Jun-oh died, his body was possessed by Do-ha. This time Do-ha was going to find out why his wife killed him and then take his revenge by killing her.

What Do-ha did not know was that there was another vengeful spirit who had time-traveled through the centuries and he wanted to kill her too!

• ‘Moon In The Day’ review: a twisted love story written in blood and vengeance | NME

TRAILER: Zone, Kdrama. “Moon in the Day (2023) Official Trailer | Kim Young Dae, Pyo Ye Jin.” YouTube Video. YouTube, October 25, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv9PQzwpvJ8.

‌♦ The Moon

This is a science fiction film about a Korean astronaut, Hwang Sun Woo, who got lost in space. He was on South Korea’s first lunar-bound spacecraft and explored the moon in a lunar rover. A strong gust of wind sent him hurling into outer space. A rescue mission team comprised of space chiefs at the National Space Center were tasked with bringing him home.

• The Moon Movie Review: A visually stunning spectacle that fails to meet expectations | India Times

TRAILER: Well. “THE MOON Official Int’l Trailer | Directed by Kim Yong-Hwa | Starring Sul Kyung Gu and Doh Kyung Soo.” YouTube Video. YouTube, July 19, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxMM6Ntv78A.

• ‌Regardless of the different ratings by reviewers both the K-drama “Moon” series and the film were entertaining enough! However, they would never make the list of “Best Moon K-dramas of All Time”.

The three (3) Korean drama series listed below would certainly be on the lists and they are all historical period K-dramas.

• 1) The Moon Embracing The Sun (2012)
• 2) Love in the Moonlight (2016)
• 3) Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)

♦ 1) The Moon Embracing The Sun (2012)

20 Episodes; Historical Fiction, Sageuk, Political Intrigue, Romance, Supernatural, Fantasy

This is a beautiful love story. Two people met during their childhood. One child was Lee Hwon, a crown prince and the other was a girl from a noble family, Heo Yeon-Woo. The crown prince was smitten and wanted her to become the crown princess. But his political opponents had someone else in mind.

Through devious and treacherous means they got rid of the young crown princess. Or at least they thought they did. A shaman came up with a plan to save her life. But in saving her life, the young girl lost her memory. So she was raised to be a shaman and given the name Wol.

• For years Lee Hwon grieved because he thought his beloved had died.
• For years, Heo Yeon-Woo had lived as Wol, not knowing her true identity.

In Joseon culture, the Sun is the symbol of a king or the Moon is his queen. Eventually, as adults, the paths of the lovers would cross again. Initially, they do not recognize each other. But their love blooms again and ultimately, the Moon embraces the Sun.

Main Characters:

• Heo Yeon-Woo/Wol (played by Han Ga-In) – Won Best Actress (mini-series) at the 2012 MBC Drama Awards
• Lee Hwon (played by Kim Soo-Hyun) – Won Best Actor (mini-series) at the 2012 MBC Drama Awards and the 2012 (48th) BaekSang Arts Awards –

TRAILER: Winterfell-Wolfling. “The Moon That Embraces the Sun || Trailer (HD).” YouTube Video. YouTube, July 18, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4nP601FRyk.‌

♦ 2) Love in the Moonlight (2016)

18 Episodes; Historical Fiction, Sageuk, Romance, Comedy, Political Intrigue, Mystery

A love story between a crown prince and …?? … a eunuch? For her entire life, Hong Ra-On‘s mother has always made her dress up like a boy and even used a boy’s name: Hong Sam Nom. She never understood why she could not wear pretty clothes and put beautiful ornaments in her hair.

When Crown Prince Hyomyeong and Hong Ra-On first meet, he thinks she’s a man, and she has no idea he’s the crown prince. Had she known he was the crown prince she would not have left him in the trap he had fallen into.

Later on, Hong Ra-On alias Hong Sam Nom needs to escape some bad guys who are after her. The solution is to sneak into the palace and become a eunuch. The palace? Guess who she bumps into there? The crown prince, of course. He recognizes her … uuhh … him. The crown prince makes sure that Eunuch Hong Sam Nom gets assigned to his palace staff, so he can pay her back for leaving him the pit!

What begins as an uncomfortable relationship will become a romantic relationship. But first, some urgent matters must be handled.

• Hong Ra-On eventually learns that she has a secret identity. Her mother protected her from her enemies by dressing her up like a boy.
• The crown prince discovers that the enemies of Hong Ra-On are also his enemies.

If they can both survive the treacherous acts of their enemies they might be able to have a loving relationship and live happily ever after.

Main Characters:

• Crown Prince Hyomyeong (played by Park Bo-Gum) – Won Best Actor st the 2016 KBS Awards
• Hong Ra-On / Hong Sam Nom (played by Kim You-Jung) – Won Best New Actress at the 2016 (5th) APAN Star Awards; Most Popular Actress at the 2017 (53rd) BaekSang Arts Awards; and Excellent Actress (medium-length drama) at the 2016 KBS Drama Awards

Park Bo-Gum and Kim You-Jung won Best Couple Award at the 2016 KBS Drama Awards

TRAILER: 22,645,500 views. “LOVE in the MOONLIGHT Full Trailer.” YouTube Video. YouTube, March 7, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6qXU7oVDYw.‌

♦ 3) Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)

20 Episodes; Historical Fiction, Sageuk, Romance, Political Intrigue, Time Travel, Supernatural, Fantasy; Based on a Chinese novel

A young woman named Hae-Soo is in modern-day South Korea trying to decide if her life is worth living. She sees someone drowning and attempts to rescue the person by diving into the water to save them. When she comes up out of the water she is in the Goryeo era. Not only that but the body of water she popped up in was where the princes were taking a bath!

The king had several handsome, healthy, virile sons. She manages to get away from that uncomfortable situation but not before one of the princes recognizes. He thinks he recognizes her because he calls her Hae-Soo. What in the world? One minute she’s in modern-day South Korea contemplating if life is worth living, and the next minute she’s in Goryeo??? Forget how did she get there, how can she go back??

While she’s there, she needs to adapt to life in the ancient kingdom. She meets a prince who literally swoops her off her feet. Hae-Soo was standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. If he had not lifted her up and put her on his horse, she would likely have been trampled to death. The prince who saved her was Wang So. He would later become king after a lot of bloodshed.

But first, she falls in love with him and even has his child. Does Hae-Soo ever return to modern-day South Korea or does she die in Goryeo?

Main Characters:

• Wang So / King Gwangjong (played by Lee Joon-Gi) – Won the Ten Star Award, Hanryu Star Award at the 2016 SBS Drama Awards
• Hae-Soo (played by Lee Ji-Eun aka IU)

Lee Joon-Gi and Lee Ji-Eun aka IU won Best Couple Award at the 2016 SBS Drama Awards

TRAILER: Korean Drama. “Scarlet Heart Ryeo Trailer Korean Drama 2016.” YouTube Video. YouTube, June 19, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_F5_j4tA50.‌