top 10 fantasy k-drama of 2010s

 Korean dramas, often referred to as K-dramas, have gained popularity worldwide, including in the fantasy genre. Here's a list of the top 10 fantasy K-dramas from the 2010s:

1. Goblin: The Lonely and Great God (2016-2017) 

Also known as "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God," this drama blends fantasy and romance as it tells the story of a goblin who seeks to end his immortality.

Plot:

Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), a decorated military general from the Goryeo Dynasty, is framed as a traitor and killed by the young king. Years after his death, he is cursed by the Almighty to stay immortal forever, enduring the pain of seeing his loved ones die as punishment for the soldiers he killed to protect his country. He becomes an immortal goblin, helping people with his powers and being a kind man in spite of his grieving past. The only way to put an end to his immortality is the Goblin's bride, whose aid in pulling out the sword will end his painful immortality.

Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun) is a bubbly high school student who remains cheerful and hopeful despite her tragic life. She summons the Goblin by chance and their fates begin to entwine. The Goblin's nephew, Yoo Deok-hwa (Yook Sung-jae), leases the Goblin's house to a Grim Reaper (Lee Dong-wook) and the two end up living under the same roof. Ji Eun-tak starts working a part-time job at a chicken store run by a charismatic young woman, Sunny (Yoo In-na).

As the lives of Kim Shin, Grim Reaper, Ji Eun-tak and Sunny interweave, a deeper story unfolds, as they are not just strangers who met by chance, but people with deep-rooted relations.

2. W: Two Worlds (2016)

 "W" follows the life of a surgeon who gets entangled in a webtoon world, leading to a unique blend of reality and fantasy.

Plot:

Oh Yeon Joo (Han Hyo Joo) is a second-year cardiothoracic resident doctor. Her father, a famous comic book creator, suddenly disappears one day and then Yeon Joo herself is kidnapped by a strange man covered in blood and taken to a different dimension.

Kang Chul (Lee Jong Suk) is a former Olympic gold medalist in shooting and self-made millionaire. How will his world intertwine with Yeon Joo’s other-dimension universe? Is Kang Chul the only person who can help Yeon Joo escape from a parallel universe?

3. The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016-2017)

This drama is a modern-day retelling of the classic mermaid tale and features a fantasy romance between a mermaid and a conman.

Plot:

Shim Cheong (Jun Ji Hyun) is a mermaid who follows her one true love, a nobleman’s son named Kim Moon from the Joseon Dynasty to modern-day Seoul. Moon’s modern doppelgänger is Heo Joon Jae (Lee Min Ho), a highly-skilled scam artist who first becomes interested in Shim Cheong because of a jade bracelet worth $6 million that she wears.

With nowhere to go, Shim Cheong is taken in by Joon Jae, who also finds his con partners, Jo Nam Doo (Lee Hee Joon) and Tae Oh (Shin Won Ho), hiding out in his home from a vengeful past victim of their scams. Shim Cheong discovers a rival for Joon Jae’s heart in Cha Shi Ah (Shin Hye Sun), a researcher at KAIST who deals with ancient artifacts.

The plot takes a sinister turn when a dangerous killer named Ma Dae Young (Sung Dong Il) is sent by Joon Jae’s stepmother to murder him in order to make her own son the heir to Joon Jae’s fortunes. Can Shim Cheong survive her strange new environment while also helping Joon Jae avoid the dangers that await him?

4. Hotel Del Luna (2019)

 This series revolves around a hotel for ghosts and supernatural beings, with a strong emphasis on Korean folklore and mythology.

Plot:

"Hotel del Luna" (previously known as "Guest House of the Moon") is not like any other hotel. A supernatural place, the hotel is not visible in its true form during the daytime and humans can only come across the hotel under special circumstances. Its staff and clients are all ghosts coming to terms with unfinished business in their former lives before they pass on to the afterlife and cycle of reincarnation;[6] the staff, in particular, have been there for decades or centuries as they have not settled their grudges. The exception to this is the hotel's general manager, which has been filled by a succession of human "passersby" since they need to interact normally with the real world in certain instances, like paying bills or fulfilling ghosts' requests with still-living relatives/friends.

Jang Man-wol (Lee Ji-eun) is the owner of this hotel, which is located in Myeong-dong, Seoul. Due to a huge sin committed more than a millennium ago, the hotel catering to the dead has been bound to her soul.

As a result of manipulation by the deity Mago (Seo Yi-sook), Jang Man-wol meets Koo Chan-sung's father (Oh Ji-ho) and makes a deal: in exchange for his life, his son will work for her 20 years later.

Desperate to save his son, the father takes Koo Chan-sung (Yeo Jin-goo) abroad. The young man grows up to be a sincere, level-headed perfectionist with a soft heart. He comes back to South Korea after his father's death, 21 years later to be an assistant manager at a multi-national hotel corporation, only to face Jang Man-wol, after which he ends up fulfilling the agreement and becomes the manager of Hotel del Luna.[7]

Through Koo Chan-sung, the mysteries and the secrets behind the hotel and its owner are revealed.

5. The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)

 In this drama, parallel universes collide as a modern-day emperor travels to an alternate world and falls in love with a detective.

Plot:

The story revolves around two parallel universes: the Kingdom of Corea, a modern-day monarchy, and the Republic of Korea (our world). King Lee Gon of Corea, portrayed by Lee Min-ho, discovers a mysterious portal that connects these two worlds. This portal is a magical flute passed down through generations in his royal family.

Lee Gon decides to cross the portal and arrives in modern-day Seoul, where he encounters Detective Jung Tae-eul, played by Kim Go-eun. Their first meeting is marked by confusion, as Tae-eul initially doesn't believe Lee Gon's claim to be a king from another world. However, as she investigates the evidence, she becomes entangled in a complex web of politics, conspiracies, and love.

In Corea, Lee Gon's absence triggers a power struggle, as his uncle, Lee Lim, portrayed by Lee Jung-jin, seeks to take control of the kingdom and exploit the portal's abilities for his own gain. Lee Lim possesses knowledge of the portal and can travel between both worlds, creating chaos and altering the course of history.

As Lee Gon and Tae-eul work together to unravel the mysteries surrounding the portal, they uncover shocking truths about the consequences of altering the past and the interconnectedness of their fates. Along the way, they fall in love, but their love story is fraught with challenges, including the dangerous influence of Lee Lim.

6. My Love from the Star (2013-2014)

This fantasy romance tells the story of an alien who has been living on Earth for 400 years and falls in love with a famous actress.

Plot:

The story begins in the Joseon Dynasty era when an alien being from another planet crash-lands on Earth. This alien, Do Min-joon, portrayed by Kim Soo-hyun, possesses unique abilities such as superhuman strength, the ability to stop time, and immortality. Over the centuries, he observes humanity from a distance but remains emotionally detached due to his longevity.

Fast forward to modern-day Seoul, Do Min-joon is still living on Earth but keeping a low profile. He works as a university professor while maintaining his distance from humans. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with a famous actress, Cheon Song-yi, played by Jun Ji-hyun.

Cheon Song-yi is known for her glamorous lifestyle but is often misunderstood due to her candid and eccentric personality. Despite their initial misunderstandings and clashes, Do Min-joon finds himself drawn to Song-yi, who bears an uncanny resemblance to a woman he had encountered during the Joseon era, a woman he couldn't save.

As Do Min-joon and Cheon Song-yi's relationship deepens, he is faced with the dilemma of his impending departure from Earth. His alien physiology is tied to a comet that passes by Earth every few centuries, and it's nearing its return. This presents a heartbreaking challenge for the star-crossed lovers, as Do Min-joon must find a way to leave Earth and return to his home planet.

7. Scarlet Heart: Ryeo (2016)

Based on a Chinese novel, this time-traveling drama involves a woman who is transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty and becomes embroiled in royal politics.

Plot:

The story begins in the present day with Go Ha-jin, portrayed by Lee Ji-eun (IU), a young woman who experiences a tragic accident and wakes up in the body of Hae Soo in the Goryeo Dynasty, a distant past era. Hae Soo is a 21st-century woman with knowledge of history and a strong-willed personality.

As Hae Soo adjusts to her new life in the past, she becomes entangled in the lives of the royal family. She initially finds herself in the company of several princes, including Wang Wook (Kang Ha-neul) and Wang Eun (Byun Baek-hyun). Her strong, modern sensibilities and her willingness to stand up for what she believes in make her both an ally and an adversary within the palace.

The most significant figure she encounters is Wang So, portrayed by Lee Joon-gi, the fourth prince and initially considered an outcast due to a facial scar. Hae Soo and Wang So develop a complex and intense relationship, and their bond deepens over time.

8. A Korean Odyssey (2017-2018)

A modern adaptation of the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West," this drama combines fantasy elements with a unique modern twist.

Plot:

The story begins with Son Oh-gong, portrayed by Lee Seung-gi, a mischievous and powerful monkey demon known for his rebellious nature and disregard for authority. He is imprisoned by a powerful sorceress, Sam-jang, played by Oh Yeon-seo, who possesses the ability to see spirits and demons. Sam-jang is fated to be a human who can help Son Oh-gong attain ultimate power.

Fast forward to the modern day, Sam-jang is a successful CEO who has no memory of her past life as the fated Sam-jang. She encounters Son Oh-gong, who has been freed from his imprisonment but is bound by a magical bracelet that restricts his powers and forces him to protect Sam-jang.

As Sam-jang's memories gradually return, she is drawn into a world of supernatural beings, spirits, and demons. Along with Son Oh-gong, they embark on a journey to find and protect Sam-jang's true identity while battling various malevolent forces. They are joined by other characters inspired by those from "Journey to the West," including the Bull Demon King and a naive and bumbling yet loyal monk.

9. Bride of the Water God (2017)

Drawing inspiration from Korean mythology, this drama revolves around a village's yearly sacrifices to the water god and the human bride chosen for him.

Plot:

The story revolves around Yoon So-ah, portrayed by Shin Se-kyung, a pragmatic and level-headed psychiatrist struggling to make ends meet. She is skeptical of the supernatural and has a strong sense of responsibility, caring for her sickly father and managing his debt.

Yoon So-ah's life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Ha-baek, portrayed by Nam Joo-hyuk, who claims to be the Water God. Ha-baek is on a quest to retrieve sacred stones that have been stolen from the divine realm. These stones are essential for him to assume his full powers as the Water God and maintain the balance of nature.

Ha-baek believes that the stolen stones are on Earth and that Yoon So-ah's family may hold the key to their whereabouts. He forces her into a contract, making her his servant and guiding her in his quest to recover the stones.

As Yoon So-ah becomes more deeply entangled in Ha-baek's world, she encounters other divine beings, including Moo-ra, the Goddess of Water (Krystal Jung), and Bi-ryum, the God of the Sky (Gong Myung). Each of these deities has their own motivations and agendas, which often clash with Ha-baek's.

10. Abyss (2019)

This fantasy romance explores the concept of resurrection through a magical abyss, resulting in physical transformations and a murder mystery.

Plot:

The story centers around two childhood friends, Go Se-yeon, portrayed by Park Bo-young, and Cha Min, portrayed by Ahn Hyo-seop. Go Se-yeon is a beautiful and accomplished prosecutor, while Cha Min is an amiable and somewhat clumsy heir to a successful cosmetics company. Despite their differences, they share a close bond.

Tragedy strikes when Go Se-yeon is murdered, and Cha Min dies in a separate incident. However, their lives take a supernatural twist when they are both resurrected through a magical, otherworldly object known as the "Abyss." This object has the power to revive the dead but comes with a unique twist – it transforms the resurrected individuals into entirely different appearances based on their moral character.

Go Se-yeon, who was once considered physically beautiful, is resurrected in a plain and less attractive form due to her morally questionable actions as a prosecutor. On the other hand, Cha Min, who was physically unattractive before his death, is now reborn as a handsome man, reflecting his kind and compassionate nature.

With their new appearances, Go Se-yeon and Cha Min set out to unravel the mysteries surrounding their deaths and the Abyss. They embark on a quest to find Se-yeon's murderer and bring them to justice, all while navigating the challenges and dilemmas that come with their transformed identities.

These are some of the top fantasy K-dramas from the 2010s, each offering a unique and captivating storyline within the genre. Keep in mind that personal preferences vary, so you may want to explore these dramas to see which ones resonate with you the most.