2023 will almost end, but the legendary reincarnation-themed K-drama, “Goblin” is still included in the list of Top 50 Highest-Rating Korean Dramas of All Time. Although 2023 K-dramas such as King the Land, Behind Your Touch, and Strong Girl Nam-soon have already entered the list, Goblin is still above them. No wonder, most reincarnation-themed K-dramas have numerous references from Goblin, including the K-dramas below.
So, if you’re a fan of Goblin or you just can’t resist reincarnation stories, then 2023 must be your year, as 7 reincarnation-themed K-dramas were produced this year. Starting with…..
Kokdu: Season of Deity
January brought us the tragic story of the God of Death, Kokdu (Kim Jung-hyun.) He was responsible for helping the deceased cross the afterlife and every 99th year in the underworld, he must go to the living world and stay there for 99 days to kill criminals. Also, he must find the reincarnated version of his lover, Han Gye Jeol (Im Soo-hyang), and make the latter fall in love with Kokdu. Once successful, Gye Jeol must verbally profess her love to Kokdu, so that Kokdu will finally be free from the almighty’s curse.
You can watch Kokdu: Season of Deity on Viu.
See you in my 19th Life
Ban Ji-eum (Shin Hye-sun) has the gift of remembering her past lives. On her 18th life, she met a young boy named Seo-ha (Jung Hyeon-jun) and formed a wonderful bond with him. But one day, when the two children went out to celebrate Seo-ha’s birthday, they got into an accident which led to Ju-won’s (Ji-eum’s 18th name) death. But before she died, she promised to see Seo-ha in her next life. So as soon as young Ji-eum (Park So-yi) remembered Ju-won’s promise, she immediately went to see the grown-up Seo-ha (Ahn Bo-yun.) and told the latter that she would grow up well. After ten years, grown-up Ji-eum decided to work at Seo-ha’s hotel and that’s when she started to execute her goal of making Seo-ha remember her.
You can watch See You in My 19th Life on Netflix.
Durian’s Affair
This drama has a unique take on reincarnation as the main protagonists Du Ri-an (Park Joo-mi) and Kim So-jeo (Lee Da-yeon), two noblewomen from the Joseon era, have accidentally time-traveled to 2023 and live with the reincarnated version of their loved ones.
You can watch Durian’s Affair on Viu.
Destined With You
Haunted house, family curse, spell book, and love spell led the Joseon couple, Aeng-cho (Cho bo ah) and Jang Mu-jin (Rowoon) to reunite in the present time as a civil servant named Hong-jo (Aeng-cho’s reincarnation) and a competent lawyer named Jang Sin-yu (Jang Mu-jin’s reincarnation). At present, Sin-yu has a girlfriend, while Hong-jo has a crush on the mayor’s advisor. Eventually, Hong-jo confessed her feelings to Mr. Kwon (Ha Jun,) but the latter rejected the female lead. So, Hong-jo decided to use the love spell on the mayor’s advisor. Little did Hong-jo know, fate made Sin-yu drink the love potion, and that begins the peculiar relationship between Hong-jo and Sin-yu, as they try their best to resist the destiny they have for each other.
You can watch Destined With You on Netflix.
Moon in the Day
This ongoing reincarnation-themed K-drama is about a man named Do-ha (Kim Young-dae), who lived and died during the Goryeo period. His soul cannot pass the afterlife and for 1500 years, his spirit was forced to follow the reincarnated versions of his lover, Han Ri-ta (Pyo Ye-jin). At present, Do-ha has an identical face with a top actor named Jun-oh, who collapsed inside the car and died. That incident opens an opportunity for Do-ha to use Jun-oh’s body and execute his plan of killing Young-hwa (the reincarnated version of Ri-ta,) so that Do-ha will soon be free from his curse. But is that really the cure for Do-ha’s curse?
You can watch Moon in the Day on Viu.
The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract
MBC’s upcoming Korean drama: The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract can be seen as the successor of Durian’s Affair in terms of the plot about the protagonist who time-traveled from Joseon era to the year 2023 by falling inside a hole and then coming out from the pool. Similar to So-jeo, Yeon-woo’s (Lee Se-young) husband died and it was because of heart disease. While the female lead was still mourning her husband’s death, she was kidnapped and thrown into a well. Yeon-woo ends up in a pool and Tae ha (Bae In-hyuk), who has an identical face with the former’s husband, saved Yeon-woo from drowning. Right then, begins their comical relationship; the bond they formed opens an opportunity for Tae-ha to ask Yeon-woo’s help in fulfilling the wish of Tae-ha’s grandfather to see the male lead getting married.
You can soon watch The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract on Viu. According to Soompi, the drama will be out on November 24. So stay tuned!
Death’s Game
This upcoming reincarnation-themed K-drama is not your typical “meet your lover in their next life to be free from the curse.” Instead, it’s about a man named Choi Yi Jae (Seo In-Guk) who was punished by death (Park So-dam) to reincarnate 12 times to experience painful deaths. Soompi reported that the drama will be out on December 15.
So there they are the 7 Reincarnation-Themed K-dramas this year. What’s your favorite? Let us know on our Instagram and Twitter!
