Skip to content
search
The Scene 8 Fantasy K-Drama Characters We Love: Goblins, Fox Spirits, Mermaids

8 Fantasy K-Drama Characters We Love: Goblins, Fox Spirits, Mermaids

8 Fantasy K-Drama Characters We Love: Goblins, Fox Spirits, Mermaids
By Teo Chen Ling
April 27, 2021
Tale of the Nine-Tailed is the latest in a long string of Korean dramas about weird and wonderful creatures who happen to look like gorgeous human beings. Here are other shows featuring fantastical characters

There are romance dramas, and then there are romance dramas with other-worldly beings so impossibly good-looking and charming, you can’t help but fall in love with them. This phenomenon seems quite prevalent in K-dramas, with many top-rated shows featuring romantic goblins, amorous foxes and lovelorn mermaids paired up with humans. 

Does it play to our fantasies of being swept off our feet by more powerful and mysterious beings? Or perhaps the idea of the star-crossed romance between mere human and immortal deity is so poignant and melodramatic, it just makes for rich K-drama fodder. Either way, we are hooked on these Korean shows that feature such mystical characters.

Related: 11 Korean Dramas With the Highest Ratings in 2021: Which Haven’t You Watched?

1/8 Tale of the Nine-Tailed (2020)

The creature: Gumiho or nine-tailed fox spirit 

The actor: Lee Dong-wook

The premise: A powerful nine-tailed fox and former mountain god spends centuries among humans waiting for his true love to reincarnate. Chaos, hilarity and lots of romance ensue. 

Watch it on Netflix

2/8 Goblin / Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016)

The creature: A goblin 

The actor: Gong Yoo

The premise: Kim Shin, an immortal being, is cursed to roam the earth forever, while he looks for the Goblin’s bride, who can help him to finally die. Before we watched this show, we thought goblins were nasty, ugly creatures. We were wrong—apparently, they look like Gong Yoo. Where can we meet one? 

Watch it on Netflix

Related: 7 Iconic Trios From our Favourite Korean Dramas
 

 

3/8 Legend of the Blue Sea (2016)

The creature: A mermaid

The actress: Jun Ji-hyun 

The premise: A mermaid (Jun) and a con artist (Lee Min-ho) are linked by an ancient past, but their current interaction is a comedy of errors, with Jun’s wide-eyed mermaid and Lee’s glib trickster.

Watch it on Netflix

4/8 My Love from the Star (2014)

The creature: An alien 

The actor: Kim Soo-hyun

The premise: A centuries-old alien who does not age and has superhuman abilities falls in love with an earthling (Jun Ji-hyun). Lots of drama, plus Kim Soo-hyun looking devastatingly handsome and Jun Ji-hyun in glam designer wear.

Watch it on Netflix

Related: 9 Highest-Paid K-Drama Stars: Kim Soo-Hyun, Hyun Bin, Song Hye-Kyo and More

5/8 Hotel Del Luna (2019)

The creature: An immortal owner of an inn for the dead 

The actress: IU 

The premise: The tempestuous 1,300-year-old owner of the Guest House of the Moon is cursed to live forever, running a hotel for departed souls on their way to the afterlife. She deals with her pain by indulging in champagne, fast cars, designer outfits and expensive meals. IU is a vision in this show.  

Watch it on Netflix

6/8 The Bride of Habaek (2017)

The creature: Water God 

The actor: Nam Joo-hyuk 

The premise: Before he was a coding genius in Start-Up, Nam Joo-hyuk starred in this fantasy tale about the God of the Land of Water, who has to come to earth to retrieve sacred stones. Predictably, he falls in love with a human. 

Watch it on Netflix

Related: 5 Korean Dramas With Cast Members Who Have the Best Chemistry Onscreen and Off

7/8 Oh My Ghost (2015)

The creature: A lustful virgin ghost

The actress: Park Bo-young 

The premise: Park’s timid chef character gets possessed by a ghost determined to lose her virginity by seducing men, and makes a move on her boss. You can imagine the uproarious situations that follow. 

Watch it on Netflix

8/8 A Korean Odyssey (2017 )

The creature: Son Oh-gong, The Great Sage Equal to Heaven—a character based on the Chinese Monkey King

The actor: Lee Seung-gi 

The premise: A powerful immortal who’s also extremely mischievous is exiled to earth, where he finds conflict, chaos, warmth and love. 

Watch it on Netflix

Tags

The Scene korean drama k-drama goblins fox spirits mermaids fantasy characters hallyu wave

clear
keyboard_arrow_up

In order to provide you with the best possible experience, this website uses cookies. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

close