Empress Ki (2013)

Series of Love, loss and betrayal. Amazing acting, characters and main plot. Main leads relationships are heartfelt and emotional to the core. As the story unfolds you cant help to not fall in love with this drama.

While watching this Drama it often reminded me of Empress Ki. It's the same type of story about the palace and plotting and backstabbing in the harem and which effects it has on people living through it. Empress Ki compared with Legend of Zhen Huan is a bit lighter though

Both sageuks have important events that happened outside Joseon. There is also a non-Korean character in a high position in love with at one of the main leads.

- Historical
- Court Scandals & Drama
- Opinionated and book smart Female Lead
- The Female Lead falls for a Male Lead she can't have in the end
- Male Lead has a tragic end
- Crazy/Obsessive One-Sided Love from an Emperor

Both have woman disguising themselves as men and both grew up like that. Empress Ki is also a bit more entertaining depending on what you want to look at.

both involve an awesome female lead that's good at fighting, is highly intelligent, and good at revenge.

A historical drama featuring a star-crossed love triangle starring Ha Ji Won. The stories may be quite different but if you watched Empress Ki or Damo, and liked either of them really well, you must obviously have become a Ha Ji Won fan because since she's the lead of both shows. Therefore, I am recommending Damo to Empress Ki fans and Empress Ki to Damo fans. Both dramas feature Ha Ji Won as an orphan poor girl who has to overcome a lot of trials in her life. Both dramas are also her sageuks where she shows a lot of swordfighting and other action skills. Also in both shows, it appears that she had always loved a man who is kind and caring, but somehow became drawn to another man who she was not supposed to love. The love triangle in both dramas have great effects on Ha Ji Won's character since they both have/gave her something very important to her.
I suggests fans of either dramas watch the other since Ha Ji Won is fantastic in it. Also, because Damo was such a great drama for its time in 2003 but is somehow currently ignored because of so many newer dramas.

Empress Ki and Queen Insoo are both strong woman who are smart and cunning.

Complicated/sophisticated plot of a girl losing loved ones and trying to get revenge, falling in love along the way. Also epic love triangles!

Similarities between both dramas
-love triangle
-strong female lead
-FL ends up with second ML
-FL cares about both male leads till the end
-storyline is a bit similar
Both the dramas are really well acted by their respective actors/actresses. Empress Ki is a korean drama and it has much satisfying ends to the villians unlike in sound of the desert drama.
Empress ki was a much better drama for me.

The kings in both dramas are almost or completely (you be the judge) insane.

"Empress Ki" and "Hwarang" are both South Korean historical dramas that share several thematic and stylistic elements despite being set in different historical periods and contexts. Here are some of the key similarities:

1. Historical Setting: Both dramas are set in historical periods and involve historical figures and events, though they take creative liberties with historical accuracy. "Empress Ki" is set in the Goryeo and Yuan dynasties, while "Hwarang" is set in the Silla Kingdom.

2. Strong Female Leads: Each series features strong female characters who play pivotal roles in the story. "Empress Ki" follows the life of Ki Seung-nyang, who rises from a lowly status to become an empress. In "Hwarang," the female leads, including Ah Ro, display resilience and influence within the male-dominated setting.

3. Political Intrigue: Both dramas delve deeply into political machinations, court intrigues, and the struggle for power. Characters are often involved in complex plots and schemes to gain or maintain power.

4. Romantic Subplots: Romance is a significant element in both series. In "Empress Ki," the protagonist is involved in complex romantic relationships with both the Emperor of Yuan and the King of Goryeo. "Hwarang" features romantic entanglements among the members of the Hwarang and the female lead, Ah Ro.

5. Formation of Brotherhoods: "Hwarang" focuses on the creation and development of the elite Hwarang warriors, highlighting their camaraderie and brotherhood. Similarly, "Empress Ki" showcases alliances and friendships formed amidst political turbulence.

6. Action and Martial Arts: Both dramas feature a good deal of action, including sword fights, battles, and displays of martial arts skills, contributing to the excitement and intensity of the storylines.

7. Struggles with Identity and Loyalty: Characters in both series grapple with issues of identity, loyalty, and duty. In "Empress Ki," Seung-nyang must navigate her loyalty to her homeland and her new position in the Yuan dynasty. In "Hwarang," the young warriors face challenges related to their noble status, personal loyalties, and duties to their kingdom.

These elements contribute to the rich storytelling and dynamic character development in both "Empress Ki" and "Hwarang," making them compelling dramas for fans of historical and period pieces.

both present the situation of an extremely capable woman in times women had little to no perspectives on getting an education and using it for the common good. They aren't greedy for power, but want it to save the state or improve the quality of ordinary people's lives. Their idealism comes in pair with an acute political sense. Even though they're surrounded by the men who love and admire them, their advice is often disregarded, their possibilities limited and their lovers would gladly just put them in a cage so they wouldn't get hurt. You got your fun, girl, now go home and let the boys play.
Both are gender-benders (short arc in Empress Ki, more in Tempest) and hide their identity. Both have multiple love interests. Both become a ruler's concubine. Empress Ki has stronger rivalry in the harem, while in Tempest even though the harem is a scene of a financial schemes, women are in comradery.

Romance! Historical! Romantic Triangle, though 1 guy wins by a landslide. And production quality is great.

Both have really strong female leads who have had a difficult past and hunger for vengeance. Also, they both pretend to be a man at some point in the drama.