Reincarnation KDramas hold a special place for fans who enjoy stories that cross time and destiny. These shows often explore the mix of love, regret, and karmic debts that carry over from one life to another.
The appeal comes from seeing characters struggle with choices that feel bigger than a single lifetime. Some titles lean on fantasy with immortals and curses, while others ground the theme in human loss and second chances.
Each drama offers a unique perspective on fate, making the genre one of the most captivating aspects of Korean storytelling.
| Title | Sub-genre | Where to watch | Why it hits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alchemy of Souls (2022–23) | Soul-switch / fate contracts | Netflix | Forbidden magic twists destiny with romance and battles. |
| A Time Called You (2023) | Time-slip love / past connection | Netflix | Grief meets second chances through a time travel mystery. |
| Bulgasal: Immortal Souls (2021–22) | Immortal vs reincarnated | Netflix | Centuries of karmic debts collide with human memory. |
How we chose
These titles focus on fate, identity, and karmic cycles rather than just spectacle. They are widely discussed by fans and critics, and most are available on global platforms. Spoilers are kept light to protect the “who was who before” reveals.
1. Alchemy of Souls (2022–23)
- Sub‑genre: Soul-switch / fate contracts
- Episodes: 30 ( S1-20 eps, S2-10 eps)
- Where to watch: Netflix
Why it hits: forbidden sorcery swaps souls and binds lovers across bodies and battles.
Themes: destiny, sacrifice, second chances.
Trigger notes: violence, grief, death.
If you liked: See You in My 19th Life, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.
2. A Time Called You (2023)
- Sub‑genre: Time-slip love
- Episodes: 12
- Where to watch: Netflix
Why it hits: time travel brings grief, love, and uncanny resemblance to lost bonds.
Themes: loss, fate, emotional healing.
Trigger notes: death, suicide, grief.
If you liked: Someday or One Day (Taiwan), Signal.
3. Bulgasal: Immortal Souls (2021–22)
- Sub‑genre: Immortal vs reincarnated
- Episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
Why it hits: an immortal cursed with revenge meets a woman reborn many times.
Themes: vengeance, karmic debts, shifting bonds.
Trigger notes: violence, blood, family tragedy.
If you liked: Arthdal Chronicles, Goblin.
4. See You in My 19th Life (2023)
- Sub‑genre: Fated lovers
- Episodes: 12
- Where to watch: Netflix/TVING
Why it hits: Memory across lives meets second-chance romance with earned angst.
Themes: love across lives, memory, destiny.
Trigger notes: death, grief.
If you liked: Destined with You, Moon in the Day.
5. Destined with You (2023)
- Sub‑genre: Fated lovers
- Episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
Why it hits: A cursed man and a woman tied to his fate in the past and present.
Themes: curse, destiny, healing.
Trigger notes: violence, grief.
If you liked: See You in My 19th Life, My Demon.
Also Read: Secretaries & CEOs: Our Favorite 20 K-Drama Office Romances
6. Legend of the Blue Sea (2016-17)
- Sub‑genre: Fated lovers
- Episodes: 20
- Where to watch: Netflix/Viki
Why it hits: Joseon tragedy meets modern comedy in a mermaid’s love story.
Themes: fate, loss, redemption.
Trigger notes: drowning, violence.
If you liked: Tale of the Nine-Tailed, Moon in the Day.
7. Moon in the Day (2023)
- Sub‑genre: Immortal vs reincarnated
- Episodes: 14
- Where to watch: Viki
Why it hits: Spirit possession ties revenge to 1,500 years of grief.
Themes: revenge, loss, destiny.
Trigger notes: murder, betrayal.
If you liked: Bulgasal, Tale of the Nine-Tailed.
8. Tale of the Nine-Tailed (2020)
- Sub‑genre: Immortal vs reincarnated
- Episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix/Viki
Why it hits: A fox seeks his reincarnated love while battling mythic threats.
Themes: myth, eternal love, sacrifice.
Trigger notes: violence, death.
If you liked: Legend of the Blue Sea, Goblin.
9. Goblin: The Lonely and Great God (2016-17)
- Sub‑genre: Deity/human fate
- Episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix/Viki
Why it hits: A goblin cursed with immortality seeks release through destined love.
Themes: immortality, fate, sacrifice.
Trigger notes: death, suicide.
If you liked: Tale of the Nine-Tailed, Bulgasal.
10. My Demon (2023)
- Sub‑genre: Deity/human fate
- Episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
Why it hits: A demon loses power and finds his tie to a cold heiress.
Themes: curse, destiny, choice.
Trigger notes: violence, betrayal.
If you liked: Destined with You, Goblin.
Which fate trope hits hardest?
11. Mystic Pop-up Bar (2020)
- Sub‑genre: Deity/human fate
- Episodes: 12
- Where to watch: Netflix
Why it hits: A cursed woman redeems herself by solving grudges.
Themes: karma, redemption, forgiveness.
Trigger notes: suicide, abuse.
If you liked: Hotel Del Luna, Hi Bye, Mama!.
Also Read: 13 Korean Dramas About Exorcism and Shamanism That Stand Out
12. Reborn Rich (2022-23)
- Sub‑genre: Rebirth/revenge
- Episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix/Viki
Why it hits: An employee reborn in a chaebol family changes fate.
Themes: greed, revenge, rebirth.
Trigger notes: murder, betrayal.
If you liked: Perfect Marriage Revenge, Alchemy of Souls.
13. Perfect Marriage Revenge (2023)
- Sub‑genre: Regression/revenge
- Episodes: 12
- Where to watch: Viki
Why it hits: A betrayed woman resets her fate to strike back.
Themes: betrayal, fate, and revenge.
Trigger notes: abuse, death.
If you liked: Reborn Rich, Rooftop Prince.
14. Rooftop Prince (2012)
- Sub‑genre: Time-slip romance
- Episodes: 20
- Where to watch: Viki
Why it hits: A Joseon prince in Seoul seeks truth and love.
Themes: loss, mystery, destiny.
Trigger notes: betrayal, death.
If you liked: A Time Called You, See You in My 19th Life.
15. Hi Bye, Mama! (2020)
- Sub‑genre: Ghost/family bond
- Episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
Why it hits: A mother returns for 49 days to reconnect with family.
Themes: grief, family, love.
Trigger notes: death, loss.
If you liked: Mystic Pop-up Bar, A Time Called You.
16. Hotel Del Luna (2019)
- Sub‑genre: Ghost curse/fate
- Episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
Why it hits: A spirit bound to a ghost hotel confronts past love.
Themes: regret, destiny, healing.
Trigger notes: death, violence.
If you liked: Mystic Pop-up Bar, Goblin.
17. Chicago Typewriter (2017)
- Sub‑genre: Reincarnation of fighters
- Episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki
Why it hits: Modern writers recall past lives as 1930s rebels.
Themes: freedom, memory, fate.
Trigger notes: violence, grief.
If you liked: Reborn Rich, See You in My 19th Life.
18. The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract (2023)
- Sub‑genre: Time-slip contract / body swap
- Episodes: 12
- Where to watch: MBC/Viki
Why it hits: Joseon bride wakes in Seoul, bound by destiny again.
Themes: fate, choice, renewal.
Trigger notes: grief, betrayal.
If you liked: Rooftop Prince, Destined with You.
19. Abyss (2019)
- Sub‑genre: Soul rebirth / body swap
- Episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
Past-life bonds surface after a magical marble brings two people back in new bodies, blending romance, mystery, and identity discovery.
Themes: Fate vs free will, soul connection, second chances.
Trigger notes: Death, accidents, suspenseful crime scenes.
If you liked: Your Eyes Tell, 49 Days.
20. Marry My Husband (2023)
- Sub‑genre: Reincarnation / revenge
- Episodes: 12
- Where to watch: TVING / Viki
A woman returns to her past life to prevent betrayal, confront injustice, and change her future, balancing suspense and emotional payoffs.
Themes: Karma, justice, second chance at life, revenge.
Trigger notes: Death, betrayal, emotional trauma, psychological manipulation.
If you liked: Born Again, Replay.
Reincarnation KDramas continue to stay popular because they explore questions everyone can relate to—love, destiny, and unfinished business. From tragic romances to revenge stories, they give viewers a mix of fantasy and raw emotion.
These dramas don’t just tell one story; they stretch across time and keep raising the question of whether fate can truly be changed. For anyone looking to start or revisit the genre in 2025, these titles remain essential and unforgettable.
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Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
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