8 K-Dramas You Won’t Believe Are Based on Real Events

Inspired by MMA fighter Choo Sung‑hoon and model Yano Shiho This underdog tale captures grit, ambition, and the sacrifices of love rooted in reality

The Glory Based on a horrific 2006 school bullying case in South Korea This powerful revenge drama sparked national conversations around abuse and justice

When Life Gives You Tangerines Honors Jeju’s iconic haenyeo sea divers A heartfelt tribute to generations of women divers, resilience, and sisterhood

The Red Sleeve A royal romance drawn from the Joseon dynasty Based on the real love story of King Jeongjo and royal consort Seong Uibin

The Hymn of Death Tells the tragic romance of soprano Yun Sim‑deok and playwright Kim Woo‑jin A haunting drama about love, art, and sacrifice in the 1920s

Signal Loosely inspired by real unsolved criminal cases This time-travel crime thriller reflects chilling true events like the Hwaseong serial murders

Move to Heaven Based on the work of a real-life trauma cleaner A deeply emotional story about grief, memories, and healing through the belongings left behind