Understanding Korean Historical Dramas (Sageuk)

Korean historical dramas, known as 사극 (sageuk), offer a captivating window into Korea’s rich past, blending history with compelling storytelling. This guide provides essential vocabulary, phrases, and cultural context to help you better understand and appreciate these popular dramas, even if you’re still learning Korean.

Core Term: Sageuk

• Expression: 사극
  Pronunciation: sa-geuk
  Meaning: Historical drama (genre)

Key Vocabulary for Sageuk

• Expression: 왕
  Pronunciation: wang
  Meaning: King
• Expression: 왕비
  Pronunciation: wang-bi
  Meaning: Queen (consort)
• Expression: 세자
  Pronunciation: se-ja
  Meaning: Crown Prince
• Expression: 궁궐
  Pronunciation: gung-gwol
  Meaning: Royal Palace
• Expression: 신하
  Pronunciation: sin-ha
  Meaning: Vassal, court official, subject
• Expression: 양반
  Pronunciation: yang-ban
  Meaning: Aristocracy (during Joseon Dynasty)
• Expression: 노비
  Pronunciation: no-bi
  Meaning: Slave, servant (historical term)
• Expression: 시대
  Pronunciation: si-dae
  Meaning: Era, period
• Expression: 조선 시대
  Pronunciation: jo-seon si-dae
  Meaning: Joseon Dynasty period
• Expression: 고려 시대
  Pronunciation: go-ryeo si-dae
  Meaning: Goryeo Dynasty period
• Expression: 역사
  Pronunciation: yeok-sa
  Meaning: History
• Expression: 실존 인물
  Pronunciation: sil-jon in-mul
  Meaning: Real historical figure

Common Phrases Heard in Sageuk

• Expression: 성은이 망극하옵니다
  Pronunciation: seong-eun-i mang-geuk-ha-op-ni-da
  Meaning: Your Majesty’s grace is immeasurable (expression of extreme gratitude to the king)
• Expression: 전하
  Pronunciation: jeon-ha
  Meaning: Your Majesty (addressing the king)
• Expression: 마마
  Pronunciation: ma-ma
  Meaning: Your Highness / Your Majesty (used for various high-ranking royals like the Queen, Queen Dowager, Crown Prince)
• Expression: 명을 받들겠습니다
  Pronunciation: myeong-eul bat-deul-get-seum-ni-da
  Meaning: I will obey your command.
• Expression: 과인이 …
  Pronunciation: gwa-in-i …
  Meaning: I (used only by the king referring to himself)
• Expression: 소인 …
  Pronunciation: so-in …
  Meaning: I (humble form used by subjects when addressing superiors)
• Expression: 네 이놈!
  Pronunciation: ne i-nom!
  Meaning: Hey you! / You scoundrel! (very informal and often aggressive)
• Expression: 어명을 거역하는 것이냐?
  Pronunciation: eo-myeong-eul geo-yeok-ha-neun geo-si-nya?
  Meaning: Are you disobeying the royal command?
• Expression: 통촉하여 주시옵소서
  Pronunciation: tong-chok-ha-yeo ju-si-op-so-seo
  Meaning: Please consider it wisely / Please grant your wise consideration (formal plea to a ruler)
• Expression: 송구하옵니다
  Pronunciation: song-gu-ha-op-ni-da
  Meaning: I am deeply sorry / I apologize (very formal)
• Expression: 무슨 일이냐?
  Pronunciation: mu-seun ir-i-nya?
  Meaning: What is going on? / What happened? (can be informal or used by superiors)
• Expression: 주상 전하 납시오!
  Pronunciation: ju-sang jeon-ha nap-si-o!
  Meaning: His Majesty the King arrives! (announcement)

Discussing Sageuk Dramas

• Expression: 요즘 재미있는 사극 드라마 있어요?
  Pronunciation: yo-jeum jae-mi-it-neun sa-geuk deu-ra-ma i-sseo-yo?
  Meaning: Are there any interesting historical dramas lately?
• Expression: 이 드라마는 어느 시대를 배경으로 해요?
  Pronunciation: i deu-ra-ma-neun eo-neu si-dae-reul bae-gyeong-eu-ro hae-yo?
  Meaning: What era is this drama set in?
• Expression: 주인공은 실존 인물이에요?
  Pronunciation: ju-in-gong-eun sil-jon in-mur-i-e-yo?
  Meaning: Is the main character a real historical figure?
• Expression: 사극 말투는 이해하기 좀 어려워요.
  Pronunciation: sa-geuk mal-tu-neun i-hae-ha-gi jom eo-ryeo-wo-yo.
  Meaning: The historical drama speech style is a bit difficult to understand.
• Expression: 역사적 사실과 다른 부분이 많아요?
  Pronunciation: yeok-sa-jeok sa-sil-gwa da-reun bu-bun-i man-a-yo?
  Meaning: Are there many parts different from historical facts?
• Expression: 저는 궁중 암투극을 좋아해요.
  Pronunciation: jeo-neun gung-jung am-tu-geug-eul jo-a-hae-yo.
  Meaning: I like palace intrigue dramas.
• Expression: 이 배우는 사극에 자주 나와요.
  Pronunciation: i bae-u-neun sa-geug-e ja-ju na-wa-yo.
  Meaning: This actor often appears in historical dramas.
• Expression: 의상이 정말 화려해요.
  Pronunciation: ui-sang-i jeong-mal hwa-ryeo-hae-yo.
  Meaning: The costumes are really splendid.
• Expression: 이 드라마 추천해요!
  Pronunciation: i deu-ra-ma chu-cheon-hae-yo!
  Meaning: I recommend this drama!
• Expression: 결말이 어떻게 될까요?
  Pronunciation: gyeol-mar-i eo-tteo-ke doel-kka-yo?
  Meaning: How do you think it will end?
• Expression: 사극을 보면서 한국 역사를 배우고 있어요.
  Pronunciation: sa-geug-eul bo-myeon-seo han-guk yeok-sa-reul bae-u-go i-sseo-yo.
  Meaning: I’m learning Korean history while watching historical dramas.

Korean Culture Notes

Historical Language (사극 말투 – Sageuk 말투): Sageuk often uses archaic language, honorifics, and speech patterns that are very different from modern Korean. Don’t worry if you find it difficult; even native Koreans sometimes need context to fully understand. Focus on keywords and the overall situation.

Social Hierarchy: Korean history, particularly the Joseon Dynasty frequently depicted in sageuk, had a strict social hierarchy. Pay attention to how characters address each other (using titles like 전하, 마마, 대감 – dae-gam, etc.) and their body language, which reflects their status.

Historical Accuracy vs. Fiction: While many sageuk are based on real events and figures, they often incorporate fictional elements (허구 – heo-gu) for dramatic effect. It’s helpful to distinguish between historical fact and creative license. Dramas might focus on lesser-known figures or reinterpret historical events.

Visual Storytelling: Costumes (의상 – ui-sang), architecture (건축 – geon-chuk), and props are meticulously designed in high-budget sageuk. These visual elements provide important clues about the time period, characters’ social status, and the overall mood of the scene.

Common Themes: Many sageuk explore themes like loyalty (충성 – chung-seong), betrayal (배신 – bae-sin), justice (정의 – jeong-ui), power struggles (권력 다툼 – gwol-lyeok da-tum), and forbidden love (금지된 사랑 – geum-ji-doen sa-rang).

Real Conversation Example

Situation: Two friends, Minjun (A) and Sora (B), are talking about a historical drama they both watched.

• Expression: A: 소라 씨, 어제 그 사극 마지막 회 봤어요? 정말 감동적이었어요.
  Pronunciation: so-ra ssi, eo-je geu sa-geuk ma-ji-mak hoe bwa-sseo-yo? jeong-mal gam-dong-jeog-i-eo-sseo-yo.
  Meaning: Sora, did you watch the final episode of that historical drama yesterday? It was really moving.
• Expression: B: 네, 봤어요! 특히 왕이 마지막에 백성들을 위해 결단 내리는 장면이 인상 깊었어요.
  Pronunciation: ne, bwa-sseo-yo! teu-ki wang-i ma-ji-mag-e baek-seong-deur-eul wi-hae gyeol-dan nae-ri-neun jang-myeon-i in-sang gi-peo-sseo-yo.
  Meaning: Yes, I watched it! I was especially impressed by the scene where the king makes a decision for the people in the end.
• Expression: A: 맞아요. 배우들 연기도 너무 좋았고, 특히 왕비 역할을 맡은 배우 연기가 대단했어요.
  Pronunciation: ma-ja-yo. bae-u-deul yeon-gi-do neo-mu jo-at-go, teu-ki wang-bi yeok-har-eul mat-eun bae-u yeon-gi-ga dae-dan-hae-sseo-yo.
  Meaning: Right. The actors’ performances were so good, and the actress playing the queen was especially amazing.
• Expression: B: 근데 사극 말투는 아직도 좀 어렵더라고요. ‘성은이 망극하옵니다’ 같은 말이요.
  Pronunciation: geun-de sa-geuk mal-tu-neun a-jik-do jom eo-ryeop-deo-ra-go-yo. ‘seong-eun-i mang-geuk-ha-op-ni-da’ gat-eun mar-i-yo.
  Meaning: But I still find the historical drama speech style a bit difficult. Like phrases such as ‘Your Majesty’s grace is immeasurable’.
• Expression: A: 하하, 저도 처음엔 그랬어요. 자꾸 듣다 보면 익숙해져요. 이 드라마 덕분에 조선 시대 역사에 관심이 더 생겼어요.
  Pronunciation: ha-ha, jeo-do cheo-eum-en geu-rae-sseo-yo. ja-kku deut-da bo-myeon ik-suk-hae-jyeo-yo. i deu-ra-ma deok-bun-e jo-seon si-dae yeok-sa-e gwan-sim-i deo saeng-gyeot-sseo-yo.
  Meaning: Haha, I was like that at first too. You get used to it if you keep listening. Thanks to this drama, I’ve become more interested in Joseon Dynasty history.
• Expression: B: 저도요! 다음엔 고려 시대를 배경으로 한 사극도 한번 보고 싶어요.
  Pronunciation: jeo-do-yo! da-eum-en go-ryeo si-dae-reul bae-gyeong-eu-ro han sa-geuk-do han-beon bo-go sip-eo-yo.
  Meaning: Me too! Next time, I want to try watching a historical drama set in the Goryeo Dynasty.

Practice Tips

Watching sageuk is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in Korean language and history simultaneously! Don’t be discouraged by the difficult vocabulary or archaic speech styles at first~ Try watching with Korean subtitles alongside English ones to connect sounds with words. Pay attention to the context and the characters’ relationships to understand the meaning, even if you don’t catch every word. Most importantly, choose dramas that genuinely interest you and enjoy the journey into Korea’s past! Happy watching!