10 Korean Dramas About Going Back to the Past to Change Fate, Full of Plot Twists

Kapanlagi.com - Imagine if someone had the chance to go back in time and fix decisions they once made. One small change may seem simple, but it can alter relationships, lives, and even the future as a whole. This premise is what makes Korean dramas about time travel to change destiny so intriguing, as viewers are invited to follow the journey of characters trying to improve their lives while facing the consequences of every choice made.

Time travel-themed dramas usually offer not only romantic stories but also present mysteries, family conflicts, revenge, and struggles to prevent bad events. Interestingly, changes in the past do not always lead to a future as expected. This is where various surprises arise, from revealed identities, altered relationships, to unexpected events that make the plot even harder to predict.

For lovers of time travel stories filled with surprises, dramas with this premise can be an intriguing watch from the first episode to the last. Some even blend time travel with romance, making the story feel even more emotional. So, what are the recommendations for Korean dramas about going back in time to change destiny that are full of plot twists? Quoting from various sources, Tuesday (18/8/2026), check out the information review below.

1. 1. Lovely Runner

Cast: Byeon Woo-seok, Kim Hye-yoon, Song Geon-hee, Lee Seung-hyub

Number of episodes: 16 episodes

Genre: Romance, time travel

Air date: 2024

Summary:
Lovely Runner becomes one of the very strong modern Korean dramas with the theme of going back to the past to change fate. The story follows Im Sol, a heavy fan and supporter of Ryu Sun-jae, a famous star whose life ends tragically. After experiencing a great loss, Sol gets the chance to return to the time when Sun-jae was still 19 years old. She then tries to do everything possible to prevent the unfortunate events that befall her idol from happening again.

Synopsis:
Ryu Sun-jae is a famous star who has been in the public eye since his debut. Although he seems to have a perfect life, the pressures of the entertainment world make him exhausted. On the other hand, Im Sol is a fan of Sun-jae who cares deeply for him. After learning the tragic news about Sun-jae, Sol suddenly gets the chance to time travel to the past. He goes back to the year 2008, when Sun-jae was still a teenager, and resolves to change the idol's future. However, the more changes Sol makes, the more complicated the relationship between the past and the future becomes.

This drama is intriguing because Sol's efforts to save Sun-jae not only change one event but also affect their relationships and future. Each change brings new consequences, keeping the audience curious about how their destinies will ultimately unfold.

2. 2. Twinkling Watermelon

Cast: Ryeo Un, Choi Hyun-wook, Seol In-ah, Shin Eun-soo

Number of episodes: 16 episodes

Genre: Fantasy, romance, youth, time travel

Air date: 2023

Summary:
Twinkling Watermelon follows Ha Eun-gyeol, a high school student with deaf parents. Eun-gyeol himself has a musical talent and lives a double life as an exemplary student and a guitarist. One day, he visits a mysterious musical instrument store and is suddenly thrown back in time. There, he meets his father when he was young, unaware that this encounter will change his own life.

Synopsis:
Ha Eun-gyeol is a teenager who grows up in a family with deaf parents. He has extraordinary musical abilities and secretly plays guitar in a band. One day, Eun-gyeol discovers a mysterious musical instrument store and suddenly shifts to the past. He meets Ha Yi-chan, who turns out to be his father when he was still a teenager. At that time, Yi-chan had not yet become the father figure known to Eun-gyeol and instead had his own dreams and life problems.

Eun-gyeol then became involved in the lives of people from the past and formed a band called Watermelon Sugar. He tried to understand his parents' lives while facing various issues that could affect the future. This journey made him realize that changing the past is not a simple matter because every decision can have consequences for the lives of those he loves.

3. 3. Marry My Husband

Cast: Park Min-young, Na In-woo, Lee Yi-kyung, Song Ha-yoon

Number of episodes: 16 episodes

Genre: Romance, drama, fantasy, revenge, time travel

Air date: 2024

Summary:
Marry My Husband offers a concept of going back to the past with a strong touch of revenge. Kang Ji-won endures a bad marriage with Park Min-hwan and becomes the breadwinner of the family. After discovering that she has cancer, her life spirals further when she catches her husband cheating with her own best friend. Ji-won then dies and mysteriously awakens 10 years in the past.

Synopsis:
Kang Ji-won is a woman who has to bear the burden of the household because her husband, Park Min-hwan, is irresponsible and has many debts. When Ji-won learns that she has cancer, she discovers her husband cheating with her close friend, Jeong Su-min. The argument ends tragically as Ji-won is killed by her husband. However, after her death, Ji-won suddenly returns to the past, exactly 10 years earlier.

Given a second chance, Ji-won is determined to change her fate. She does not want to go back to living the same life and strives to make Su-min marry Min-hwan. In the midst of this revenge plan, Yoo Ji-hyeok, her boss who turns out to have his own feelings and secrets, appears. The game of fate then becomes much more complicated than just seeking revenge on those who have destroyed Ji-won's life.

4. 4. Perfect Marriage Revenge

Cast: Sung Hoon, Jung Yoo-min, Jin Ji-hee, Kang Shin-hyo

Number of episodes: 12 episodes

Genre: Romance, drama, fantasy, revenge

Airing: 2023

Summary:
Perfect Marriage Revenge presents the story of a woman who gets a second chance after experiencing a life full of betrayal. Han Yi-joo is in a family that does not truly accept her. After a tragic event, she goes back to the past and decides to change her life through a contract marriage. This drama combines time travel with revenge and a romantic story.

Synopsis:
Han Yi-joo is a painter adopted by the Hanul Financial Group family. She does not receive the love she deserves and instead feels marginalized by her family. Her life worsens when she discovers the betrayal of those closest to her. After an accident, Yi-joo gets the chance to return to the past before her life falls apart.

Knowing what will happen, Yi-joo makes a different decision. He then approached Seo Do-guk and proposed a contract marriage to retaliate against the treatment of his family while also changing his future. However, the plan that was initially made as a revenge strategy slowly evolved into a more serious relationship. Along the way, various family secrets and surprises made Yi-joo's plans not go as simply as imagined.

5. 5. Go Back Couple

Cast: Jang Na-ra, Son Ho-jun, Jang Ki-yong, Han Bo-reum

Number of episodes: 12 episodes

Genre: Romance, fantasy, time travel

Aired: 2017

Summary:
Go Back Couple tells the story of a 38-year-old couple who are unhappy with their marriage. Choi Ban-do and Ma Jin-joo regret having married and often argue. Miraculously, they both return to the time when they were 20 years old and just became college students. This opportunity makes them question the life decisions they have regretted all along.

Synopsis:
Choi Ban-do works as the main breadwinner of the family, while Ma Jin-joo is a housewife who has lost her confidence. The marriage that was initially based on love turns into a relationship full of conflict. They even wish they had never married each other. Soon after, they suddenly time travel and return to being 20-year-old students.

Returning to their youth gives Ban-do and Jin-joo the chance to choose a different path in life. They can avoid the decisions that previously led them to a marriage full of problems and meet people from their past. However, the journey also makes both realize that the memories, family, and feelings they have are not easily erased. This drama combines comedy, romance, nostalgia, and a message about appreciating the life being lived.

6. 6. Familiar Wife

Cast: Ji Sung, Han Ji-min, Kang Han-na, Jang Seung-jo

Number of episodes: 16 episodes

Genre: Romance, fantasy, time travel

Aired: 2018

Summary:
Familiar Wife tells the story of Cha Joo-hyuk, a man who feels unhappy with his married life. He then gets the chance to go back to the past and make different decisions. This change drastically alters Joo-hyuk's life, including his relationship with his wife, Seo Woo-jin. The drama explores the question of what someone's life would be like if they made different choices in the past.

Synopsis:
Cha Joo-hyuk has been married to Woo-jin for five years and works at a bank. They have two children and face various financial pressures as well as household issues. Joo-hyuk feels that his married life is not what he expected and considers Woo-jin as the source of problems in his life.

An incident gives Joo-hyuk the opportunity to go back to the past. He then makes different decisions that change his present life. In this new life, Woo-jin is no longer his wife, and the people around them also hold different positions. However, Joo-hyuk slowly realizes that changing one decision does not automatically make life perfect. In fact, that change makes him understand the value of relationships, family, and choices that he has always taken for granted.

7. 7. Nine: 9 Times Time Travel

Cast: Lee Jin-uk, Jo Yoon-hee, Jeon No-min, Kim Hee-ryeong

Number of episodes: 20 episodes

Genre: Mystery, romance, time travel

Airing: 2013

Summary:
Nine: 9 Times Time Travel is an intriguing choice for readers who enjoy time travel stories with more complex mysteries. Park Sun-woo is a news anchor who acquires nine mysterious incense sticks. These items give him the opportunity to return 20 years into the past. He then tries to change events related to his family, but each change brings new consequences.

Synopsis:
Park Sun-woo works as a news anchor and has a relationship with reporter Joo Min-young. His life changes when he obtains nine incense sticks that allow him to travel back in time. Sun-woo can go back 20 years and takes the opportunity to investigate and alter various tragic events related to his family.

The problem is that time travel in this drama has rules and consequences. Every change that Sun-woo makes to the past can alter the present circumstances. This makes the story even more complicated because Sun-woo must be careful in determining which events need to be changed and which ones should be left alone. The elements of mystery, romance, and fate changes make this drama suitable for viewers who enjoy a time travel plot filled with riddles.

8. 8. Queen & I

Cast: Ji Hyun-woo, Yoo In-na, Kim Jin-woo, Ga Deuk-hee

Number of episodes: 16 episodes

Genre: Romance, fantasy, time travel

Released: 2012

Summary:
Queen & I or Queen In-Hyun's Man combines the story of the Joseon dynasty with modern life. Kim Boong-do is a nobleman from the Joseon era about 300 years ago who mysteriously can travel to modern-day Seoul. In the present, he meets Choi Hee-jin, an actress who plays Queen In-hyun in a television drama.

Synopsis:
Kim Boong-do lives during the Joseon period and supports Queen In-hyun in the royal political conflict. When he finds himself in a dangerous situation, he discovers a way to travel through time and arrives in modern Seoul. There, he meets Choi Hee-jin, an actress who is playing the character of Queen In-hyun in a historical drama.

Their meeting then develops into a romantic relationship despite coming from different eras. Boong-do begins to use his knowledge of the future to confront threats that follow him from Joseon. Meanwhile, Hee-jin tries to understand the man who suddenly appears from the past. Their relationship blurs the lines between the past and the present.

9. 9. The Story of Park's Marriage Contract

Cast: Lee Se-young, Bae In-hyuk, Joo Hyun-young, Yoo Seon-ho

Number of episodes: 12 episodes

Genre: Romance, fantasy, time travel

Air date: 2023–2024

Summary:
This drama follows Park Yeon-woo, a woman from the 19th century who experiences a tragic event on her wedding night. After her husband dies and she faces an unexpected incident, Yeon-woo suddenly finds herself thrown into modern-day Seoul. There, she meets Kang Tae-ha, a man who bears an uncanny resemblance to her late husband.

Synopsis:
On her wedding night in the 19th century, Park Yeon-woo discovers that her husband suffers from a heart condition. Shortly after, her husband passes away. Yeon-woo is then kidnapped and thrown into a well. When she opens her eyes, she finds herself in modern Seoul.

Yeon-woo is subsequently rescued by Kang Tae-ha, the heir to a company who resembles her husband from the past. Tae-ha himself is not interested in a romantic relationship, but his sick grandfather wants to see him married. Due to this situation, Tae-ha asks Yeon-woo to enter into a contract marriage with him. From here, a love story, mystery, and the connection between the past and present begin to unfold.

10. 10. 18 Again

Cast: Kim Ha-neul, Yoon Sang-hyun, Lee Do-hyun, Roh Jeong-eui, Ryeo Un

Number of episodes: 16 episodes

Genre: Romance, fantasy, family

Air date: 2020

Summary:
18 Again is slightly different from other titles as it is not a conventional time travel story. This drama uses the concept of returning to the body of an 18-year-old. Hong Dae-young is a 37-year-old man who regrets many decisions in his life. When his marriage is on the brink of collapse, his body suddenly transforms into the version of himself when he was 18, while his mind remains as an adult man.

Synopsis:
Hong Dae-young is married to Jung Da-jung and has 18-year-old twin children. His family life deteriorates after he loses his job and feels looked down upon by his family. Da-jung then gives him a divorce letter. In a state of deep regret, Dae-young suddenly gets the chance to relive his youth through the body of an 18-year-old.

With a new identity as Ko Woo-young, Dae-young re-enters the school environment and meets his own children who do not know his true identity. This opportunity made him see his family's life from a different perspective. He also began to understand the mistakes he had made and the relationships he had neglected. Therefore, although it is not pure time travel, 18 Again remains relevant for readers seeking a drama about second chances and the effort to improve life.

11. Questions & Answers About Korean Dramas on Time Travel to Change Destiny

1. What is the most recommended Korean drama about going back to the past to change fate?

Lovely Runner is one of the most suitable choices because its story focuses on Im Sol, who goes back to the past to try to save Ryu Sun-jae from a tragic fate. In addition to romance, this drama also offers mystery and various plot twists that keep the audience intrigued.

2. What are some Korean dramas with the theme of time travel and changing fate?

Several Korean dramas that feature this theme include Lovely Runner, Marry My Husband, Twinkling Watermelon, Perfect Marriage Revenge, Go Back Couple, Familiar Wife, and Nine: 9 Times Time Travel. Each has a different concept of time travel and the goal of changing life.

3. Which Korean drama has a story about going back to the past for revenge?

Marry My Husband and Perfect Marriage Revenge are suitable for viewers who enjoy a blend of time travel with a revenge story. Both main characters get a second chance to change their fate after experiencing betrayal and tragic events.

4. What Korean drama about time travel has a romantic story?

There are many options, such as Lovely Runner, Go Back Couple, Familiar Wife, Queen & I, and The Story of Park's Marriage Contract. These dramas combine time travel with romantic relationships, so the conflict of fate and love stories go hand in hand.

5. What Korean drama has a plot twist in the time travel story?

Nine: 9 Times Time Travel is one interesting choice because every change in the past can have consequences for the present. Lovely Runner also presents various timeline changes that keep the audience guessing how the characters' journeys will end.

(kpl/iya)