# Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (2019)

> A determined female court historian in early nineteenth-century Joseon challenges gender norms while drawn into a romance with a prince.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/76887

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 40
- Episode runtime: 35 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: romance, drama, history
- Created by: Sohn Hyung-suk
- Network: MBC
- Cast: Shin Sae-kyeong, Cha Eun-woo, Park Ki-woong, Lee Ji-hoon, Park Ji-hyun, Kong Jeong-hwan, Kim Min-sang, Choi Deok-moon
- TMDB rating: 8.1/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10406128/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: breezy, sincere, romantic, hopeful, playful

## What critics say

Audiences rated the single season positively, with praise for its romance and lead performances, while some viewers found its historical treatment preachy and its pacing padded.

## Synopsis

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (2019) is a South Korean period romance series created by Sohn Hyung-suk for MBC, a single-season run of 40 episodes. Shin Sae-kyeong plays Goo Hae-Ryung, a bright and stubborn young historian who works as a court recorder in early nineteenth-century Joseon and is constantly dismissed because of her gender. Cha Eun-woo plays Prince Yi Rim, whose encounters with her, including a disguised identity, pull the story toward a romance that cuts across palace rules and class lines. Park Ki-woong, Lee Ji-hoon and Park Ji-hyun fill out the court circle, where political maneuvering runs alongside the daily grind of recording royal history. Each episode mixes lighter workplace comedy in the historian's office with tender romantic moments and courtly intrigue. The engine of the show is Hae-Ryung's push to be taken seriously in a male-dominated institution while her feelings complicate her loyalties. The tone stays breezy and sincere, with a hopeful, warm register. Fans of Mr. Queen, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo and The King in Love will find the same blend of Joseon costume drama, playful romance and a determined heroine. Its aggregate audience reception is positive, with a strong season rating.

## Shows like Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung

- [The First Night with the Duke (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/184860)
- [Princess Hours (2006)](https://ember.film/tv/5008)
- [100 Days My Prince (2018)](https://ember.film/tv/69962)
- [Lovers of the Red Sky (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/98096)
- [Love in the Moonlight (2016)](https://ember.film/tv/58446)
- [The King's Affection (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/107134)
- [Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/78478)
- [Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)](https://ember.film/tv/31764)
- [My Dearest (2023)](https://ember.film/tv/129090)
- [Lee San, Wind in the Palace (2007)](https://ember.film/tv/14108)

---

Site overview: https://ember.film/llms.txt