[Exquisite Ballad Songs] K-pop that touches the soul. Korean Ballads
When you think of K-POP, many movement-starting idol songs come to mind, but in Korea, ballads are even more popular than in Japan and are loved by a wide range of generations, regardless of age or gender.
The emotionally rich singing style of Korean artists can really move you, even if you don’t understand the lyrics.
We’ll be picking out lots of wonderful ballads—not only by idols, but also by solo singers and musicians!
Be sure to find a favorite ballad that resonates with your heart.
- K-pop that touches the heart: masterful ballads by Korean male artists
- K-pop that touches the heart: iconic ballads by Korean female artists
- Tearjerker K-pop ballads: Korean songs that will make you cry
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- A poignant, heart-touching K-pop song. A bittersweet track that resonates with many different emotions.
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- [Solo Singer Special] K-POP & Korean Male Solo Artists
- [For when you want to cry] A ballad love song. A heartbreaking love song.
[Exquisite Ballad Songs] K-pop that resonates with the soul. Korean Ballads (121–130)
한 남자Kimu Jongukku
Kim Jong-kook, a beloved national singer of South Korea.
His song “One Man (한 남자)” is guaranteed to touch your heart.
It’s a ballad with an R&B vibe, gently portraying the sorrow of a man after a breakup.
But it doesn’t just dwell on sadness; it delves deeper into what love and romance truly are.
It’s a great song to listen to with someone important to you, to reflect on love together and reaffirm your bond.
Also, don’t miss the beautiful falsetto.
Sing the spring(봄을 노래하다)40
This is a beautiful ballad by 40 (Forty), an artist from South Korea.
Released in April 2013, its melody evokes the breath of spring, and its lyrics, which capture the flutter of a budding crush, still resonate without losing their freshness.
The delicate emotional nuances are carefully woven into the music, gently drawing listeners in.
Why not experience that feeling of a soft spring breeze drifting by through this piece? It’s something you’ll want to listen to in those first moments after waking, too.
With 40’s tender, emotionally rich vocals and the finely crafted melodic line, it’s sure to set every lovestruck heart racing.
CirclesASTRO
A ballad filled with ASTRO’s heartfelt sentiments, created to mark their 8th debut anniversary.
Crafted by leader JinJin, this piece is a token of gratitude from the six-member Korean group.
Like the shift from winter to spring, it gently portrays the cycles of life.
The lyrics, dedicated to their fans, carry a deep sense of nostalgia and powerful emotion.
Released in February 2024, “Circles” is a gem that follows their ten EPs.
You can also feel a sense of remembrance for Moonbin.
It’s a song that stays close to your heart when you want to reflect on life’s milestones and cherished memories with loved ones.
Don’t Forget(잊어버리지마) (Feat. Taeyeon(태연))Crush
Released in 2016, this song embodies Crush’s sense of “back to basics,” overflowing with a gentle yet beautiful worldview that expresses love, gratitude, and wishes for his fans.
Be sure to watch the music video as well, with its stunning landscapes shot in Hokkaido and striking contrasts of color.
You know how a song you once fell in love with stays deeply in your heart along with the emotions and memories of that time, and how its unchanging charm still moves you even as time passes.
This feels like a ballad that reminds you of just how wonderful music can be.
Zion.T—indispensable in the Korean hip-hop scene—also participated in writing and composing, and Taeyeon is featured on the track.
Sudden ShowerEclipse
A song by the Korean unit ECLIPSE, produced for the drama “Lovely Runner.” It was released as an OST on April 8, 2024.
This bittersweet yet hopeful ballad portrays a love that arrives like a sudden rain.
The determination to keep protecting a precious person in a lonely world is beautifully expressed, and the delicate vocals and melody deeply resonate.
With romantic lyrics that wish to make a fleeting moment with a lover last forever, it’s a song anyone can relate to.
This masterpiece that colors the drama is one to listen to while thinking of the person you love.
AND INU’EST W
It sings about the pain of being unable to forget an ex and the courage to try to change.
Doing things in a dream that you can’t do in reality.
Chasing after a lover who’s leaving and trying to stop her.
If we had met in a completely different place, maybe she would still be with me now.
Clinging to a love that ended like this gradually turns into a resolve to move forward in the end.
Tears FlowNoel
It was used as the teaser song for the historical drama “Goddess of Fire, Jeongi,” which aired in 2013.
Noel is a four-member male group that debuted in 2002.
True to K-pop love songs, it conveys a sense of wistfulness and heartfelt longing for a beloved person.
As time goes byPark Boram
A poignant ballad released by Korean songstress Park Boram to mark the 10th anniversary of her debut.
It’s included on the mini-album “The Last Song,” released in August 2024.
Singing of the passage of time and parting, this piece is a re-arrangement of a song she performed on an audition program 14 years ago.
The gentle piano melody and her emotive vocals resonate deeply.
Made possible through the cooperation of Park Boram’s bereaved family and her former agency, the song was released after her sudden passing and has deeply moved fans.
It’s a perfect track for reminiscing about cherished moments with someone important.
To heavenChosonmo
Lee Byung-hun appears in the music video.
It’s a tear-jerking love ballad, typical of Korean ballads.
The song is written as a letter to a lover who has gone to heaven.
As you follow the lyrics, the distance between the two grows and grows, and it makes you want to cry.
Right after losing a loved one, it’s hard to accept it as reality…
The overall feel is pop and not heavy, but there’s a noteworthy section where a chorus comes in and it almost feels like opera.
Last ChanceSo Soo Bin
A ballad released in April 2024 by Seo Subin, a singer-songwriter from South Korea.
It was produced as part of the OST for the tvN drama “Queen of Tears.” Carried by a graceful, piano-centered sound, its heartrending melody and lyrics resonate deeply.
It delicately portrays a longing for lost love and the desire to close the distance with a beloved once more.
Subin’s emotionally rich vocals heighten the song’s impact, evoking a tightness in the chest with the wish to “keep living in your heart.” It’s a song for those who have lost a lover or experienced a farewell with someone precious.