K-POP and Korean tear-jerker songs: tracks that deeply resonate and bring you to tears
When it comes to Korean songs and K-pop, there are so many deeply moving, tear-jerking tracks.
Ballads are especially popular among Koreans.
Here, we’ve carefully selected Korean songs that are so touching they might bring you to tears.
From heartbreak anthems to encouraging tunes and songs about bonds, there are many different kinds of tearful tracks.
The moments that tug at your heartstrings differ from person to person, but we’ve focused on the “tearjerker” points—so be sure to soak them in while reading the bilingual lyrics.
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K-pop and Korean Tearjerker Songs: Moving, Heartfelt Tracks That Bring You to Tears (151–160)
Broken HeartMONSTAX
A heartbreak ballad by MONSTA X that vividly captures lingering feelings and a profound sense of loss after a breakup.
This moving track, included on their September 2015 mini-album “RUSH,” portrays the ache of being the only one still trapped in memories while the other person has already moved on—an unrequited, bittersweet longing powerfully conveyed through the members’ emotive vocals.
The song showcases a delicate side of a group best known for their strong beats and high-energy performances.
The album “RUSH” reached No.
6 on the Gaon Chart and sold over 30,000 copies.
Thanks in part to this achievement, they won the Next Generation Asian Artist Award at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
Give it a listen when you want to face the pain of heartbreak or when you’re wrestling with unresolved feelings.
A Song For YouNu’Est
A ballad released in 2019, when NU’EST celebrated their 7th debut anniversary.
It’s a song dearly loved by fans.
All the members wrote the lyrics together, and the heartfelt message they wanted to deliver to fans resonates warmly and gently.
The long-awaited Japanese version, released after a while, stirs up all kinds of emotions—the feeling of having waited so long—and can even move you to tears.
It’s a song of gratitude built on cherished feelings and careful attention to every detail.
It really makes your heart swell.
EYES, NOSE, LIPS -KR Ver.-SOL (from BIGBANG)
“EYES, NOSE, LIPS” was born from SOL’s real-life experience.
It’s based on a breakup he went through with a former lover.
From this true-to-life heartbreak song, it went on to become a major global hit.
The title is striking, and it implicitly means he remembers every detail of his ex-girlfriend.
Her gestures and the way she touched him are seared vividly into his mind.
With memories that clear, you’d think it wouldn’t be painful—but of course it is.
You can really feel the push and pull of wanting to let go but being unable to.
TURTLETwice
A cute number overflowing with pop appeal.
It’s included on the 2017 full album “Twicetagram.” It’s so cute and rhythmic that at first it may seem far from a tearjerker, but the lyrics—where feelings compared to a balloon keep swelling—resonate and can make you a little teary.
The way it expresses the difference in the pace of men’s and women’s feelings through the hare and the tortoise is unique and totally relatable! The gentle, conversational vocal delivery is wonderful, too.
I think it hits especially deep when you’re in the lovey-dovey stage.
Bluefrom20 X HELLO GLOOM
A collaborative track by Korea-born FromTwenty and HelloGloom.
Released in December 2024, this song blends drum and bass rhythms with elements of electronica for a high-velocity feel.
The English lyrics carry emotional depth, and the seamless handoff between vocal parts is beautiful, resonating with listeners.
Distributed by the WAY BETTER label, with a lyric video currently available.
A solo show is also scheduled in Tokyo at the end of 2024.
It’s a perfect track for anyone seeking energetic music.
DEARESTTōhōshinki
A heartwarming ballad by the duo TVXQ, Yunho and Changmin.
It’s included on their album “ZONE,” released to commemorate their 20th anniversary in Japan.
The lyrics tell a cross-generational love story, fused with the unit’s mature expressiveness, creating a love song that feels like it could melt your heart.
You can really feel the song’s straightforward message.
It’s a track packed with the charm that TVXQ has built over 20 years of history.
Why not listen to it together with someone special?
내사랑 내곁에Kimu Hyonshiku
This is a huge hit by Kim Hyun-sik, who has been described as the Korean Yutaka Ozaki.
Released in 1991, its title means “My Love, By My Side,” and it was adapted into a film in 2009.
Recorded before he fell ill and released posthumously, the song features Hyun-sik’s husky voice, which feels gently yet warmly enveloping—enough to bring tears to your eyes.
It sounds as if he’s singing with his very soul.
Even now, it continues to be covered by many artists and is passed down as an immortal classic.
How can I love the heartbreak, You’re The One I Love악동뮤지션 (AKMU)
Akdong Musician’s tearjerker.
It portrays lovers on the verge of breaking up.
From the man’s point of view, you can tell he doesn’t really want to part with her.
The song is set on a nighttime sidewalk—only streetlights shine; everything else is pitch-black.
The darkness of the night brings out the couple’s loneliness and sorrow.
There’s no sudden, dramatic swell like in classic sob songs, but the quiet delivery only deepens the sadness.
GoneBANG&JUNG&YOO&MOON
A gem of a ballad by Bang Yongguk, Jung Daehyun, Yoo Youngjae, and Moon Jongup, formerly of the boy group B.A.P.
Included on the EP “CURTAIN CALL,” released in August 2024, this track marks their return to the music scene after roughly six years.
It features a sentimental melody and polished arrangement that highlight the members’ matured vocal prowess.
The song conveys nostalgia and hope for lost time and relationships.
Its lyrics—filled with memories of beautiful days and a resolve for new beginnings—are deeply moving.
A song that gently stays by the side of anyone who has experienced a separation from someone dear.
혼술하고 싶은 밤 Lonely nightBEN
A song released in December 2020 by Ben, the queen of ballads.
“혼술” means “drinking alone,” and it’s a ballad that stays close to feelings of loneliness and lingering anxiety.
During the pandemic, when it was hard to meet people freely, and in the grind of getting through each day, sometimes you just feel like drinking alone, right? The lyrics feel as if they’re speaking directly to you, and the melody tugs at your heartstrings.
Please take your time and listen.
Ben’s voice seeps deep into your core, and if you play it when you’re worn out, you might just find yourself bursting into tears.