K-POP and Korean tear-jerker songs: tracks that deeply resonate and bring you to tears

Good Bye (Prod. Jungkey)Whee In

[MV] 휘인(WHEEIN) – 헤어지자 (Prod. 정키)

Among K-pop girl groups, MAMAMOO is known for their strong talent and enjoys high popularity among both women and men.

This is the solo track released by MAMAMOO’s Wheein in the fall of 2019.

The title is very straightforward—“Let’s break up” is something you’d rather not have to say in life, right? The wonderful boyfriend from the early days is gone now, and it’s a sad song about sorrow, confusion, and the resolve to part ways.

There are men who change once you start dating, aren’t there? The final “Let’s break up” line gives you goosebumps—it’s incredibly sad!

Beautiful (뷰티풀)Wanna One

Wanna One (워너원) – ‘Beautiful (뷰티풀)’ M/V (Performance ver.)

It’s no exaggeration to say that 2017 was their year.

This is “Beautiful,” a tender ballad by Wanna One, the monster group born from Produce 101.

Their previous release was a powerful, hard-hitting dance track, so I was surprised when they returned with a ballad like this for their comeback.

It’s the ultimate, beautiful breakup song—set to a nostalgic melody, it expresses the aching feelings for someone you can’t forget after parting.

BlueBIGBANG

BIGBANG – BLUE M/V

BIGBANG has earned popularity with their charisma, approachable worldview, and consistently high song quality.

They’re also well-regarded for their ballads.

“BLUE,” included on their 2012 mini album ALIVE, features heartbreak-themed lyrics that are truly tear-jerking.

It captures that helpless, paralyzed feeling—those blue emotions—sung in a calm, understated way that really hits home when you’re going through a breakup.

While it’s deeply sad, parts like the second verse also carry a certain warmth.

Like winter giving way to spring, it may be portraying the fleeting way our feelings shift over time.

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지못미(APOLOGY)iKON

iKON – 지못미(APOLOGY) M/V

“APOLOGY” is a song that, unlike iKON’s previous tracks, carries a completely different tone—one that hints at rugged masculinity, telling a breakup story from a man’s perspective.

With beautifully written lyrics like, “That promise that we’d be together forever—it’s gone now.

I’m sorry I couldn’t keep it,” it’s a track that pierces the listener’s heart.

RainTAEYEON 태연

TAEYEON 태연 ‘Rain’ MV

A solo track following Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon’s “I.” In the place where Taeyeon is lost in memories, water fills the space, and she sleeps with a calm expression even though it should be impossible to breathe underwater.

This portrays how, though the memories that resurface are painful, she is still loved and protected by “you,” like the rain.

It’s a recommended song for when you want to fully sink into sadness.