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

It was love지코 (ZICO) (Feat. LUNA of f(x))

It Was Love (Feat. LUNA) (사랑이었다 (Feat. 루나 of f(x)))

The young genius Zico, who handles songwriting across a wide range from hard-hitting hip-hop to bittersweet ballads, produced the track.

Luna, the songstress of f(x), delivers the vocals.

The soaring, almost screamed high notes in the interlude convey a surge of emotion, creating a synergistic effect with the scenes featuring Mariko Shinoda, formerly of AKB48.

MasqueradeAalia (알리아)

[MV] Aalia (알리아) – Masquerade [시크릿 부티크 OST Part.1 (Secret Boutique OST Part.1)

This song, with its expansive and resonant vocals, is featured as an insert track in the drama “Secret Boutique.” In Korea, when you go to places like public bathhouses, there are ladies who do body scrubs, and remarkably, this drama follows Jenny Jang, who used to be a body-scrub worker, as she is reborn as a behind-the-scenes power broker in politics and business, striving to climb to the top.

The song conveys the protagonist’s strong resolve and her struggle against adversity.

LOVEDRUNKEpik High, Crush

EPIK HIGH (에픽하이) – 술이 달다 (LOVEDRUNK) ft. CRUSH [Official MV]

Is it a play on words? LOVED, DRUNK—in other words, it’s a love song about alcohol.

The Japanese title is “Sake ga Amai” (“The Liquor Is Sweet”).

It sounds mature, but the content is a bittersweet love song about a girl trying to forget a heartbreak by drinking.

From the very beginning: “wobbly feet,” “a head that’s spinning.” Most people have gotten at least that drunk before, but probably not from heartbreak.

The much-talked-about music video is unique and eye-catching, too.

The woman who appears is the singer IU, an artist Gen Hoshino has also praised; in the video, she’s fighting someone.

It’s likely a metaphor—perhaps it was hard to directly depict the state of being drunk.

Good NightJeong Sewoon

[MV] JEONG SEWOON(정세운) _ Good night (Touch your heart(진심이 닿다) OST Part.5)

“Good Night,” sung by Jeong Se-woon, was the theme song of the popular Korean drama “Touch Your Heart.” The lyrics dwell on a love that has ended—so bittersweet it hasn’t even become a memory yet.

His delicate, aching voice makes you feel deeply that it’s a sad love story.

It’s the perfect love song for immersing yourself fully in sorrow.

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utatane

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SOFA(소파)Crush

[MV] Crush(크러쉬) _ SOFA(소파)

This is a song released in 2014 by Crush, the R&B singer famous for “Beautiful.” It’s a beautiful ballad with lovely strings.

It’s a breakup song, describing sitting alone on the sofa they once shared and wishing for their lover to come back.

If you truly loved someone, you can’t forget them no matter how hard you try.

If you listen to this right after a breakup, I think you’ll relate so much that you won’t be able to stop crying.

Jungkook from BTS also did a wonderful cover, so be sure to check that out too.

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KEI

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Remember meGUMMY(거미)

Remember me (기억하나요 내 모든 날과 그때를)

This is a track that won Best OST at the 2019 Melon Music Awards as part of the drama “Hotel Del Luna.” It’s sung by Gummy, who is well-known for her work on numerous drama OSTs such as “Descendants of the Sun.” The song is a classic ballad that gradually swells into grandeur, and Gummy’s expressive control of dynamics is truly overwhelming.

The sorrowful melody overlaps with the heartrending emotions of Jang Man-wol, played by IU in the drama, and it really stirs your feelings.

When the right situation matches the song, it will surely resonate with your heart even more.

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KEI

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It’s unbearably painfulMC Mon feat. Merou

MC몽 – 죽을만큼 아파서(feat. 멜로우)

Have you ever experienced a love so painful it felt like you were dying? MC Mong’s “So Painful I Could Die,” created with the anguish of yearning to meet someone but being unable to, is a track that makes you feel the heartache just by listening.

Its melody lingers in your ears and will have you hitting repeat.

PLAYLucy

[MV] LUCY – 놀이 (PLAY) / ENG, JPN sub

Many people may be tired of the routine of commuting between work and home.

That’s where “PLAY” comes in.

It’s a release by LUCY, a band formed through an audition program.

In the song, they encourage those who are worn out to try playing freely, like when they were children.

Its profound message is sure to move you.

The intentionally rough-sounding instrumental intro also beautifully expresses the theme of play.

And the music video—featuring a storyline in which an office worker reverts to being a child—is a must-see.

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yamamoto

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길 (The way)Sohyang (소향)

[ENG SUB] SoHyang (소향) – The Way (길) Beautiful Love Wonderful Life ost part 2 Lyrics (HAN/ROM/ENG)

This song is an insert track from the 2019 Korean drama “Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life.” It’s a story of restarting life centered on a protagonist who, after failing in love and giving up on marriage, spends eight years attempting the civil service exam—known in Korea for being extremely competitive due to its popularity.

The heartfelt song that draws you in from the first listen is sung by Sohyang, often called the Mariah Carey of Korea.

She is a powerhouse vocalist recognized not only in Korea but also in the United States, and she has performed on overseas tours.

DreamingANYUJIN (IVE)

[MV] ANYUJIN(안유진) (IVE) _ Dreaming

Since her debut, Ahn Yujin, the leader of IVE, has consistently delivered memorable works.

This piece is a song produced as an OST for the Korean webtoon “The Great.” It showcases a different charm from IVE’s music, fully highlighting her appeal as a solo artist.

The lyrics, themed around the passion and hope of chasing one’s dreams, resonate with listeners and gently encourage them forward.

Yujin’s clear, translucent vocals beautifully enhance the emotional scenes of the story, making this a truly wonderful track.

Released in November 2024, this work has become an important piece that reveals a new side of Yujin.