Tearjerker K-pop ballads: Korean songs that will make you cry
When do you break down in tears?
When you go through a breakup, when you can no longer see someone important to you—so many emotions can well up at times like these.
Here, we carefully curate and introduce K-pop “songs that make you cry” that stand close to each person’s desire to weep.
From tracks that overwhelm with grand, expansive worlds to songs that intimately capture everyday life, we cover a wide range—classic staples, of course, and new releases added as they come.
May these emotion-rich songs unique to K-pop help soothe your heart, even just a little.
- K-POP and Korean tear-jerker songs: tracks that deeply resonate and bring you to tears
- [Exquisite Ballad Songs] K-pop that touches the soul. Korean Ballads
- K-pop that touches the heart: masterful ballads by Korean male artists
- K-pop that touches the heart: iconic ballads by Korean female artists
- K-pop and Korean love songs: Love songs that really capture the Korean view of romance
- A poignant, heart-touching K-pop song. A bittersweet track that resonates with many different emotions.
- [K-POP] Korean 'yami' songs that fit a blue mood
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- An emotional Korean song. A gently moving, sensitive masterpiece.
- [Korean popular music] Popular trot songs. Masterpieces by trot singers.
- A J-POP song highly popular in South Korea [with a Korean-language cover too!]
- [Korea] A ballad-style friendship song. A roundup of classic K-pop masterpieces
- K-pop to color your Instagram stories: recommended Korean songs
K-pop ballads that are sure to make you cry: Korean tearjerker songs (41–50)
Love StoryLyn
This is an OST from the poignant romance drama The Legend of the Blue Sea, starring Lee Min-ho and Jun Ji-hyun.
Please look up the lyrics and give it a listen! It’s truly a tearjerker.
The joy of being with the one you love whom you met as if by fate—and yet the two share a heartrending story… You can feel all of that in this song.
Lyn, who sings this track, rarely appears on TV and the like, but she has made her mark with her lyrical, beautiful voice, which you can hear in this song.
Star민서/MINSEO
The OST from the drama Doctor John starring Ji Sung.
A tearful song about boundless love for a lover one can no longer meet.
Since the drama is a medical series, it can be taken as focusing on people at the end of their lives.
Those who suddenly have to say goodbye due to illness or accidents.
This song expresses the feelings of the ones leaving this world.
You’ll likely be moved to tears by its message: though unseen, I’m always watching over you.
From HomeNCT U
This is a masterpiece included on NCT’s album “NCT 2020: RESONANCE Pt.
1,” which has taken the world by storm with its most global style, and it was crafted by R&B artist JUNNY.
The vocal lineup features Taeil, Yuta, Haechan, Doyoung, Chenle, Renjun, and Kun.
Set against a laid-back sound, it conveys a message of believing in the bonds we’ve built together and moving forward with strength.
There’s also a “Rearranged Ver.” dedicated to fans.
Watching the music video, you can feel the members’ bonds transcending national borders—it’s truly moving.
Having a place where you belong is so reassuring.
This warm ballad feels like it’s saying, “Welcome home.”
Tomorrow will come.TVXQ (also known as Tohoshinki; literally “Rising Gods of the East”)
He is a male artist who could be called the pioneer of K-pop in Japan.
From 2003 to 2010, they performed as a five-member group, but they are now a male duo, and they remain popular enough to rank on Japanese music charts even today.
Miss YouMONSTAX
MONSTA X, exuding a sexy and wild allure, released this track in 2017.
It’s a medium-tempo number included on their first full album, THE CLAN 2.5 Part 2.5: The Final Chapter.
Although it’s a breakup song, the lyrics exquisitely capture the helpless emotions of being dumped and really hit home.
If it had an alternate title, it might be “Why.” The unexpectedly bright tone of the music might actually make you cry.
It’s heartbreaking in the way it portrays someone unable to let go, relying on others rather than picking themselves up.
Somebody NewSUPER JUNIOR
It’s a medium-tempo ballad included on the 2019 album “Time Slip.” Starting with a verse that feels like it carefully traces each step, the warm, swelling chorus really hits home.
The song reflects the bond of members who have walked forward together one step at a time, overflowing with Super Junior’s signature heartwarming wish to keep walking alongside their cherished friends.
Watching the music video draws you in even more and can bring you to tears.
There’s also a part that tells you to be yourself, just the way you are, making it a great source of encouragement when you’re struggling or feeling down.
좋더라(I’M YOUNG)WINNER
WINNER is a four-member South Korean male group.
They gained attention even before their debut by appearing as Team A on a South Korean reality competition program in 2013, where they secured their debut by defeating Team B (later iKON).