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)
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.
K-POP Tearjerker Ballads: Korean Songs That Will Make You Cry (51–60)
Remember meGUMMY
This is an OST from the Korean drama Hotel Del Luna, which aired in 2019 and achieved high ratings.
The leads are IU, known as the Nation’s Little Sister, and Yeo Jin-goo.
The drama showcased the charm of its lead IU, who excels at both singing and acting.
The OST singer Kimmii (Kommi), an artist who debuted in 2003, is a powerhouse known for her wide vocal range and strong voice.
The song is written from a woman’s perspective, expressing feelings that can’t reach the man she loves—something many women who’ve struggled with love will surely relate to.
It’s heartbreakingly poignant.
A world called youYun Mire
This song became part of the OST for the 2016 Korean drama The Legend of the Blue Sea.
It’s a beautiful love story with a fantasy setting, starring the handsome Lee Min-ho as a human and the stunning Jun Ji-hyun as a mermaid.
The song also sings of the couple’s powerful love, and its emotions for that one, irreplaceable person in the world are sure to bring tears to your eyes.
Yoon Mi-rae is a leading female singer in Korea’s R&B and hip-hop scenes, and she’s an accomplished artist who’s incredible even when singing ballads!
We can break up then.Roi Kimu
This song, with its gentle and memorable vocals, is sung by Roy Kim, who took the top spot on the audition program Superstar K4.
Roy Kim’s voice—its beautiful tone, its power, and the poignant emotion that comes through so strongly—everything about his expressiveness is truly remarkable! The song is about not worrying about other people or circumstances, and choosing to believe in the love the two of you have right now.
It might not sound very practical to say, “Don’t worry about the future; we’ll think about it when the time comes.” But that kind of romantic ideal is something we can’t help but admire, isn’t it?
First snowChon Juniru
The OST from Goblin (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) starring Gong Yoo.
It sings of the feelings the protagonist, played by Gong Yoo, has for the heroine.
The goblin protagonist has been waiting a long time to meet her.
He is not a person of the modern world and is under a cursed spell.
Only the heroine can break the goblin’s curse.
The fragility of a love that is anything but ordinary is what makes it a song that brings tears.
Untitled (2014)G-DRAGON
A ballad released by G-DRAGON in 2017.
With Jiyong’s uniquely artistic expression and human sensitivity, it’s often cited as a quintessential heartbreak song.
You can really feel the aching desire to meet again even though it’s no longer possible—the wish for the other person’s happiness, yet, if at all possible, the longing to meet and talk once more.
Wanting to get it back even at the cost of losing everything might be proof of just how special it was.
And yet, Jiyong’s kindness and generosity in wishing for the other person’s happiness overflow throughout, making it a truly tear-jerking, must-cry track.
Hello, GoodbyeHyorin(SISTAR)
Hyolyn is the leader of the group SISTAR, a four-member female group that was active from 2010 to 2017.
While SISTAR was very popular, Hyolyn in particular was well known for her strong vocal ability, and she has even been ranked No.
1 among idols with the best singing skills.