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
Tearjerker K-pop Ballads: Korean Songs That Make You Cry (1–10)
Feel SpecialTwice
A TWICE track released in 2019.
At first glance, it might not seem like a tearjerker, but the lyrics are what you should pay attention to.
They convey the members’ thoughts and feelings, singing that even when they’re hurt and on the verge of breaking under all the criticism, they can keep going because their fans are there—“your presence gives us strength.” It really tugs at the heartstrings.
The scene where Mina and Chaeyoung gaze at each other also nudges the tear ducts.
It’s a song overflowing with the charm of TWICE, who have become stronger and more beautiful, powered by the unwavering support of their fans.
The Truth UntoldBTS
A dramatic tearjerker from BTS.
The only instrument used is the piano, which really highlights the members’ vocal abilities.
The song’s world is a garden where a castle of sand stands—a slightly unreal, fantasy-like setting.
The woman he loves is hiding somewhere in the garden.
He wants to find her, but his feelings are in conflict.
He’s afraid of showing his true self.
It makes him realize how difficult it is to bare yourself to the one you love.
AlwaysWanna One
A ballad included on their 2017 debut album “1×1=1 (TO BE ONE).” Its gentle, soothing melody and the way each member sings as if speaking softly to you truly resonate with the heart.
The lyrics are about building precious moments together with someone important, and just listening is enough to bring tears to your eyes.
The Korean title means “In This Place,” and I think it’s a song that makes you reflect on the irreplaceable time you’ve spent and feel a bond as if hearts are connecting through song.
The passionate final performance on PRODUCE 101 Season 2 is absolutely unforgettable.
Missing You(그리워하다)BTOB
BTOB, who are well known for their ballads.
It’s their 2017 comeback track and one of their signature songs.
From the intro, the warm tones and the members’ vocals truly hit you right in the heart.
I thought I couldn’t live without someone important to me, but somehow I’m getting by… The lyrics, which portray that subtle sense of emptiness in everyday life, really tug at the heartstrings.
How easy it would be if we could just forget.
But I think it’s because we can’t forget that we’re drawn to it.
It’s a masterpiece among masterpieces, written and composed by member Hyunsik.
DOWNPOURI.O.I
The final song of I.O.I.
Downpour was written and composed by SEVENTEEN’s Woozi, and its gently somber melody is suffused with a bittersweet feeling.
The Korean title, 소나기 (sonagi), means a passing shower or sudden downpour, and the song conveys the idea that even painful and difficult memories will one day be washed away.
This track, which expresses the fragility and beauty of idols, can also be listened to as something that overlaps with each individual’s life.
Watching the music video brings endless tears, yet by the end, simply listening leaves you wrapped in a mysterious warmth.
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.
Us, AgainSEVENTEEN
A song filled with deep feelings for fans was released in June 2020.
Layered over gentle piano and acoustic guitar, SEVENTEEN’s delicate vocals create a calm and sentimental ballad.
Woozi participated in the production, and the track carries a strong message about walking forward together even in difficult times.
Although it is an unofficial song produced as part of the documentary series “SEVENTEEN: Hit The Road,” the music video features handwritten lyrics by the members, conveying their sincere feelings toward fans.
It’s a song to listen to in moments when you want to feel that your hearts are connected, even when you’re apart from someone important.
DESTINY(우연이 아니야)IZ*ONE
A medium-tempo number included on the 2020 release BLOOM*IZ, written and composed by Lee Ki-yong-bae.
The Korean title carries the nuance of “It’s not a coincidence = It’s fate,” making it a song that feels as if it’s truly about IZ*ONE.
When the group’s activities were temporarily suspended, there was a moving moment on Sakura Miyawaki’s regular radio show, “Konya, Sakura no Ki no Shita de,” where she shared her feelings and the song played—I couldn’t help but shed tears.
It’s a track that conveys the members’ bond and warms your heart as you listen.
I’ve heard that Hitomi Honda—Hii-chan—said this is her favorite song on the album.
ButterflyBTS
For those in relationships on the verge of breaking, or in love with someone who already has an unattainable partner—this is exactly when “Butterfly” hits hardest.
It’s a ballad about sharing youth together, included on The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt.
2, an album titled with a phrase meaning “the most beautiful moment in life.” The lyrics, echoing with the desperate plea to “stop time,” bring tears to your eyes.
Enhanced by BTS’s expressive delivery, the fragility and yearning are amplified.
Perhaps life is beautiful precisely because of the uncertainties and the things we cannot see.
Make me cry(나를 울려)Cha Ga-eul, Jang Sae-byeok
The duet song “Make me cry” by Cha Ga-eul and Jang Se-byeok, who debuted in 2019 under Monday Kiz Company, was released in 2021.
It was produced by Lee Jin-sung of the male R&B unit Monday Kiz.
With lyrics and composition by Han Kyung-soo and Choi Han-sol—who worked on many ballads for the drama Start-Up—it’s a superb ballad that is lyrical and emotionally stirring.
The aching longing for an unforgettable love, layered with the duo’s beautiful harmonies, is sure to move you to tears.