[Korean Drama OSTs] Classic Popular Songs That Color the Story: Best Masterpieces

POPS writer/editorKEI
Since discovering music during my school days, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. I have experience writing articles for sites like Utaten. 2000s J-pop and 2010s K-pop were especially the soundtrack of my youth. With the mindset that “good is good,” I enjoy music across genres. Thanks to past work environments and their influence, I was exposed to lots of classic rock and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), which may have broadened the scope of what I love. At RAG MUSIC, I currently focus on K-pop and J-pop. I strive to edit with a feel for the scene and an eye for hit potential.

A considerable amount of time has passed since Korean dramas first made their way to Japan.

Starting with the spread sparked by Winter Sonata in 2003, and further propelled by the K-POP boom, people have grown more familiar with K-Culture!

Nowadays, it seems to be loved by many people regardless of gender or generation.

Korean dramas, whose popularity keeps rising, produce countless masterpieces every year!

In this article, we’ve researched a wide range of OSTs—from relatively new tracks to popular classics and timeless favorites—covering theme songs and insert songs from Korean dramas.

We hope you’ll look back on fond memories and discover some wonderful OSTs.

[Korean Drama OST] Classic popular songs that color the story, best masterpieces (141–150)

What IfPLAVE

PLAVE – 달랐을까 What If Official M/V

What IfPLAVE

This is the OST for the drama “My Heli” by the Korean virtual boy group PLAVE.

It’s a ballad that portrays a heartrending love, released in October 2024.

The feelings of “what if I had chosen a different path,” woven into the melody, really resonate.

With PLAVE’s characteristically sensitive and expressive delivery, it matches the drama’s world perfectly.

The gentle vocals that seem to embrace universal emotions—such as anxiety about the future and the struggles of making choices—are especially striking.

It’s an emotional track you’ll want to listen to while thinking of someone important to you.

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While you were sleeping

When Night falls (긴 밤이 오면)Eddy Kim (에디킴)

긴 밤이 오면

When Night falls (긴 밤이 오면)Eddy Kim (에디킴)

This is the OST from the 2017 romantic drama While You Were Sleeping, starring Suzy of miss A and Lee Jong‑suk.

The title means “When the long night comes,” and it’s a poignant ballad that says, “Without you I wander; only you can wake me.” Roy Kim’s emotive vocals are heartrending, and the falsetto in the chorus is especially beautiful—it’ll almost move you to tears.

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In conclusion

We’ve introduced many theme songs and insert tracks from Korean dramas so far. Did you find any favorites or the ones you were looking for? Of course they match each drama’s world perfectly, but many are so stylish that you’ll want to listen to them in everyday life too! I’d be thrilled if you found a song you love. Let’s keep enjoying Korean dramas from here on out!