Various K-pop breakup songs [relatability, next steps, poignancy]
I wonder how things ended up like this.
I can’t get anything done anymore…
That feeling of heartbreak is so sad and painful, isn’t it?
I think K-pop songs also have the charm of letting the emotions of a simple ballad seep deep into your heart.
That said, it’s not just bittersweet tracks—there are breakup songs in all kinds of styles, including ones that give you the courage to move forward.
When you listen to your favorite idol or a highly expressive artist’s voice, your emotions are sure to be stirred even more…!
I hope these songs help you feel understood, and even a little lighter.
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- A poignant, heart-touching K-pop song. A bittersweet track that resonates with many different emotions.
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- A Tearful Farewell Song: A Love Song About Parting with Someone You Love
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- [K-POP] Korean 'yami' songs that fit a blue mood
- [Heartbreak Song] To Bounce Back From a Broken Heart | Uplifting, Positive Tracks & Anthems
- [Tearjerker Guaranteed!] A Heartbreak Song Told from a Male Perspective
- K-pop unrequited love songs you’ll totally relate to! Tracks that won’t let the heartache and excitement stop
- [Tear-Jerking Breakup Songs] A curated selection of love songs that gently comfort a wounded heart!
- My heart aches with bittersweet pain! Breakup songs I’d recommend to Gen Z
- [Today’s Heartbreak Song] A poignant love song that gently wraps your wounded heart
- A breakup song sung by an idol. A collection of bittersweet love songs.
Various K-POP Breakup Songs [Relatable, Next Steps, Bittersweet] (21–30)
Only I didn’t knowIU
IU is called the Nation’s Little Sister and became instantly famous for her adorable looks, but she is also highly praised for her expressive singing.
She’s a wonderful artist who can deliver songs that depict complex stories like this one.
It’s said that this song might be about a couple with a significant age difference.
Lonely NightJUJU SECRET
A debut song by JUJU SECRET, a duo formed by Park Jin-joo and Lee Mi-joo from the variety show “What Shall We Do If We Play?” It has a retro vibe and a rhythmic melody, but it sings about the dilemma of wanting to erase memories of an ex-lover yet being unable to forget—and finding oneself drawn to them again.
From nuances like “I wanted to be the bad one, but I couldn’t,” you can tell the song’s protagonist is probably a kind person.
The lyrics brilliantly capture various shades of love and heartbreak, making it bittersweet yet encouraging.
그러니까(So, it ends?)(feat.Colde)Heize
This is a mid-tempo ballad released by Heize in 2019, included on the album “She’s Fine.” It features singer-songwriter Colde, the vocalist of the hip-hop duo OFFONOFF, and offers a gentle, soothing mood that resonates with a sentimental heart.
The music video also evokes a relationship that can’t be mended due to small differences or quarrels, conveying a subtle sense of distance.
Heize’s delicate vocals are truly moving in every song.
DOWNPOURI.O.I
This is the final song released by I.O.I, the legendary girl group born from the audition program PRODUCE 101.
A key highlight is that Woozi from the now hugely popular group SEVENTEEN handled both the lyrics and composition.
This track is filled with memories from their time-limited activities.
Time is fleeting, and it makes their beauty and what they hold dear feel all the more precious.
With deeply poignant lyrics befitting a farewell to close their journey, it’s a masterpiece that’s impossible to listen to without tears.
Yesterday You Left Me10cm
This is a heartbreak song by 10cm, a hugely popular musician known for approachable yet sophisticated musicality.
It’s included on their 2021 release, The 3rd EP.
The song portrays those inexpressible emotions after being dumped and the feeling of not being able to do anything.
The steady, uniform groove and Kwon Jung-yeol’s languid vocals flow into an empty heart.
The way the lyrics try to convince themselves—saying this was for the best, or maybe they didn’t really like the other person that much—only makes it all the more poignant.
한숨 (BREATHE)Lee Hi
Lee Hi’s Sigh became very famous in many ways.
The song was created by SHINee’s Jonghyun, who sadly passed away last year, and he gifted it to her.
When it was decided that this song would be performed at a music festival as a tribute to Jonghyun in a different form, it made me so sad that I cried.
I truly hope many people will listen to the sorrowful voice of one of the few female vocalists who can express Jonghyun’s world.
APOLOGYiKON
When it comes to bittersweet love songs, some people might think of iKON.
“APOLOGY” is an R&B-flavored breakup song released in 2015.
It portrays a couple growing apart: a boyfriend who wants to live freely and a girlfriend who wants him to be more considerate.
Being asked for detailed consideration like that can become suffocating, and feelings drift away—maybe a pretty common pattern.
He may seem emotionally detached, but inside, the boyfriend is also suffering and in turmoil.
Still, after everything, he ends up wishing her happiness.
Be sure to pay attention to the beautiful lyrical expressions in the mid-song rap part.