K-pop and Korean love songs: Love songs that really capture the Korean view of romance
A special feature on K-pop love songs recommended for anyone who wants to listen to Korean romance tracks!
Korean love songs often have lyrics that are even sweeter than their melodies, and they’re sure to make both girls and guys swoon.
Beyond the cuteness of songs that express feelings of love straightforwardly, tracks about unrequited love or the emotions after a breakup are also deeply moving.
Above all, the uniquely Korean sense of musicality and overflowing emotion will surely resonate across borders with many listeners.
In this list, we’ve picked out songs that sing about love in many different forms.
May your feelings reach the ones you care about!
K-pop and Korean love songs: Love songs that capture the Korean view of romance (1–10)
두근두근(DKDK)fromis_9
It’s a truly girly idol-style, pop love song by fromis_9.
Since the words are cute, I’d love for you to remember the title “두근두근,” pronounced “dugeun-dugeun.” It means “thump-thump” or a fluttering heartbeat.
As you listen, you’ll notice that most of the lyrics are filled with this phrase—it’s a song about a girl who’s overly excited by a simple, straightforward love.
But no matter how old we get, isn’t that fluttery feeling of love—the jittery excitement before seeing him—something we all share? In fact, it’s precisely because your heart races that it’s love, and that person is someone special!
When the Day ComesTOMORROW X TOGETHER
A delicate song woven with the warm resonance of an acoustic guitar, brimming with the bittersweetness and hope of youth.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER participates in the OST for tvN’s drama “Someday, Wise Resident Life.” Members Soobin and Yeonjun make cameo appearances in the series and add sparkle to a buzzworthy scene where they perform as the fictional idol group “HI-BOYZ.” Since its release in May 2025, the song’s candid portrayal of pure young love and the members’ fresh vocals have captured the hearts of many drama and K-pop fans.
A gem of a track recommended for anyone seeking a refreshing, pure love song.
바보라도 알아Stray Kids
A digital single released by SKZ in March 2020.
Changbin, a member of the group’s producer team 3RACHA, took part in writing and composing the song.
It’s a love song that sings of regret yet moves you with its straightforward feelings.
In the music video, the bittersweet emotion of stepping back after seeing the person you like getting close with your best friend is portrayed.
Complicated… It’s sure to resonate especially with those torn between friendship and love! The melody is heartbreaking, yet it also carries a certain brightness that hints at hope.
It’s a masterpiece that can be interpreted in many ways beyond just a romance song.
YES or YESTwice
As the title suggests, there’s no such answer as “No” — she wants a reply of either “Yes” or “Yes.” It’s a love song that straightforwardly captures the bold, assertive feelings of a carnivorous-type girl.
The lyrics teasingly suggest that if you say “Yes,” things will get even more fun, and that you have no choice but to say “Yes.” But what’s refreshing is the sheer intensity of her feelings for the other person and her overwhelming confidence that being with her will make them happy.
That perspective, which isn’t typically found in Japanese ways of thinking, is intriguing.
To win at love, it might be worth trying a slightly assertive approach like in this song!
Darl+ingSEVENTEEN
SEVENTEEN’s first English-language song, “Darl+ing,” was pre-released from their fourth album in 2022.
Its stylish ring is seriously cool! Along with a sound that gives off a cool vibe, the lyrics whirl around feelings of being head over heels in love and completely draw you in.
When you’re in a long-distance relationship or going through days when you can hardly meet, you can’t wait to see each other and you just want to call, right? It’s a number that swells with that longing.
Overlapping it with the perspective directed toward CARATs, the feelings of how special they are well up even more.
Blue OrangeadeTXT
What kind of people do you all tend to like? It’s nice when you share common traits or a similar vibe, with that feeling of being on the same wavelength.
Blue Orangeade is the opposite: it’s a love song about being drawn to someone precisely because they’re your complete contrast.
Fresh yet cool, it layers the complementary contrast of blue and orange.
You might quarrel sometimes, but it makes you feel like bringing out the best in each other.
It’s a track that keeps TXT’s signature fresh energy while blending in a more mature mood.
Me After YouPaul Kim
It seems there’s a certain image that “Korean men are gentle,” and when you listen to love songs or watch dramas, you can’t help but yearn for that and think it might be true.
This song gives the impression of a calm, mature man singing about meeting a wonderful woman who changed his life, and expressing his gratitude to her.
Paul Kim’s gentle voice suits a composed, adult romance, and you can truly feel the tender, thankful emotions.
The part about how the woman supports him in areas where he falls short or makes her anxious also feels like an ideal vision of a couple.