A poignant, heart-touching K-pop song. A bittersweet track that resonates with many different emotions.
There are many Korean songs and K-pop tracks that stay close to those bittersweet feelings.
Whether it’s a gently sung melody or a delivery rich with emotion, they draw you deeper into the world of the song.
There are also many ballads that truly tighten your chest and make your heart ache as you listen.
Not just “sadness,” but nostalgia, memories of days that won’t return, and a tender kind of poignancy—here are some ‘setsuna’ songs that capture a range of emotions.
Please listen while reflecting on your own circumstances.
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Heartfelt, bittersweet K-pop songs. “Setsuna” songs that resonate with a variety of emotions (101–110)
Endless EndingBEAST (HIGHLIGHT)
After nine years, the boy group HIGHLIGHT releases a moving ballad under the name BEAST.
It’s a pre-release track from their mini-album “From Real to Surreal,” which came out in April 2025, and it’s a poignant love song likened to a movie’s ending.
The song features contributions from Nu’Maker and other artists from Room01, capturing the group’s emotions as they overcame a name change and trademark issues.
Main vocalist Yang Yoseop’s crystal-clear voice and the members’ expressive harmonies resonate deeply.
It’s a gem of a ballad to listen to on nights when you want to dwell on past memories or in moments when you’re thinking of someone special.
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.
SIRENAB6IX
A medium-tempo track released in 2023 by the boy group AB6IX, which includes former Wanna One members.
It’s a love song that portrays how irresistibly charming the person they’re drawn to is—almost to a troubling degree.
It can also be read as depicting someone out of one’s league.
The lyrics resonate with the feeling of worrying that “you and I might not be a good match” and striving hard to carry oneself with confidence.
Combined with their beautiful vocals and gentle tones, a touch of bittersweetness comes through.
On rainy daysBEAST
BEAST is a five-member male idol group that has been active since 2009.
The group originally debuted with six members, and it had already attracted attention before debut because three of the six were already famous.
Their songs have been hits in Japan, and they have appeared on television there as well.
IF YOUBIGBANG
One of BIGBANG’s classic songs.
It might also be well-known as a breakup song.
The lyrics express deep regret toward the lover who lost patience and left, and toward oneself for not being able to do anything—very heartbreaking.
G-DRAGON’s singing makes your chest tighten.
If you could, you’d want to start over; this song stays close to that feeling.
A collection of soul-stirring, bittersweet K-POP songs that resonate with many emotions (111–120)
Fix make-upCha ga eul
A staple among female ballads and a hit that tugs at the heartstrings, “Fix My Makeup” is a song by WAX, who originally debuted as a member of a rock band before becoming a ballad singer.
For her Japan debut, the song was released under the title “Akai Ito” (Red Thread), with Japanese lyrics written by Takashi Matsumoto.
It’s a heartbreaking breakup song with lines like “All I did was take from you; I couldn’t do anything for you,” and “Why did you love someone like me?” The song has been covered by many artists, and on May 1, 2023, Cha Ga-eul released her own cover.
Her emotive vocals are deeply expressive, drawing listeners further into the lyrics.
Home Is Far AwayEpik High
This is a track released in 2017 by the hip-hop group Epik High, featuring Oh Hyuk from the rock band Hyukoh.
With a stylish beat that links to the sound of rain, it lays out a blue, melancholy mood.
The lyrics are outstanding in their relatability, juxtaposing the situation of struggling to find an empty taxi and being far from home with the singer’s own yearning for the ordinary.
You can feel the bittersweet ache of trying to keep up with the times and realizing your feelings aren’t what they used to be.
It’s a song that stays close to you when you’re feeling down.