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” tracks that resonate with many emotions (11–20)
You, Clouds, RainHeize Feat. Shin Yong Jae
Is there someone you can’t forget? Even after parting ways, Haze’s “You, Clouds, Rain,” a song that captures those lingering feelings, is a perfectly bittersweet track for a rainy day.
As you recall the days with that special someone you’ve tucked away in a corner of your heart, please give it a listen at least once.
헤픈엔딩(HAPPEN ENDING)Epik High
A track included on ‘신발장 SHOEBOX,’ released in 2014.
The somber mood of the instrumental pairs with mellow rap to evoke a sentimental feeling.
Being dumped or breaking up is hard for anyone.
It’s a song that can weigh on your heart, yet it also seems to hint at a contrast between those who are love-prone and those who aren’t, between lightness and heaviness—giving it a certain depth.
Love, break up, love, break up, on repeat… If it comes to that, you end up unable to trust anything, don’t you? Be sure to check out the Japanese version as well, which makes the lyrics’ meaning easy to understand.
EpisodeLEE MU JIN
A winter love story where excitement and heartache coexist.
This is a December 2023 track by singer-songwriter Lee Mujin.
Its sentimental lyrics, brimming with memories of a snowy night, resonate deeply.
Lee Mujin’s gentle voice seems to softly embrace the feeling of being in love.
Carried by a beautiful melody that blooms in the chorus, it paints a sweet yet bittersweet longing.
A song that comforts those who have experienced heartbreak—perfect for lingering in the afterglow of love.
Hate YouJung Kook
Jungkook, a member of BTS.
Let me introduce “Hate You” from his solo album Golden.
While the album features many pop songs with an American vibe, this track is crafted as a moody, wet ballad.
It delicately conveys the complex feeling of hating someone precisely because you love them.
The quiet melody also does a great job of highlighting his vocals.
By the way, the music video has drawn attention for being filmed in Japan.
I miss you (I want to see you)Kim Bum-soo
Many of you may know it as part of the OST for the drama “Stairway to Heaven,” starring Choi Ji-woo and Kwon Sang-woo.
It’s a love ballad with an overwhelming afterglow.
Kim Bum-soo’s beautiful high-tone voice is soothing, and the chorus line “I Miss You” is so memorable that it sticks with you even after a single listen.
He sings with gentle restraint throughout, but at the very end his emotions erupt, and it’s hard not to burst into tears.
It’s a masterpiece that portrays the heartbreak of a man in love.
It Was Love (It Was Love / It Was Love) Song by TAEILBlock B
“It Was Love” is included on Block B’s 2016 album BLOOMING PERIOD.
It’s a famous song that IZ*ONE’s Chaewon also covered.
The tender melody beautifully weaves a tale of love—perhaps unrequited? Zico really does write incredible songs.
Main vocalist Taeil’s performance is breathtaking, and his falsetto on the title line squeezes your heart with aching poignancy.
Then, from the key change into the latter half, the ad-libs are enough to break your tear ducts.
It’s a bittersweet yet warm love song that feels like it gives you a gentle push to take your next step.
Heart-wrenching K-POP songs that touch the soul: setsuna songs that resonate with various emotions (21–30)
BlueDxS (SEVENTEEN)
Even when the love remains, the depth of two people’s feelings and the pace at which they move can gradually fall out of step.
This song captures that bittersweet emotional distance.
Set against a rich orchestral sound, the nuances in the vocals beautifully express the feelings that pass each other by.
Released in January 2026 as the lead track from DxS, SEVENTEEN’s vocal unit, on their album “Serenade,” the piece features the warm, interwoven voices of DK and SEUNGKWAN and garnered a major response, selling around 110,000 copies.
It’s a gentle work that quietly stays by your side when you’re worn out from human relationships.
Please give it a listen with a warm drink in hand.