Trendy songs in South Korea: A roundup of hit songs
These days, K-culture—centered around K-pop—has become mainstream in Japan, hasn’t it?
One of the defining elements of K-culture is surely its music.
Here, we’ll be introducing some of the latest hit songs from Korea!
We’ve picked out tracks lighting up various charts: not only songs by popular idols, but also artists with enduring support in genres like trot and ballads, as well as Japanese songs that are gaining popularity in Korea.
There are countless amazing masterpieces, so feel free to use summaries like this as a starting point and dive deeper!
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Trending Korean songs: Hit song roundup (381–390)
I WillHa Dong Qn
Ha Dong-kyun, a ballad singer from South Korea known for his sweet yet bittersweet vocals, released this work in April 2021.
It’s a remake of a song by his debut-era group 7Dayz, brought back after 22 years.
With his rich, resonant voice, he beautifully portrays the aching feelings of being bound by lost love and fading memories.
The interplay between past recollections and present emotions comes through, making your heart swell.
It’s a highly recommended track for anyone nursing heartbreak or wishing to dwell on feelings for someone dear.
파도(Summer Wave)순순희(GITAE, YOON JI HWAN)
This song fully captures the refreshing spirit of summer.
It was released in July 2024 by the Korean ballad trio SoonSungHee.
The lyrics vividly depict the sound of waves and seaside scenery, leaving a strong impression.
Set to a buoyant melody led by guitar and synthesizer, it conveys the liberating feeling of summer and relaxed moments in nature.
With the uniquely emotive vocals characteristic of SoonSungHee, it brings a cool breeze to listeners’ hearts.
It’s the perfect track for days when you want to unwind by the beach or reminisce about summer memories.
잠수이별 (Ghosting) (Prod. 코드 쿤스트)우원재 (Woo) & meenoi (미노이)
Ghosting has been lighting up the domestic charts since August 2022.
It’s a collaboration between rapper Woo Won Jae and singer-songwriter meenoi.
Over a chill-tinged track, they sing about a tangled romantic relationship.
The temperature gap between a man who can’t let go and a woman who’s fed up feels very real—if you’ve been in that situation, it’ll hit home.
They use the expression “to dive” to mean leaving messages on read without replying, and the song portrays a breakup that fades away as one person suddenly cuts contact.
The feeling is like sinking; the languid, ennui-laced vocals make it all the more heartrending.
하늘 여행이찬원
The song that Lee Chang-won produced himself is a message piece imbued with the wish for an elderly couple, in the twilight of their lives, to be reunited.
The anecdote that he wrote and composed it in tears conveys just how deeply he felt during its creation.
Included on his second mini-album “bright; San,” the track features emotionally rich vocals delivered with profound feeling that truly move the listener.
Known as a trot singer from Korea, his distinctive voice beautifully expresses the dignity of a couple spending the final stage of life side by side.
It’s a song I highly recommend to anyone who holds someone dear in their heart.
If We Ever Meet Again (다시 만날 수 있을까)임영웅(Lim Young Woong)
The number “If We Ever Meet Again” by trot singer Lim Young-woong is a massive hit in his home country.
It’s the title track from his first album, IM HERO, and upon its release in May 2022, it enjoyed a long run on various charts.
Written and composed by singer Lee Juck, the song is a ballad that conveys the heartbreak of being able to do nothing but watch someone leave.
Anyone who has experienced a parting tinged with regret will likely find it deeply relatable.
Lim Young-woong’s emotionally rich vocals make the song resonate even more.
Trendy songs from Korea. Hit song roundup (391–400)
무지개 (Rainbow)임영웅(Lim Young Woong)
In recent years, Lim Young-woong has become arguably the hottest singer in South Korea’s trot scene.
“Rainbow” is a medium-tempo track included on his first full album, IM HERO, released in May 2022.
This song has also ranked high on various charts.
Its gentle, breezy acoustic guitar–based sound is pleasantly soothing.
The encouraging lyrics—inviting you to take a break together—and Lim Young-woong’s tender vocals are truly healing.
오래된 노래허각、임한별、이무진、이진성、김희재、#안녕
A project track that brings together six of Korea’s top powerhouse vocalists.
It was produced for SBS’s music program “The Listen: The Time I Spent With You.” The lyrics delicately portray the feelings of nostalgically recalling a past love, and the song’s appeal lies in its dynamic progression—from an acoustic atmosphere to a grand string arrangement.
Released as a digital single on June 16, 2024, it gained strong popularity across music streaming platforms.
It’s the perfect song for healing the pain of heartbreak or reflecting on cherished memories.