K-pop unrequited love songs you’ll totally relate to! Tracks that won’t let the heartache and excitement stop
There are many artists with distinctive and captivating vocals in K-POP that really draw you in.
We’ve picked out one-sided love songs that perfectly fit those “heart-wrenching” and “fluttering” K-POP emotions!
Not only the bittersweet melodies and beautiful vocals, but also the relatable lyrics that make your heart race will pull you in emotionally.
Here are songs that let you deeply feel the ache of unrequited love and gently accompany you through a range of feelings.
May you find a song that fits your heart—and may your love come true.
K-pop unrequited love songs you can’t help but relate to! Tracks overflowing with aching sadness and heart-pounding thrills (1–10)
좋다고 말해BOL4(볼빨간사춘기)
A song about a girl who has a crush on a popular, handsome guy.
He once told her he liked her, but after that he’s been distant, and there are so many pretty girls around him.
She feels plain and miserable, yet she still longs to hear him say “I like you” again.
The song gently expresses this bittersweet situation with a tender voice.
If it was going to end up like this, you shouldn’t have done that.Baek A-yeon (Baek A-yeon)
A classic by Baek A Yeon, who has many love songs.
She proved her talent by placing third on the audition show K-POP Star, and her vocals are especially moving in ballads.
This song, which she wrote and composed herself, has a light tempo and a pleasantly breezy vocal tone.
It’s easy to relate to when you find yourself obsessing over a few casual words from someone you like.
20cmTXT
TXT, who gift us listeners with a magical thrill along with their unique worldview.
“20cm” is a ballad from their 2019 full album “THE DREAM CHAPTER: MAGIC” that portrays a bittersweet crush.
It captures that uniquely adolescent flutter of the heart and yearning—the feelings that sprout from growing up together and noticing emotions that were invisible before.
The various sentiments packed into that “20cm” distance resonate even more through the members’ vocals.
If you listen when you can’t confess or you’re harboring a secret feeling, you’ll surely find yourself overflowing with empathy.
Going CrazyTwice
An unrequited love song included in TWICE’s debut album “THE STORY BEGINS,” a group that constantly takes on forward-thinking music.
This track links an addictive melody with the craziness the song portrays, highlighting the charm of TWICE’s vocals, and it feels brimming with a bold, Korean approach to romance.
Seeing the person you like getting along with someone else makes you restless, right? You keep putting yourself out there but it doesn’t go well; you try to pull back, but end up wanting them anyway.
This is exactly the kind of moment when the song will hit you hard.
The phrase “it’s like I’ve gone crazy” is spot-on—there’s no way you won’t relate!
DittoNewJeans
NewJeans’ songs are highly regarded as numbers that portray bittersweet feelings of love.
“Ditto,” the pre-release track from their first single “OMG,” is a song that feels somehow nostalgic and tightens the chest.
Member Minji took part in the lyrics, blending a retro atmosphere with a refined impression.
The lyrics, which depict the passage of time and tender feelings of love within a soft, airy mood, are striking.
The school-uniform styling and the music video visuals evoke emotional elements that overlap with memories of student life.
Released in December 2022, the song also drew attention for its two music videos that depict the relationship between fans and idols.
Song request(신청곡) (Feat. SUGA of BTS)Isora (I Sora)
This is a love ballad by Lee Sora, a veteran Korean singer whose trademark is a closely cropped very short hairstyle.
It’s a sad love song about turning on the radio on a sleepless, solitary night and making a song request.
“Hey DJ, play me something fun so I can smile,” is one of its strikingly poignant lines.
The track also features SUGA from BTS, who is active as a music producer as well.
Fall in LoveGFRIEND
A track from the 2016 album LOL.
It’s an exceptionally poppy, bright number that makes a blue sky float into your mind as you listen.
I never believed in love at first sight, but this song overflows with that happy feeling of falling for someone and having your emotions soar! It also has that adorable quality that ties into GFRIEND’s group name—the wish to be a beloved girlfriend from a guy’s perspective.
Above all, the lyrics are truly wonderful.
The way they capture a fluttering heart is so beautiful it makes you swoon.
It’s a song that really stays close to those tingling, excited feelings.
And the fact that it can be read as mutual love is a nice touch, too!