Is it one of those days when all you want to do is grab some snacks and cry? You have come to the right place. If you’re a fan of K-Dramas, you know there’s no better catharsis than watching sad romance dramas until your tear ducts are drained. So, we’ve compiled the 10 saddest and heartwarming romance K-Dramas that will make you believe in love again.
If you’re new to K-Dramas, check out the titles we’ve curated to find out which ones suit your taste! For K-Drama connoisseurs, you’ve probably already watched all the dramas listed below, and if not, it’s time to add them to your watchlist!
Note: This list is not a ranking.
1. “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo”
SBS
Cast: IU, Lee JoonGi, Kang HaNeul, EXO’s BaekHyun, Hong JongHyun, Nam JooHyuk, Kang HanNa
Summary: Go HaJin is a young woman with a broken heart and down on her luck. On the day of a total eclipse, she falls into a body of water and is transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty, where she is now called HaeSoo. There she meets several handsome princes who fall in love with her and inadvertently turn her into a pawn of palace politics.
watch because: As K-Drama fans, it’s our duty to never let “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” slip off the top of any list of the most heartbreaking romance K-Dramas of all time. With a star-studded cast delivering the most outstanding performances, this drama is an exploration of pathos, told through tales of love and loss. HaeSoo goes through hell and the high seas to protect her loved ones, but is betrayed and abandoned time and time again. There’s nothing more tragic than watching HaeSoo try to deal with the complexities of this strange time lapse as she struggles with her own emotions, to no avail. Get ready for some serious issues with this one.
tvN
Cast: Seo In Guk, Jung So Min, Park Sung Woong
SummarySynopsis: A mysterious murder suspect, Kim MooYoung meets a kind, warm, but scarred young woman, Yoo JinKang. An irresistible romance blossoms between them through unpredictable pushes and pulls, as they slowly discover that their ill-fated relationship goes back to the root of their trauma. However, JinKang’s brother Yoo Jinkook couldn’t be more cautious of their relationship and will do whatever it takes to protect his little sister. With the world against them, will fate allow their love to persevere?
watch because: This tragedy is as beautiful and poetic as possible. Seo InGuk plays Kim MooYoung, who is best described as an antihero and Yoo JinKang is the anchor that ties him to life. Despite the worldly forces that keep them apart, MooYoung and JinKang stand by each other through thick and thin, even if it means putting their lives on the line. The drama’s predominant color palette – cool blue – is exactly what will leave you feeling.
MBC
Cast: 2PM’s Lee JunHo, Lee SeYoung
Summary: Crown Prince Yi San strives to become a benevolent ruler. However, his grandfather’s crimes and his father’s cruel passing traumatized him. Sung DeokIm is a bright and spirited young woman who wants to live her life the way she wants to. San, who is secretly burdened by his position, knows Sung DeokIm first as a child, then as an adult, and she is the only one he confides in. The two fall in love, but when San becomes king and asks DeokIm to become his concubine, she initially refuses, but soon realizes that their union is inevitable.
watch because: “The Red Sleeve” is historical melodrama at its finest. JunHo and SeYoung deliver the most moving performances as San and DeokIm, and their chemistry is off the charts. However, the anguish their romance brings will tug at your heart without mercy. Much of the charm of “The Red Sleeve” comes from the excellent writing that will leave you wanting more after every episode. Despite the slow and smooth recording, trust us, once you start watching this drama, time will fly by.
JTBC
Cast: Go MinSi, Lee DoHyun, Keum SaeRok, Lee SangYi
Summary: Set against the backdrop of the Gwangju Uprising of May 1980, “Youth Of May” tells the story of two young lovers, HeeTae and MyungHee, who face countless trials and tribulations to stay together, only to be disapproved of by the world they live in. live. .
watch because: This is the K-Drama that single-handedly broke our hearts into a million pieces. From the opening scene of the first episode, this drama will suck you into its world, and before you know it, you’ll find yourself becoming attached to these fictional characters. Lee DoHyun as HeeTae is dreamy yet familiar, almost like you’ve known him forever, while Go MinSi as MyungHee is brave and inspiring. The characters are wonderfully developed and form the core of the narrative, which is why “Youth Of May” manages to leave such a deep impact on viewers. This one won’t be easy to get over.
tvN
Cast: Jung SoMin, Lee JaeWook, Hwang MinHyun, Shin SeungHo, OH MY GIRL’s Arin, Yoo InSoo
Summary: “Alchemy of Souls” tells the story of a sought-after shadow assassin, Naksu, who transfers her powerful soul into the body of a lowly peasant girl named MuDeok in order to survive. MuDeok is weak and unassuming, which makes Naksu powerless. However, Jang Uk, the noble but grumpy young master of the Jang family, immediately recognizes her. To regain her strength and energy, she takes a gamble on Jang Uk and takes him under his wing.
watch because: “Alchemy Of Souls” is arguably the best fantasy drama in the Korean entertainment industry. The first season introduces us to drama tradition and weaves an intricate tale of star-crossed lovers who are destined for each other, but also for destruction. While “Alchemy Of Souls” has a second season that is relatively less tragic, the first season will leave you feeling like an empty shell of just how unbelievably painful it is.
6. “Uncontrollably in love”
KBS
Cast: Kim Woo Bin, Suzy
Summary: Childhood sweethearts Sin Joon Young and No Eul are reunited as adults, years after breaking up. This time, JoonYoung is a celebrity, and No Eul is tasked with filming a documentary about him. The forced closeness brings them together as they give their love another chance, even though JoonYoung has little time left in the world.
watch because: “Uncontrollably Fond” is the kind of drama that makes no pretense of happy endings. From the beginning, you know where the story is going, but you learn to enjoy the journey anyway. Filled with love and laughter on the one hand and helplessness and despair on the other, our couple is relentless in their pursuit of happiness and that’s exactly what makes this drama so heartbreaking yet wholesome.
JTBC
Cast: Jung Hae In, Ji Soo from BLACKPINK
Summary: “Snowdrop” tells the heartwarming story of love that blossoms amidst chaos. Set in the tumultuous year of 1987 in Seoul, when South Korea was under a dictatorial regime, Eun YeongRo helps an injured young man named Lim SooHo, thinking he is a student activist.
watch because: YeongRo and SooHo’s tragic love story is doomed from the start, but “Snowdrop” does an excellent job of raising our expectations regardless. In fact, it’s because of the hope we have for a happy ending that we’re so invested in the story. After all, who doesn’t want to root for the impossible? Faced with dire circumstances, YeongRo and SooHo go against all odds to protect their love and cherish each other, and that’s what gets the best of them. You might want to keep a box of tissues handy for this one.
JTBC
Cast: Lee JunHo from 2PM, Won JinA
Summary: Two young people, Ha MoonSoo and Lee KangDoo, whose lives are intertwined because of an accident, reconnect and fall in love, healing each other’s wounds in the process.
watch because: “Just Between Lovers” is an excellent study in survivor’s guilt and how it can swallow a person whole. At the center of the story are our main characters MoonSoo (Won JinA) and KangDoo (Lee JunHo), who have suffered significant losses after a mall collapses that claimed the lives of their loved ones. Even though years have passed since the accident, their wounds are fresher than ever, devastatingly affecting their daily lives. As they find refuge in each other’s arms, they slowly begin to process their trauma and move on. “Just Between Lovers” is no ordinary romance, but addresses real psychological issues that plague the human mind, highlighting the restorative power of love and connection. For that reason alone, “Just Between Lovers” is a must-see.
JBC
Cast: Yoon KyeSang, Ha JiWon
Summary: Lee Kang is a man who dreamed of being a chef but is now a neurosurgeon, and Moon ChaYeong, the woman he inspired with his passion for cooking, is now a chef because of him. Fate brings them together once more in a hospice ward, where they mend each other’s hearts through compassion and food.
watch because: Just as the name suggests, “Chocolate” leaves a sweet aftertaste long after you’ve finished watching the drama. The mellow mood and slow but steady pace of the drama allow the viewer to savor every moment, making the experience that much more enjoyable. While the show is understandably dominated by some unfortunate and bitter circumstances and situations, it leads on with hope, and at the end of it all, there’s a lot we can learn from. Yoon KyeSang and Ha Ji Won, being industry veterans, deliver a memorable performance, and it’s a pleasure to see them together on screen.
Vvve
Cast: So Ju Yeon, Seo Ji Hoon, Kim Min Kyu, Yoon Hyun Soo, Kang HyeWon, Oh YuJin.
Summary: “Seasons of Blossom” tells the story of young high school students on the cusp of adulthood who navigate the complicated climate of love and loss at the tender age of eighteen.
watch because: this short web drama is a colorful portrayal of the shadows of youth – bright and dark. It is based on the webtoon of the same name by HONGDUCK It is NEMONE, and features the first two seasons: “BoMi’s Flower” and “HaMin’s Flower”. The love story of Lee HaMin (played by Seo JiHoon) and Han SoMang (played by So JuYeon) from “HaMin’s Flower” is a story of passion and regret that will bring a bucket of tears or two as we watch these teenagers silently suffer from their inner turmoil, pushing them to the extreme. You’ll almost want to leap across the screen to protect them simply because they’re common yet precious. “Seasons Of Blossom” is a fantastic adaptation of the source material and definitely deserves more attention.
What other K-Drama would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments section below!
