K-dramas range in categories, however, like reality, they do not always have a happy ending. Korean Drama has gained worldwide recognition in recent years, owing to global achievements like Squid Game and Train to Busan. Korean dramas are known for their imaginative storytelling, yet their universal concepts make it feasible to connect with people from all walks of life.
Here is a list of the 10 saddest Korean dramas that will definitely make you cry
Table of Contents
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
Directed by: Kim Kyu-tae
Cast: Lee Joong-Gi, Lee Ji-eun, Kang Ha-neul
Episodes: 20
Overview: This Korean drama unfolds with a young lady, Go Ha jin who travels back in time to the Goryeo dynasty, during a complete solar eclipse.
She wakes up and finds herself in the year 941, in the body of a young lady named Hae-soo. She initially develops feeling for the gentle and compassionate 8th prince of the Wang family, Prince Wang Wook, but subsequently initiates a relationship with the terrifying 4th prince, Wang So, who covers his face with a mask and is granted the title of “wolf-dog” because of his aggressive and intimidating personality.
As the plot advances, Hae Soo unknowingly gets involved in the royal intrigues and rivalries among the princes of the Wang family as they fight for the throne.
Uncontrollably Fond (2016)
Directed by: Park Hyun-sik, Cha Young-hoon
Cast: Kim Woo-bin, Bae suzy, Lim Ju-hwan, Lim Ju-eun
Episodes: 20
Overview: This Korean rom-com talks about Shin Joon-young and Noh Eul who were childhood friends but got separated during their teenage years because of an unfortunate relationship but eventually reconnect as they grow up. Shin Joon-young has become a prominent actor and a singer, whereas Noh Eul is a film producer.
The two of them eventually reunite after Noh Eul is assigned to shoot Shin Joon-young’s documentary. She assures the producer that she can get his permission for the documentary shoot. Joon-young first rejects Noh Eul, but later accepts the invitation to take part in the documentary’s making. As the two work together, he strives to reestablish their relationship and reclaim her love back.
When the Camelia Blooms (2019)
Directed by: Cha Yeong-hoon
Cast: Kang Ha-nuel, Gong hyo-jin, Kim Ji-seok
Episodes: 40
Overview: The story of the camelia blooms revolves around a single mother, who moves to a town of Ongsan and starts a bar named Camelia.
Dong Baek has to face an assortment of challenges as she strives to settle down in the small town of Ongsan.
Six years following their stay in Ongsan, Dong Baek meets a cheerful police officer, Yong-shik who expresses his love for her.
In the meantime, a known murderer, intends to make Dong Baek his next victim. Besides finding out who the killer is, Yong shik manages to win over Dong Baek who renders most of her duties as a single hardworking mother.
Hi Bye, Mama (2020)
Directed by: Yoo Ji-won
Cast: Kim Tae-hee, Lee kyung-hyung, Go Bo-gyeol
Episodes: 16
Overview: Kim Tae-hee’s character Cha Yu-ri has existed as a ghost for the past five years, following her unfortunate passing. If she succeeds to return to her place in 49 day she will be offered the chance to reincarnate through an initiative, Bur Cho Gang-hwa (Lee Kyu-hyung), her spouse, has since gotten married again. She finds herself in a tough position between choosing her and her husband’s happiness.
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018)
Directed by: Yoo Je-won
Cast: Seo In-guk, Jung So-min, Park Sung-woong
Episodes: 16
Overview: This 2018 South Korean drama chronicles Kim Moo-young, a mysterious man who forgot all the memories of his past. Moo-young meets and falls in love with Yoo Jin kang. Although her first impression of him is quite unfavorable, she subsequently learns that Moo-young is gullible and is struggling with comprehending his past. Though he is the secret to both Moo-young and Jin Kang’s entwined past, her older sibling Yoo Jin gook a criminal detective believes that Moo young is far more dangerous than he puts on. When Moo young regains memories of his past, scenario gets far more problematic as he discovers further details including the truth behind the death of his father.
Angel’s Last Mission: Love (2019)
Directed by: Lee Yoon-sub
Cast: Kim Myung-soo, Shin Hye-sun, Lee Dong-gun, Kim Bo-mi, Do Ji-won, Kim In-kwon
Episodes: 32
Overview: Lee Yeon-soo, an incredibly skilled and successful ballerina, inherits her parents’ Ballet Company, Fantasia, upon their tragic death. However, an awful disaster makes her lose her vision while she was performing on stage. She was aggressive and rude to her employees, especially her diligent secretary, and butler.
Dan is a cheerful and easy-going angel who keeps getting himself in trouble. For him to return to heaven, he is assigned the almost impossible task of finding true love for Yeon-soo but eventually ends up falling for her himself.
The Hymn of Death (2018)
Directed by: Park Soo-jin
Cast: Shin Hye-sun, Lee Jong-suk,
Episodes: 6
Overview: The Hymn of Death is a South Korean series, that chronicles the unfortunate affair between Joseon’s first soprano, Yun Sim-deok, and a talented scriptwriter, Kim Woo-jin. Although Kim Woo-jin was previously married, he fell in love with Yun Sim-deok. The two lovers end up meeting an unfortunate destiny.
Goblin (2016)
Directed by: Lee Eung-bok, Kwon Hyun-chan, Yoon Jong-ho
Cast: Gong Yoo, Lee Dong-wook, Kim Go-eun, Yoo In-na, Yook Sung-jae
Overview: Kim Shin, an acknowledged Goryeo Dynasty military general, was accused of betrayal and was given a death sentence by the young king. He was condemned to be immortal forever as a punishment for killing thousands of soldiers in order to protect his country, witnessing the agony of his loved ones’ deaths as vengeance for the soldiers he killed for the sake of his country. He becomes an immortal ‘Dokkaebi’ (Goblin).
Ji Eun-tak is a bubbly high schooler who works as a part-timer at a chicken restaurant. She summons the goblin accidently and their fate soon starts to interweave.
Youth of May (2021)
Directed by: Song Min-yeob
Cast: Lee Do-hyun, Lee Sang-yi, Go Min-si, Keum Sae-rok
Episodes: 12
Overview: Youth Of May takes place in 1980, right after the Gwangju Revolt, and narrates the story of Hwang Hee-tae, a medical student, and Kim Myun-hee, a nurse. Hwang Hee-tae earns Gwangju’s prestige as he joins Seoul National University with outstanding grades. One day, an industrial worker got hurt during a protest. In compensation for the expense of silently getting himself and the worker from the factory to his hometown, Tae Hee agrees to a meeting with a prospective marriage partner set up by his father. Tae Hee meets Myeong Hee, a certified nurse who has endured every challenge in life.
Myeong Hee merely agrees to show up for the meeting in place of her friend Soo Ryeon because she has to pay for her flight to Germany for her education. But Myeong Hee and Tae Hee eventually develop feelings for each other. In May 1980, amongst the raging sentiments and demands for democracy that resonated all over Gwangju, Tae Hee and Myeong Hee found themselves caught up in an unexpected twist of fate.
The Good Bad Mother (2023)
Directed by: Shim Na-yeon
Cast: Lee Do-hyun, Ra Mi-ran, Ahn Eun-jin, Yoo In-soo, Seo Yi-sook
Episodes: 14
Overview: The South Korean drama Good Bad Mother revolves around Jin Young-soon, a single mother who runs a pig farm. She works hard to make sure her son Choi Kang-ho lives a comfortable life. Despite her compassion for his son Kang-ho, her strict parenting led Kang-ho to believe that she was a horrible mother. Kang-ho grows up to be a well-known prosecutor but soon distances himself from his mother. When a mishap leaves Kang-ho in a state of childish dependency, his mother Jin Young gradually cures him and fixes their strained relationship.
