If you think break-up hurts the most, you probably haven’t yet watched a sad and melodramatic K-drama. Don’t worry; you aren’t the only one here wanting to cry their heart out because why not! Sometimes we just want to go through a roller coaster of emotions with a beautiful and excruciating series or movie, especially when it works as therapy, relieving us of all our stresses. Moreover, tear-jerker K-dramas help people reconnect with their emotions with which they lose touch sometimes in a while. On the other hand, some people are just more into realistic and mature themes without any fairytale stuff.
Our Korean entertainment industry always makes sure to come up with some of the most heartbreaking and sentimental movies and dramas from time to time. So if you are one of those people who are ready for a happy cry or sad cry, we got you covered! Here are the top seven saddest K-dramas that will bound you to reach out for a box of tissues! Not all of the ones listed below have a tragic ending or a gloomy atmosphere, but we promise these work the best for a good cry.
7. Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016)
Screenwriter: Kim Eun Sook
Director: Lee Eung Bok
Starring: Kim Go Eun, Gong Yoo, Yoo In Na, Lee Dong Wook, Yook Sung Jae
Total Number of Episodes: 16
Where to Stream: Viki, Netflix
When we say ‘Guardian: The Lonely and Great God’ is a tear-jerker, we don’t really mean it as a melodrama entirely. In fact, you are going to keep rewatching some of the episodes because of how hilarious they are! Only when you watch the series, you can understand the ill-fated storylines, the painful backstories of the characters, especially the ending. One of the most popular K-dramas ever, the show tells the story of an undefeatable general of the Goryeo dynasty, Kim Shin, whose sword is stained with the blood of hundreds of individuals.
However, he ends up having a tragic and painful death, but instead of finding peace, he becomes a Goblin who can only be dead if his bride pulls out that very sword from his chest. After spending 900 years searching for her, he comes across a teenage orphan girl who can see and interact with ghosts. She realizes that she is the Goblin’s bride but ending the Goblin’s life isn’t something done this conveniently.
6. Tale of the Nine-Tailed (2020)
Screenwriter: Han Woo Ri
Director: Jo Nam Hyung, Kang Shin Hyo
Starring: Lee Dong Wook, Jo Bo Ah, Kim Yong Ji, Kim Bum Hwang Hee, Kim Jung Nan
Total Number of Episodes: 16
Where to Stream: Viki
The title of the series sounds like another Gumiho k-drama which has the same old plotline. However, we will advise you not to judge a book by its cover because ‘Tale of the Nine-Tailed’ has one of the most engaging and interesting Gumiho storylines! A romantic fantasy drama packed with loads of action, the drama revolves around a 1000-year-old nine-tailed fox, Lee Yeon, who gives up his position as the powerful god of a mountain in order to have his human first love reincarnated. As compensation, he has been working for the Afterlife Immigration Office, eradicating supernatural creatures that harm the humans in any way, waiting for his love to return.
Nam Ji Ah, an acknowledged television producer who looks exactly like his past love, begins to think of Lee Yeon as the person who is responsible for her parents’ sudden disappearance after a car accident some 20 years ago. As she tries to track him down, she comes across Lee Yeon’s half-brother, Lee Rang, who wishes nothing but misery for his older brother. Full of ancient mythical creatures and legends, the drama definitely deserves a spot on your watchlist.
5. Crash Landing on You (2019)
Screenwriter: Park Ji Eun
Director: Lee Jeong Hyo
Starring: Hyun Bin, Son Ye Jin, Kim Jung Hyun, Seo Ji Hye, Yang Kyung Won, Lee Shin Young
Total Number of Episodes: 16
Where to Stream: Netflix
It’s next to impossible for a star-crossed love story not to be a tear-jerker, especially if the show’s backdrop is of two rival countries like North Korea and South Korea. The story centers on a tough, self-made businesswoman, Yoon Se Ri, who ends up crossing the border of South Korea due to a paragliding accident. She is discovered by a North Korean army officer named Ri Jung Hyuk, who ends up promising her to help her return to her country safe and sound. However, keeping a South Korean within the borders of North Korea is no less dangerous than playing with fire.
As the game of hide-and-seek continues, the two of them find themselves discovering each other’s good sides and eventually get attracted to each other. The side plots of the show are equally interesting and keep the viewers rooting for the second lead couple as well.
Read: Top 12 Most ‘Anticipated K-dramas’ of 2022
4. Uncontrollably Fond (2016)
Screenwriter: Lee Kyung Hee
Director: Cha Young Hoon, Park Hyun Suk
Starring: Kim Woo Bin, Bae Suzy, Im Joo Hwan, Im Ju Eun, Yoo Oh Sung, Jin Kyung
Total Number of Episodes: 20
Where to Stream: Netflix, We TV, Viki
If you feel like cutting onions, just go and start watching this K-drama as early as you can! The storyline is nothing new, but the execution, the characters, and the nerve-wracking situations make it a series worth the time. The story revolves around Sin Joon Young and No Eul, who were uncontrollably fond of each other when they were younger, but circumstances pushed them hard enough to get separated.
Years later, when they meet again, No Eul finds Joon Young as a superstar actor-singer while she herself is a producer-director of documentaries. The time leap changes No Eul completely as she becomes a materialistic and overly-ambitious woman, willing to do anything to get something. However, it’s not very hard to rekindle a past romance if they still have feelings for each other.
3. Hi, Bye Mama! (2020)
Screenwriter: Kwon Hye Joo
Director: Yoo Je Won
Starring: Kim Tae Hee, Go Bo Gyeol, Lee Kyu Hyung, Seo Woo Jin, Oh Eui Shik, Shin Dong Mi
Total Number of Episodes: 16
Where to Watch: Netflix
‘Hi, Bye Mama!’ is definitely a tear-jerker through and through but also a thought-provoking K-drama. The premises centers on a mother who, after dying, gets a second opportunity to be reincarnated through a 49-day long mission. While her husband, who is a skilled surgeon, has barely got over the pain of losing his wife, he takes care of his daughter alone until finally remarrying two years ago.
After spending five years on earth as a ghost, Cha Yu-ri shows up in front of her old family and her husband’s new wife. However, her husband, who used to be a loving and sweet person, has changed into a completely different man. Everyone who is a fan of tear-jerker K-dramas with a touching plot should definitely give this show a chance.
2. Angel’s Last Mission: Love (2019)
Screenwriter: Choi Yoon Kyo
Director: Lee Jung Sub
Starring: Shin Hye Sun, Kim Myung Soo, Lee Dong Gun, Woo Hee Jin, Kim Bo Mi, Gil Eun Hye
Total Number of Episodes: 16
Where to Stream: Netflix, Viki
With such a beautiful but tragic love story, ‘Angel’s Last Mission: Love’ lands on the second spot as one of the tear-jerker K-dramas. The storyline follows a cynical, arrogant but talented ballerina named Lee Yeon Seo, who is bound to give up on her career owing to an accident. When her parents pass away, she finds it hard to trust anyone around her, who seems to be in search of an opportunity to own her inherited money. She is not even able to fall in love because of her arrogance and distrust. At the other end of the string is a carefree angel who always gets into problems. His superiors order him to find love for the distant Lee Yeon Seo if he wants to return to heaven.
1. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
Screenwriter: Jo Yoon Young
Director: Kim Kyu Tae
Starring: IU, Lee Joon Gi, Nam Joo Hyuk, Kang Ha Neul, Byun Baek Hyun, Hong Jong Hyun
Number of Episodes: 20
Where to Stream: Viu, Prime Video, Viki
When we say ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ is the most heartbreaking and tear-jerking K-drama ever, we aren’t even exaggerating. The drama has a historical setting during the reign of King Taejo in the Goryeo Dynasty. An unusual situation carries Go Ha Jin to this historical period in the body of a teenage girl named Hae Soo, sheltered at her cousin’s husband’s place, who is the Eighth Prince, Wang Wook. She wins the friendship of several princes of the palace, including Wang So, Goryeo’s Fourth Prince, and unknowingly ends up being the flower that almost every prince wants to have.
Trapped between the game of political enmity, sibling rivalry, and succession of power, Hae Soo finds herself being played as a pawn. The story involves political scheming, backstabbing, death, reincarnation, and a fated romance.
Also Read: Top 7 ‘Underrated K-dramas’ of 2021 to Add to Your List Immediately!
