Grab a box tissue, because these K-Dramas could reduce anyone to a pool of tears. In a perfect world, everyone’s wishes would come true. Whether it’s a peaceful life, the job of your dreams, or marrying someone you love — if only everything is that simple. Unfortunately, life is not complete without its ebbs and flows. Light only exists in the presence of darkness. But even when things look bleak and despairing, there’s always a beacon of hope waiting at the end of the tunnel.
From unrequited love to life-or-death situations, these K-Dramas don’t shy away from pulling the rug on someone’s happiness. But as heartbreaking as these shows may be, all the pain comes with important lessons that are worth learning. Without further ado, here are the 10 saddest K-Dramas of all time, ranked.
10
‘Winter Sonata’ (2002)
Cast: Choi Ji-woo, Bae Yong-jun, Park Yong-ha
Winter Sonata introduces audiences to two school kids from different worlds. Loner Joon-sang (Bae Yong-jun) has a crush on Yoo-jin (Choi Ji-woo). As their young love is on the cusp of blossoming, devastation strikes. Joon-san is caught in an accident. He might have survived, but all of his memories of Korea are erased in an amnesia-like state. Ten years later, the two reunite, but under different circumstances.
Joon-sang’s presumed death left audiences shocked. Although it’s a miracle that he’s alive, his brain-altering accident causes him to forget the moments he’s shared with Yoo-jin. Throughout Winter Sonata Joon-sang begins to regain his memories, but under painful circumstances. Under the weight of traumatic incidents, his realization of the past is heart-wrenching to watch, leaving the softest of hearts feeling sorry for him.
9
‘Good Doctor’ (2013)
Cast: Joo Won, Moon Chae-won, Joo Sang-uk
No one would’ve expected Park Shi-On (Joo Won) to become a pediatric surgeon in his adult life. With savant syndrome and a developmental disability, he stood out from the crowd as a child. He might not have had the happiest childhood, but he always had his older brother to lean on. Now all grown up, he’s constantly working in the clinic together with his fellow colleague Kim Do-han (Joo Sang-Wook).
In Good Doctor, Shi-On had to bear witness to many traumatic moments in his life, both in his personal and professional life. Despite being all grown up, Shi-On still carries the grief of losing one of his closest relatives as a young boy, causing Shi-On to break down while his emotional walls crumble. His work as a doctor also requires Shi-on to witness unexpected painful deaths, crushing Shi-On to bits.
8
‘My Love From Another Star’ (2013–2014)
Cast: Jun Ji-hyun, Kim Soo-hyun, Park Hae-jin
Planets collide in My Love From Another Star. Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun) is no ordinary human. In fact, he’s not even a human being at all. On the outside, he’s a good-looking and well-knowledgeable professor. Underneath the surface, he’s an alien who’s been trapped on Earth for 400 years. If that’s not troubling enough, he falls in love with actress Cheon Song-yi (Jun Ji-Hyun).
In My Love From Another Star, every passing day for Min-Joon costs him his physical body. The longer he stays on Earth to be by Song-yi’s side, the quicker his alien biology destabilizes, leaving Min-joon limited time to make his final choice. There’s nothing more beautiful than two star-crossed lovers overcoming the impossible. But when fate decides they should part ways, it’s an ending worth crying out your heart for.
7
‘It’s Okay, That’s Love’ (2014)
Cast: Jo In-sung, Gong Hyo-jin
By day, Jang Jae-Yeol (Jo In-sung) is a cool and composed mystery writer and radio DJ. But when he’s not tending to his work, he can be found hanging out with his mentee, Kang-woo (Doh Kyung-soo). Somewhere else in the city, Ji Hae-Soo (Gong Hyo-jin) is starting her first-year fellowship in psychiatry. Upon her chance encounter with Jae-Yeol, little do they realize that their lives are about to change.
It’s Okay, That’s Love is a reminder that true love means going through tough times together. Jae-Yeol might’ve been the charismatic counterpart to Hae-soo, but when he learns that his closest confidante might’ve only been a figment of his imagination, he succumbs to a psychotic breakdown. It’s a shocking wake-up call to Hae-soo, leaving her crying helplessly outside his ward.
6
‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ (2016)
Cast: Lee Joon-giI, Kang Ha-neul
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo pulls modern-day Go Ha-jin into the tumultuous, politically tense world of the Goryeo Dynasty. After a solar eclipse, she wakes up in the body of Hae Soo, a young noblewoman living under the roof of the gentle 8th Prince Wang Wook. As she gets caught up with the royal princes, especially the misunderstood 4th Prince Wang So, Hae Soo is caught in a love triangle entrenched in palace politics.
The heartbreaks keep rolling as Hae Soo must endure palace cruelty. Weary from the torture, Hae Soo leaves the palace for good. But before she makes a break from it, she leaves a sorrowful letter to Wang. Once the stoic and feared prince, Wang is engulfed by agony as he screams for Hae-Soo to return.
5
‘Mr. Sunshine’ (2018)
Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Yeon-seok
A sweeping epic of the ages, Mr. Sunshine follows Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-hun), a former Joseon slave who escapes to America during the 1871 U.S. expedition to Korea. A New York native, Eugene returns decades later as a U.S. Marine Corps officer stationed in Hanseong. Amidst political turmoil, Eugene falls for Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri), who happens to be engaged to a well-to-do nobleman.
Even during the bloodiest of historical periods, Eugene and Ae-shin’s love remains poor. Unfortunately, romance isn’t enough to save them from the war tragedies that separate them. In a final act of love, the two are chased after the Japanese, forcing Eugene to make a painful choice to save Ae-shin’s life. They’ve worked so hard to build a life together, only to end in unfair loss.
4
‘Twenty-Five Twenty-One’ (2022)
Cast: Kim Tae-ri, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Ji-yeon
Amidst the 1998 South Korean financial crisis, Twenty-Five Twenty-one follows two youths who dare to dream during uncertain times. Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri), a focused high school fencer, refuses to give up when her team is disbanded, eventually climbing their way to nationals. The formerly rich Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk) watches his world collapse and is forced to build everything from the ground up, working his way to becoming a sports reporter.
With ambitions come responsibilities and sacrifices. Twenty-Five Twenty-One is realistic. A reminder of the costs that come with loving someone. Years after long-distance struggles and carrying the weight of their jobs, Hee-do and Yi-jin would eventually reach their limits. Although the two still love each other, they both know that pursuing a relationship would do them no good.
3
‘Reply 1988’ (2015–2016)
Cast: Lee Hyeri, Park Bo-gum, Ryu Jun-yeol
Reply 1988 is the epitome of heartwarming nostalgia. In late 1980s Seoul, five childhood friends — Duk-Sun, Jung-Hwan, Sun-Woo, Dong-Ryong, and Taek — grew up together in the same neighborhood. The group might live simple lives, but their friendship is rich in moments. These teens endure everything from love triangles and school stress to family struggles and emotional coming-of-age moments together. Just as these groups of pals go through life together, so do their respective parents, siblings, and the community they’re surrounded by.
Much of Reply 1988’s focus lies in the gang’s everyday moments. While some of them are carefree and hilarious, others are more on the touching side. One scene to look out for is when Sun-woo’s mother, a hardworking widow, receives a new pair of shoes as a surprise from her son and daughter. Equally overwhelming is when Taek’s father breaks down in solitude after the death of his wife.
2
‘Goblin’ (2016–2017)
Cast: Gong Yoo,Kim Go-eun,Lee Dong-wook
A historical saga, Goblin pulls audiences back to ancient times. The unbeatable general Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) is shockingly killed by a jealous King. Instead of dying, he is transformed into an immortal Dokkaebi. It’s been 900 years since Shin’s been cursed, and it’s only a matter of time before a human bride ends his life. His chance encounters with the Grim Reaper (Lee Dong-Wook) and Ji Eun-Tak (Kim Go-Eun) could put an end to his suffering.
Dying might’ve been the only agenda in Shin’s long, enduring life. But even the strongest of past generals have a hard time saying goodbye. In the show’s final moments, Shin’s wish finally comes true. But as he bids his farewells to Eun-tak, their blissful time together comes to an end. Even though they reunite in the afterlife, their bittersweet reunion is short-lived. Time has never been on their side.
Goblin
- Release Date
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December 2, 2016
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Jo Hyun-sik
Batch 21 Grim Reaper
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1
‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ (2025)
Cast: IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri
Set in the nostalgic 1950s, Jeju natives Ae-Sun (IU) and Gwan-Sik (Park Bo-Gum) have much more in common than they realize. Rebellious by nature, Ae-Sun spends most of her time reading books and pursuing her passion for poetry. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have the money to attend school. Meanwhile, the more diligent Gwan-Sik isn’t much of a talker. Deep down, he harbors feelings for Ae-Sun.
At its heart, When Life Gives You Tangerines is a simple, coming-of-age story of two individuals growing up and falling in love with each other. Such is the nature of life, it’s full of ups and downs. Sadly, Ae-Sun is in for a major heartbreak when she’s forced to say goodbye to her one true love. What’s even sadder is the aftermath that follows, where family grief continues to loom even during the merriest of moments.
