K-dramas are incomplete without their soundtracks, as they add so much to the plot. OSTs don’t just complement a storyline—they enhance it. These tracks are a testament to exceptional production, songwriting, and the artist’s vocals, bringing emotion and flair to every scene, whether it’s a romantic moment, a poignant sequence, or a dramatic twist.
Here’s a list of a few K-drama OSTs you can add to your playlist. Knowing the dramas might help you connect with the songs even more, but the music alone is enough to evoke a strong emotional response.
1. ‘Looks like a real thing (English Version)’ by JeHwi – ‘Snowdrop’
Starring Jisoo of BLACKPINK and Jung Hae-in, the K-drama ‘Snowdrop’, set in 1987, revolves around the political tensions between North and South Korea. Amidst the turmoil, love blossoms between Eun Yeong-ro (played by Jisoo), a university student, and Soo-ho (played by Jung Hae-in), a North Korean agent hiding at her university.
‘Looks Like a Real Thing’ (English Version) is one of the soundtracks for ‘Snowdrop’, by singer JeHwi, with its lyrics offering comfort and hope.
“When troubles they come don’t you cry
As life goes on, let ’em try to make you blue
Color it gold with your smile
And I’ll be there
Forever just waiting for you”
The soothing melody captures the longing and quiet strength of the characters as they face uncertainty, yet choose to stand by each other.
2. ‘Summer Rain’ by Sam Kim – ‘Our Beloved Summer’
‘Our Beloved Summer,’ starring Choi Woo-shik as Choi Ung and Kim Da-mi as Kook Yeon-su, follows two former high school sweethearts reunited after ten years. The drama tells the story of their complicated relationship as they confront old feelings while filming a documentary about their past.
The OST ‘Summer Rain’ by Sam Kim sounds like a lullaby, taking listeners back to their innocent school days.
“The place we walked together
At the entrance of the alley
It used to protect me from the rain
On that summer day, you”
These lyrics beautifully reflect nostalgia, youthful affection, and the bittersweet comfort of cherished memories shared with a loved one.
3. ‘Sweet’ by Lee Mujin – ‘Business Proposal’
‘Business Proposal’ is a romantic comedy K-drama where Shin Ha-ri (played by Kim Se-jeong), an employee, disguises herself to go on a blind date with her company’s CEO, Kang Tae-moo (played by Ahn Hyo-seop). Amid hilarious misunderstandings, the two gradually fall in love.
‘Sweet’ by Lee Mu-jin brings energy and joy, with lyrics that perfectly describe the thrill of being in love.
“It feels like something good will happen
In that strange mood
I don’t want this exciting feeling to stop
My pace becomes slower and slower
It’s sweet, under the bright sunlight…”
The lyrics, with their upbeat rhythm, reflect the fluttering, curiosity, and excitement of first love.
4. ‘Hold Me Back’ by Heize – ‘Queen of Tears’
‘Queen of Tears,’ featuring Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won as Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in, follows the unraveling of what was once a happy marriage, strained by secrets and personal pain.
Heize’s ‘Hold Me Back’ captures the emotional turmoil of fading love despite lingering memories.
“Hold me back, please, right here
Stop me from running to you
Do I know how to forget you
How to walk my path without you?”
The haunting lyrics reflect the couple’s inner struggle as they try to hold onto a bond that has lost its foundation.
5. ‘Love, This’ by LAS – ‘Nevertheless’
‘Nevertheless,’ starring Han So-hee as Yu Na-bi and Song Kang as Park Jae-eon, the drama follows two people who are drawn to each other despite past heartbreaks. Their relationship is clouded by uncertainty and skepticism about love. ‘Love, This’ by LAS perfectly fits this mood, with lyrics full of hesitation and longing.
“I wonder if you know that this moment is love
After time passes, will we be different?
I know that
Something’s just
Crosses my heart that
Something’s wrong, is this alright?”
The soft arrangement and reflective lyrics create a calming, yet emotionally charged listening experience.
6. ‘Kiss me, Kiss me’ by Isaac Hong – ‘Lovestruck in the City’
‘Lovestruck in the City,’ starring Ji Chang Wook as Park Jae-won and Kim Ji-won as Eun-oh/Yoon Seon-ah, follows a couple whose relationship begins during a vacation and is tested as they navigate personal struggles. During their romance phase, ‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me’ by Hong Isaac plays in the background, enhancing the dreamy atmosphere of new love, as evident in the lyrics.
“Baby I’m out on midnight cruise
With my open heart out yeah
The way my heart is
Looking for you
Said I want you
Said I need you.”
The catchy melody mirrors the sense of joy and wonder that comes with discovering someone special, while also feeling unsure of what the future holds.
7. ‘You Make Me Smile’ by Lee Yu Rim – ‘My Contracted Husband, Mr. Oh’
‘My Contracted Husband, Mr. Oh’ follows Uee as Han Seung-joo, a single woman in her mid-30s and a successful TV producer who struggles with social prejudices against single women. To gain the benefits of being married, she enters into a contractual marriage with Kim Kang-woo as Oh Jak-doo, and despite their arrangement, their relationship gradually develops into a heartfelt romance.
The song ‘You Make Me Smile’ by Lee Yu Rim reflects this budding romance with its playful lyrics.
“I don’t know why I’m like this
Whenever I see you, my heart races, it really races, woo woo
Since when did I start loving you?
I just like you, without any reason, I just do, woo woo”
This cheerful song mirrors the excitement and innocence of newfound love.
8. ‘Talk Love’ by K. Will – ‘Descendants Of The Sun’
‘Descendants of the Sun’, a beloved military romance drama starring Song Joong-ki as Yoo Si-jin and Song Hye-kyo as Kang Mo-yeon, follows the love story between a soldier and a doctor amid war and disaster zones. ‘Talk Love’ by K.Will captures the vulnerability and confusion of falling in love.
“Without a word, feelings keep growing
This can’t go on like this
How did I become this way?
How did I fall for you this much?
I don’t even know”
The lyrics perfectly encapsulate the uncertain emotions of a relationship’s early stages.
9. ‘Your River In Me’ by O3ohn – ‘Link: Eat, Love, Kill’
‘Link: Eat, Love, Kill,’ starring Yeo Jin-goo as Eun Gye-hoon and Moon Ka-young as Noh Da-hyun, follows Gye-hoon and his twin sister, who share a special bond called a link, allowing them to feel each other’s emotions even from afar. After his sister’s disappearance 18 years ago, Gye-hoon hasn’t felt the connection until Da-hyun enters his life.
‘Your River In Me’ by O3ohn focuses on Gye-hoon dealing with loss and grief as a brother haunted by the memories of his sister.
“Days we couldn’t be together
If only we could just hug each other without saying a word
In the many times we spent together
Days I couldn’t protect you”
The haunting melody and heartfelt lyrics reflect the sorrow, loneliness and yearning that define the drama’s mysterious and emotional narrative.
10. ‘What are we’ by Ha Sung-woon – ‘Love Next Door’
‘Love Next Door’ tells the story of two childhood friends, played by Jung So-min as Bae Seok-ryu and Jung Hae-in as Choi Seung-hyo, who slowly realize they have deeper feelings for each other but are unsure about defining their relationship.
‘What Are We’ by Ha Sung-woon perfectly reflects this transition from friendship to love.
“It’s changed over a long time, somehow
Your image is clear in all my memories
A secret that’s grown little by little, unnoticed
The days that stuck to me like a habit, I need
Meaning, oh
So, what are we?”
The lyrics highlight the confusion, curiosity, and sweetness of discovering new emotions in a familiar relationship.
Add these OSTs to your playlist – they might inspire you to dive into the entire drama or simply let you enjoy the music on its own. What makes these songs truly special is the way they heighten the emotional depth of each story, bringing the characters to life and leaving an impression that lingers long after the final episode.
Written by Srishti Pandey
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