It’s been an extended week, you’re unsure of your future, and also you simply want to look at a tragic present and set free some cathartic tears for individuals who don’t exist. No one’s judging – we’ve all been there. Sometimes individuals simply have to cry.
Luckily, there are many Korean dramas to select from, simply accessible on-line in methods they by no means would have been simply 10 years in the past. With the success of the Oscar-winning Parasite, South Korea has grow to be well-known for the motion and horror thrillers it is produced in the previous few years, however dramas have been standard for a lot longer. Some are wholly unrealistic melodramas, some are heartwrenching explorations of human connection, and a few are simply enjoyable romps with a couple of unhappy scenes thrown in for good measure. Sit again and let the tears circulation with the saddest Korean dramas.
Updated on April 28, 2023, by Daniela Gama:
Following the discharge of the emotional Korean drama The Good Bad Mothers, which facilities on a single mum or dad (Ra Mi-ran) who has lived for her little one (Lee Do-Hyun) all her life and her prosecutor son who suffers from amnesia, viewers could also be questioning what to look at subsequent. From The Hymn of Death to Mr. Sunshine, there are a number of different unhappy Okay-dramas to select from.
12 ‘The Hymn of Death’ (2018)
In the Nineteen Twenties, Korea was occupied by Japan, and liberation actions had been beginning to develop. Currently, the interval drama is on Netflix – the present itself relies on Korea’s first soprano singer, Yun Sim-deok (Shin Hae-sun), and follows her relationship with the author Kim Woo-jin (Lee Jong-suk), and the tragic finish they each come to.
The present is brief, solely 3 episodes lengthy, and if viewers know something in regards to the historical past concerned, it’s predictable. However, it’s a gorgeous look right into a time in Korea not usually portrayed, regardless of being one of the crucial attention-grabbing and tragic durations in world historical past.
11 ‘The Snow Queen’ (2006)
From the touching soundtrack to Korean star Hyun Bin’s performing, The Snow Queen is an emotional curler coaster that primarily goes down for many of the present. The premise itself tells followers what to anticipate: after the suicide of his finest pal, Han Tae-woon has given up his genius-level mathematical abilities in favor of boxing, till he meets a lady he met as soon as as a toddler, falling in love together with her solely to find that she was his finest pal’s youthful sister. The two of them assist one another via their grief.
It isn’t a straightforward present to search out, but it surely’s positively well worth the effort. In a reasonably slice-of-life story, the characters shine; well-rounded, likable, and heartwarming whilst they take care of the exhausting issues life throws at them.
10 ‘Good Doctor’ (2013)
When an autistic man with savant syndrome enters a hospital as a pediatric surgeon, he nearly instantly encounters opposition. Looked down upon for his autism by each his co-workers and his purchasers’ mother and father and household, he has to search out methods to show that he can work successfully with youngsters regardless of the obstacles he has to beat. Good Doctor additionally has an American remake of comparable success.
While not the saddest present, usually that includes heartwarming and inspirational scenes, there are many moments that exhibit precisely how harsh the world might be to individuals who don’t conform to what others see as regular.
9 ‘Winter Sonata’ (2002)
One of the primary Korean dramas to grow to be standard internationally, Winter Sonata helped to launch the present wave of Korean leisure media into the West–no surprise, then, that it grew to become what most subsequent dramas appeared to for their very own reputation. The collection got here out in 2002 and was the mannequin for many romance Okay-dramas now, which means that, trying again, it comes throughout as somewhat cliché and predictable.
That doesn’t imply it’s not nonetheless fulfilling melodramatic. For followers of the everyday Okay-drama romance, there are many scenes right here to make you sob.
8 ‘Just Between Lovers’ (2017)
A narrative of two individuals who regularly develop nearer after studying that they suffered via the identical tragedy as youngsters, Just Between Lovers is genuinely heartbreaking at occasions. It presents one in all actor Won Jin-A’s finest roles as Ha Moon-soo, an architect devoted to stopping a tragedy just like the one she suffered from ever taking place once more. She represses her reminiscences till a slowly-developing friendship with Lee Gang-doo (Lee Jun-ho) permits them to each reconcile with the trauma that also impacts them.
This is a superb, melancholy alternative, with a cathartic and hopeful ending – one which could be very wanted after going via 16 episodes of highs and lows. This accessible Korean present good for freshmen is a sensible have a look at two individuals who really feel very plausible, characters {that a} viewer can’t assist however like and perceive.
7 ‘My Love from the Star’ (2013)
Do Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun) finds himself in–fairly actually–a star-crossed love when he falls in love with actress and star Cheon Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun). Only one drawback: Min-joon is an alien trapped on Earth–a good-looking and clever alien working as a professor, however an alien nonetheless.
Opposites appeal to in My Love from the Star, one of the crucial standard Korean dramas. A bittersweet ending solely provides to the allure of the present, which is already current on account of Jun Ji-hyun’s improbable comedic timing and surprisingly emotional moments. The drama launched the male lead actor, Kim Soo-hyun, to new heights in his profession as an actor, and it was a cultural phenomenon.
6 ‘Kill Me, Heal Me’ (2015)
It uncommon for a Okay-drama present to have a look at id problems and abuse as a premise, however Kill Me, Heal Me dives into the depths of Cha Do-hyun’s (Ji Sung) previous and his subsequent Dissociative Identity Disorder. The collection gained a number of awards for its storyline. The material it brings up is poignant and related, and the primary character’s totally different personalities are all well-portrayed and grow to be true characters themselves.
A thriller, a comedy, and a romance multi function, the present doesn’t shrink back from the sadder moments that come up – and it may be totally loved with a subscription to Viki.
5 ‘Youth of May’ (2021)
Youth of May is ready in the course of the Gwangju Uprising of May 1980, one of the crucial essential occasions in South Korea’s current historical past, with lasting results at the moment. A democratic scholar rebellion within the metropolis of Gwangju in opposition to the insurance policies of the present authoritarian authorities, it resulted within the reported dying of 170 residents, although the quantity is contested to be a lot increased.
Youth of May, portraying the romance between a nurse and a medical scholar in Gwangju, achieves its aim of spreading consciousness of the methods regular life was disrupted that 12 months by the rebellion, in addition to the tragedy it incurred amongst harmless individuals.
4 ‘Goblin’ (2016)
At one time, Goblin was one of many most-watched exhibits in South Korea, and have become a cultural phenomenon, profitable a number of awards. Starring one in all South Korea’s high actors, Gong Yoo, this supernatural thriller presents a romance between a Joseon Dynasty-era army officer and a modern-day younger lady (there’s lots of that in Okay-dramas).
Like My Love from the Star, many of the angst on this present attracts from Kim Shin being immortal and falling in love with a mortal lady, and the longing he feels to lastly break the curse of immortality he’s been positioned below.
3 ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ (2016)
Historical interval items are ample amongst Korean dramas, however not all of them have as many unhappy moments as Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. In the unhappy Korean drama, a modern-day lady will get transported again to Korea’s Goryeo Dynasty and finally ends up navigating the sophisticated political conditions that consequence when she’s drawn right into a love triangle with two princes combating for the throne.
The writers handle to get to the center of the drama, actually exploring the feelings such a tense state of affairs would evoke in a lady used to the comforts of contemporary life. While it might take a couple of episodes to get used to the abundance of characters, the story is definitely value it.
2 ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ (2020)
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is a extremely standard and beloved Okay-drama revolving round Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun), an orphan caregiver who lives together with his autistic brother (astoundingly performed by Moon Sang Tae). However, when Gang-tae begins working at a psychiatric hospital, he comes throughout a well-known delinquent author (Seo Ye-Ji) who his brother completely loves. Soon sufficient, surprising feelings come up.
In addition to its stunning visuals and wonderful performing performances, this 2020 drama (which, at occasions, offers off sturdy Tim Burton fairytale-like vibes) supplies viewers an equal occasions heartwarming and extremely unhappy storyline reflecting on familial bonds, psychological well being, and all of the stigma that surrounds it.
1 ‘Mr. Sunshine’ (2018)
In Mr. Sunshine, audiences are launched to somewhat little one (grown into a captivating man performed by Lee Byung-hun) who’s born into slavery however escapes to the United States in the course of the 1871 Shinmiyangyo (U.S. expedition to Korea) due to a tragic expertise. Later, as an officer within the United States Marine Corps, he returns to Joseon the place he meets and finally falls for the daughter (Kim Tae-ri) of an aristocrat.
While the collection title is actually Mr. Sunshine, this charming Okay-drama doesn’t fall wanting providing a few emotional moments and is definitely amongst the saddest of its style. In addition to its intriguing premise, it additionally options breathtaking cinematography.