15 Most Tragic K-Drama Endings

Although Korean dramas are heavy with tropes and cliches, one thing is for certain: they tell a beautiful story of friendship and love. Known mostly for their love stories, Korean dramas examine love in a variety of different genres. There are love stories in fantasy settings (Alchemy of Souls, Doom at Your Service), love stories in science fiction settings (Memories of the Alhambra, I Am Not a Robot), and love stories in thrillers (Happiness, Healer). It’s hard not to find a good love story in K-dramas.

However, while there are plenty of love stories in Korean dramas, not all of them have happily ever afters. There are few K-dramas with perfect endings (Boys Over Flowers, Fated to Love You), but there are plenty with a happy ending (Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, Touch Your Heart). But what about those with not-so-happy endings? While K-dramas might be good at telling romantic stories that will make viewers swoon, they are also notorious for creating devastating endings that cause viewers to sob and bawl their eyes out. But which Korean dramas have tragic endings? Here are the saddest K-dramas on the market.

15

‘What Happened In Bali’ (2004)

Directed by Choi Moon-suk

What Happened In Bali is one of the most underrated K-dramas of all time, and it’s a career-making drama for several of its leads. Zo In-sung and So Ji-sub are today’s legendary actors, and their presence on film and TV typically signals a good time. What Happened In Bali, though, is a great K-drama but very tragic, and has one of the saddest endings ever put on television. This didn’t prevent the drama from becoming popular, though it made lots of people feel sad during the final episode.

In What Happened In Bali, the heir of a rich family, Jae-min (Zo), goes to Bali and meets the local tour guide, Soo-jung (Ha Ji-won). He falls in love with her, despite being engaged to another rich kid, Young-joo (Park Ye-jin), while Young-joo has an ex-boyfriend, commoner In-wook (So), whom she still thinks about. This love square goes left and right and takes incredible turns during its 20-episode run. The show ends with Jae-min catching Soo-jung and In-wook in bed together; he kills them both, after telling Soo-jung he loves her, and then shoots himself on the beach in Bali.

14

‘Gu Family Book’ (2013)

Created by Kang Eun-kyung

Kang-chi (Lee Seung-gi) is the half gumiho son of full-blooded gumiho Wol-ryung (Choi Jin-hyuk) and human Seo-hwa (Yoon Se-ah). Though he is not aware of his heritage because he is adopted into a noble family, he still manages to somehow attract trouble. After losing most of whom he loves one fateful night, Kang-chi decides to find a way to become fully human. Warrior Dam Yeo-wool (Suzy Bae) follows him, and the two fall for each other.

Gu Family Book consists of two love stories that both end tragically. All of Kang-chi’s life, he is surrounded by death and tragedy, which makes for an emotional story. However, Kang-chi’s life begins to change upon meeting Yeo-wool, and he soon wants to become a human for her sake. However, at the end of the show, Yeo-wool passes away in Kang-chi’s arms, leaving him with an eternal life of grief.

13

‘Youth of May’ (2021)

Directed by Song Min-yeop

During the Gwangju Uprising in 1980, medical student Hee-tae (Lee Do-hyun) decides to postpone his graduation due to personal trauma. His friend, Kyung-soo (Kwon Young-chan), wants to open an illegal clinic for those who are running from the Korean government. Then, during an arranged meeting, Hee-tae meets Myung-hee (Go Min-si), a headstrong nurse, and the two begin to fall in love with each other.

Though Youth of May is centered on the Gwangju Uprising, it focuses on the friendship and love that blossom during a terrible time. The love story in itself is a beautiful one, one that stems from dark times; however, Youth of May ends tragically, with Myung-hee being killed during the Gwangju Uprising. Her death serves to remind viewers of the very real event that overturned the lives of many Korean men and women, and this knowledge adds to the emotional intensity of the drama.

12

‘I’m Sorry, I Love You’ (2004)

Directed by Lee Hyung-min

I’m Sorry, I Love You is one of the best K-dramas of the 2000s. It was critically praised and So Ji-sub won numerous awards in South Korea for his portrayal of the tragic lead, Cha Moo-hyuk. So is joined by Im Soo-jung, and their chemistry is palpable, though their love story is a tragic one. I’m Sorry, I Love You makes for a compelling watch, but it’s pretty sad and won’t leave anyone without tears in their eyes.

I’m Sorry, I Love You follows Moo-hyuk (So), who is an orphan in Australia. His foster parents abandoned him, and he survived on the streets by pickpocketing. One day, he helps Eun-chae (Im), who is the assistant and lifelong friend of famous actor, Choi Yoon (Jung Kyung-ho). Eun-chae is in love with Yoon, but Yoon doesn’t see her in the same way. Moo-hyuk and Eun-chae bond by sharing misfortune, and eventually fall in love. The drama ends with Moo-hyuk doing a selfless act – committing suicide, so his heart could be transplanted to Yoon, who turns out to be his long-lost brother. Eun-chae grieves Moo-hyuk, and on the anniversary of his death, she visits his grave and drinks poison.

11

‘Uncontrollably Fond’ (2016)

Created by Lee Kyoung-hee

Documentary producer No-eul (Suzy Bae) is assigned to direct and film the documentary of a famous singer. However, the only problem is that the famous singer is Shin Joon-young (Kim Woo-bin), her ex-boyfriend from high school. Though they had a complicated past and a rough breakup, their feelings are reignited as they spend more time together.

A beautiful love story from start to finish, Uncontrollably Fond tells a tale of first loves. However, despite this, there is tragedy in this love story, and the emotional performances from Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy are sure tearjerkers. Their passion and love for each other through their characters are clear, and when Woo Bin’s character dies, it’s hard not to shed a few tears at the grief and loss.

10

‘Stairway to Heaven’ (2003–2004)

Directed by Lee Jang-soo

Childhood friends Cha Song-joo (Kwon Sang-woo) and Han Jung-suh (Choi Ji-woo) fall in love with each other as adults. When Jung-suh’s father remarries, she is mistreated by her stepsister and stepmother. These tensions lead to Jung-suh losing her memories, and Song-joo attempts to move on, though their love reignites when they meet again.

Stairway to Heaven is a popular Korean drama known for its emotional intensity. Though it is full of cliches and tropes seen in modern-day K-dramas, Stairway to Heaven is full of heart; viewers will find themselves rooting for both of the male leads who give themselves completely to Jung-suh. Their acts alone prove the length one is willing to go for those they love. However, Stairway to Heaven also delves into the loss of love at a young age, with Jung-suh passing away from her cancer. Stairway to Heaven might be one of the saddest K-dramas to exist.

Stairway To Heaven

Release Date

2003 – 2003

Network

SBS

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  Kwon Sang-woo

  Cha Songjoo

• 

  Choi Ji-woo

  Han Jeongseo / Kim Jisoo

• 

  Shin Hyun-joon

  Han Taehwa / Han Cheolsoo

• 

9

‘The Smile Has Left Your Eyes’ (2018)

Directed by Yoo Je-won

The Smile Has Left Your Eyes already has a tragic name, and it is a fairly tragic K-drama that ends pretty unexpectedly, in an outcome no one really wanted, but it seemed inevitable. It’s a remake of a famous Japanese drama titled Hundred Million Stars from the Sky, and it was very popular when it came out. The drama stars some big names, including Seo In-guk, Jung So-min, and Park Sung-woong. This drama is a bit different from a classic K-drama, including some elements of a thriller in its romantic premise.

Moo-young (Seo) is a beer server at an art gallery when he meets Jin-kang (Jung). Jin-kang has an older brother, Jin-gook (Park), who’s been a homicide detective for years. Moo-young doesn’t remember his past and seems suspicious to Jin-gook, who his sister introduces him to. Despite a complex storyline and a convoluted plot, this drama is told from a fairly positive perspective. Still, at the very end, Moo-young and Jin-kang are killed, and Jin-gook’s guilt over losing his sister consumes him. The show is an emotional roller-coaster, but it’s worth watching if you don’t mind your protagonists dying at the very end.

8

‘The Hymn of Death’ (2018)

Directed by Park Soo-jin

During Japan’s occupation of Korea, genius playwright Kim Woo-jin (Lee Jong-suk) meets the Joseon Dynasty’s first soprano, Yun Sim-deok (Shin Hye-sun). Despite being married, he falls in love with her.

Based on a true story, The Hymn of Death is a beautiful tale of love that cannot be extinguished. It deals with heavy topics, though it does so delicately and maturely. It is in sadness that sometimes we are forced apart from the people we love due to unfortunate circumstances. The Hymn of Death explores this concept, but it also examines an inseparable love, which leads to Sim-deok and Woo-jin deciding that if they cannot exist in this world with each other, then they would rather leave it together. Though short, The Hymn of Death is an emotionally bittersweet story that will have viewers bawling in tears.

7

‘Goblin’ (2016–2017)

Created by Kim Eun-sook

Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun) lives alone, and she has the unfortunate ability to see and interact with ghosts and other otherworldly beings. Her life, which is marked with death, grows exciting when she meets the goblin, Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), who is cursed to walk the Earth until the rumored goblin’s wife pulls the invisible sword from his chest and frees him from his bindings chaining him to his grief-filled existence. However, as the two grow closer together, they finally find happiness in each other and begin to fall in love.

Goblin is a comedic story of love and friendship that contains sadder stories within it. These sad stories stem from the lives and experiences shared among the main cast, reminding viewers often of their trauma. However, while there are sad stories, there is also a lot of healing shared between characters as they atone for their pasts and mistakes, creating for a beautiful story of love. However, tragedy sets in again at the end when Eun-tak, Kim Shin’s beloved, is involved in a car accident where she sacrifices herself to save children. Heartbreaking and tear-jerking, viewers will undoubtedly mourn for Eun-tak and grieve alongside Kim Shin, creating for a tragic story.

Goblin

Release Date

December 2, 2016

• 

  Jo Hyun-sik

  Batch 21 Grim Reaper

• 

6

’49 Days’ (2011)

Directed by Jo Young-kwang

49 Days is a pretty sad K-drama, but it’s also full of interesting and poignant themes. Revolving around themes like life, death, fate, loyalty, and betrayal, 49 Days shows the growth of its main character through a most unusual ordeal. 49 Days is a fairly underrated K-drama, but it’s a brilliant watch for everyone who loves emotional stories about discovering a life purpose. It stars Lee Yo-won and Nam Gyu-ri as the two female leads who are crucial to the story development and plot; their performances are brilliant.

49 Days is about two women: Ji-hyun (Nam), a rich, happy, “Optimistic Princess,” as she’s dubbed by her friends, who observes life and reality through rose-colored glasses; and Yi-kyung (Lee), a depressed night shift worker who lost her spark and will to live after her boyfriend’s death. When Ji-hyun gets into a car accident and falls into a coma, an angel calling himself “The Scheduler” (Jung Il-woo) gives her a mission to fulfill in 49 days so she can go back to the world of the living. Sadly, in the end, it turns out Ji-hyun’s redemption was almost for nothing, since she dies anyway. If you can handle topics like these, 49 Days will be your cup of tea.