Starring Song Seung-heon, Song Hye-kyo, and Won Bin, this drama is a quintessential melodrama that paved the way for the “Korean Wave.” It tells the story of Yoon Joon-su and Choi Eun-su, who discover they were switched at birth and navigate a complex sibling-like bond that blossoms into a tragic love. Facing societal disapproval and ultimately a terminal illness for Eun-su, the drama culminates in a heart-wrenching farewell as Eun-su passes away in Joon-su’s arms, leaving a legacy of pure but ultimately doomed love.

Featuring a star-studded cast including Choi Ji-woo, Kwon Sang-woo, Shin Hyun-joon, and Kim Tae-hee, “Stairway to Heaven” follows the tumultuous love story of childhood sweethearts Cha Song-joo and Han Jung-suh. Separated by cruel circumstances, including a malicious step-sister and memory loss, they eventually reunite only to face Jung-suh’s battle with cancer. The drama concludes with Jung-suh’s tragic death, leaving Song-joo heartbroken and alone, forever cherishing their memories.

Led by So Ji-sub and Im Soo-jung, this emotionally charged drama centers on Cha Moo-hyuk, a man with a tragic past living as a street hustler in Australia. He returns to Korea seeking revenge on his biological mother but unexpectedly falls in love with Song Eun-chae, his benefactor’s coordinator. Facing a bleak destiny due to a bullet lodged in his head, Moo-hyuk’s love story with Eun-chae is filled with both tenderness and sorrow, culminating in his selfless sacrifice and eventual death, leaving Eun-chae devastated.

Starring Rain and Shin Min-a, “A Love to Kill” tells the story of Kang Bok-gu, a mixed martial arts fighter who seeks revenge on a famous actress, Cha Eun-suk, whom he blames for his brother’s accident. However, their paths intertwine in unexpected ways, leading to a passionate yet ultimately tragic romance. Despite finding love, Bok-gu’s past and the circumstances surrounding their relationship lead to a poignant and sorrowful ending where both characters face tragic fates.

Featuring a large ensemble cast including Lee Joon-gi, IU, Kang Ha-neul, Hong Jong-hyun, and Nam Joo-hyuk, this historical fantasy romance follows Go Ha-jin, a woman from the 21st century who is transported back to the Goryeo Dynasty. Amidst palace intrigue and power struggles between princes, she falls deeply in love with the brooding fourth prince, Wang So. Despite moments of happiness, the drama is steeped in political tragedy and loss, with many key characters meeting untimely ends and the central couple facing constant separation and ultimately, a heartbreaking farewell across time.

Starring Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy, this melodrama revolves around the rekindled romance between Shin Joon-young, a terminally ill top star, and Noh Eul, a documentary producer with a difficult past. Their love story, fraught with missed opportunities and the shadow of Joon-young’s impending death, is marked by both tender moments and profound sadness. The drama concludes with Joon-young’s passing, leaving Noh Eul to navigate life with the bittersweet memories of their love.

Led by Seo In-guk and Jung So-min, this complex and intense thriller romance explores the dangerous connection between Kim Moo-young, a man with a mysterious and potentially violent past, and Yoo Jin-kang, a woman with her own emotional scars. Their relationship is fraught with suspicion and hidden truths, ultimately leading to a tragic and impactful ending where their intertwined fates culminate in a devastating act of violence, leaving a lasting sense of sorrow and finality.

Led by Lee Byung-hun and Kim Tae-ri, this historical drama follows Eugene Choi, a Korean-born American marine officer, and Go Ae-shin, a noblewoman who becomes involved in the resistance against Japanese colonial forces in the early 20th century. As Eugene and Ae-shin’s love story unfolds against the backdrop of a nation on the brink of revolution, they confront love, loyalty, and sacrifice. While the drama highlights the personal sacrifices made for a greater cause, the tragic ending leaves Eugene sacrificing himself for Ae-shin’s safety and the resistance’s success. This conclusion, though heroic, is filled with deep sorrow as the characters face personal loss, leaving viewers with a powerful sense of grief and bittersweet farewell.

Led by Lee Jong-suk and Shin Hye-sun, Hymn of Death is a tragic historical romance based on the real-life story of the first soprano in Korea, Yun Sim-deok, and her doomed love affair with playwright Kim Woo-jin. Set during the Japanese colonial period, the drama explores their passionate yet heart-wrenching relationship, which is marred by societal pressures and personal sacrifices. As Yun Sim-deok rises to fame, her love for Kim Woo-jin becomes increasingly difficult to maintain, especially as external forces threaten to tear them apart. The series culminates in a devastating ending where the couple, unable to overcome the cruel fate set before them, choose to end their lives together. While their love transcends time and circumstance, the tragic conclusion leaves a lingering sense of melancholy, highlighting the deep sorrow of unfulfilled love and the relentless struggles of their era.

Starring IU and Yeo Jin-goo, “Hotel del Luna” presents a visually stunning and unique supernatural premise. Jang Man-wol (IU) is the ancient and cynical owner of a mysterious hotel that caters only to ghosts before they pass on to the afterlife. Her life is intertwined with the kind and earnest human manager, Goo Chan-sung (Yeo Jin-goo). As their relationship deepens, they uncover Man-wol’s tragic past and the reasons for her centuries-long existence tied to the hotel. While the ending sees Man-wol finally finding peace and moving on to the afterlife, it inherently involves a poignant separation from Chan-sung, who is left to live on with the memories of their extraordinary love and the bittersweet understanding of her liberation. The departure of the hotel’s quirky staff also adds to the sense of farewell and the end of a magical era.

Starring Kim Tae-hee and Lee Kyu-hyung, this fantasy drama centers on Cha Yu-ri, a ghost who has lingered near her daughter for five years and is unexpectedly given a second chance to live as a human for 49 days. While filled with heartwarming moments of reunion with her husband and daughter, the drama inherently carries the weight of her eventual departure. The ending, while providing some closure and allowing Yu-ri to help her family move forward, is ultimately bittersweet as she must return to the afterlife, leaving her loved ones behind once more.

Led by Lee Jun-ho and Lee Se-young, Red Sleeve is a historical romance drama set during the Joseon Dynasty. The story centers around the passionate yet tumultuous relationship between King Jeongjo and his royal concubine, Seong Deok-im. The king, portrayed by Lee Jun-ho, struggles with the weight of his royal duties while deeply loving the strong-willed Seong Deok-im, played by Lee Se-young. Their love is complicated by palace politics, duty, and the tragic events surrounding their lives. As the series unfolds, Deok-im’s eventual departure from the king’s side due to her personal convictions and the oppressive circumstances surrounding the palace is heartbreaking. Despite the king’s efforts to keep her by his side, the ending leaves viewers with a sense of bittersweet resolution. The drama beautifully blends historical events with emotional depth, showcasing the sacrifice and loneliness of those caught between love and duty.

Featuring Lee Do-hyun and Go Min-si, this historical romance is set against the backdrop of the tumultuous Gwangju Uprising in May 1980. It follows the poignant love story between Hwang Hee-tae, a medical student, and Kim Myung-hee, a determined nurse. Their blossoming romance unfolds amidst the escalating violence and political unrest, ultimately leading to a heartbreaking and tragic conclusion where they become victims of the historical events, leaving a lasting sense of sorrow for their lost potential.

Starring Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk, this drama beautifully captures the nostalgia and bittersweet emotions of youth and first love against the backdrop of the late 1990s and early 2000s. While celebrated for its charming characters and poignant portrayal of dreams and friendships, the ending reveals that the central romantic relationship between Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin ultimately doesn’t last due to life’s circumstances and their diverging paths. This realistic conclusion, while not overtly tragic, left many viewers with a sense of sadness and the understanding of the fleeting nature of youthful romance.

Led by Lee Jong-suk and Im Yoon-ah (Yoona), this noir thriller follows Park Chang-ho, a struggling lawyer nicknamed “Big Mouth,” who gets entangled in a murder case and is mistakenly believed to be the notorious con artist “Big Mouse.” While the drama resolves the central mystery and sees Chang-ho clear his name and expose corruption, the ending features a significant and tragic loss for his relationship with his wife, Go Mi-ho, who succumbs to the effects of radiation exposure from her efforts to help him. This ending, while bringing a sense of justice, leaves a lingering sense of sorrow and injustice for Chang-ho’s personal sacrifice and loss.

Starring Woo Do-hwan and Lee You-mi, this poignant drama follows Hae-jo, a man who feels adrift and unwanted, as he embarks on a journey to find his biological father. Along the way, he forms a deep bond with Jo Jae-mi, a woman escaping her own painful circumstances. As Hae-jo uncovers painful truths and faces terminal illness, the drama builds toward an emotional climax. The ending sees Hae-jo pass away, leaving Jae-mi to grieve yet cherish the memories they shared. While the story delivers closure and reflection, it leaves viewers with a lasting sense of sorrow over a life and love that ended too soon.