Sometimes, we just need a good cry—and K-Dramas know exactly how to break our hearts. These stories are packed with emotional depth, unforgettable characters, and moments that stay with you long after the final episode. Whether it’s about star-crossed lovers, painful pasts, or tragic fate, these K-dramas will make you feel everything. So, grab some tissues and prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions.

Here are 10 sad K-dramas that will tear you apart (in the best way possible).

1. Uncontrollably Fond

Uncontrollably Fond begins like a classic rom-com but quickly reveals it has no intention of letting you off easy. It tells the story of Shin Joon-young, a top actor and singer, and No Eul, a struggling documentary producer, who were once in love but separated due to a painful past. Years later, they reunite, and the feelings are still there—but so are the wounds.

As they reconnect, a heartbreaking secret threatens their second chance at happiness. Joon-young is battling a terminal illness, and he hides it while trying to make things right with No Eul. What makes this drama truly devastating is how it balances hope with hopelessness. Every smile is tinged with sadness, every moment of closeness feels fleeting.

The story doesn’t just focus on romantic loss—it also dives into broken families, regret, and the weight of time. It hurts to watch, but that pain is what makes it so real. Uncontrollably Fond is a slow burn of sorrow that leaves a lasting ache in your heart.

2. Hi Bye, Mama!

Hi Bye, Mama! is a tearjerker from the very beginning. It tells the story of Cha Yu-ri, a mother who dies in a tragic accident but remains as a ghost to watch over her family. For five long years, she quietly lingers near her husband and daughter—until she’s suddenly given a second chance to return to life for 49 days.

Yu-ri’s return is bittersweet. Her daughter has no idea who she is, and her husband has remarried and tried to move on. Yu-ri must decide whether she wants to reclaim her old life or silently step away so her loved ones can be happy. It’s an emotional tug-of-war between holding on and letting go, and every episode pulls harder on your heartstrings.

The show beautifully explores themes of grief, motherhood, and unconditional love. It’s about a mother who just wants to be near her child, even if it means breaking her own heart. Hi Bye, Mama! doesn’t just make you cry—it makes you grateful for every moment with the people you love.

3. My Mister

My Mister is heavy, emotional, and achingly real. It follows Park Dong-hoon, a quiet middle-aged man who feels invisible in his own life, and Lee Ji-an, a young woman carrying the weight of too much pain for someone her age. They meet at work and form an unexpected connection—not romantic, but something even deeper.

Both characters are drowning in their own misery, yet they find comfort in each other’s silent company. There’s no dramatic flair or over-the-top moments here—just two people slowly healing through the quiet understanding of shared pain. It’s the kind of show that breaks you gently, with long stares and words left unsaid.

My Mister is about loneliness, survival, and how simple human kindness can be life-changing. It’s slow and subtle, but the emotions hit like a tidal wave. If you’re looking for something raw and real, this one will leave a deep mark on your heart.

4. Twenty-Five Twenty-One

At first glance, Twenty-Five Twenty-One seems like a nostalgic coming-of-age romance filled with youthful energy and ambition. It follows Na Hee-do, a passionate fencer chasing her dreams, and Baek Yi-jin, a young man trying to rebuild his life after his family loses everything. Their relationship starts with friendship and slowly turns into something more.

What makes this drama special—and heartbreaking—is how it captures love in its most fleeting form. It’s not just about romance but also about timing, choices, and growing up. Hee-do and Yi-jin love each other deeply, but life pulls them in different directions, forcing them to choose between love and their futures.

The ending is painful because it’s realistic. Not all love stories get a happily-ever-after, and Twenty-Five Twenty-One reminds us of that with grace and tenderness. It’s a beautiful, emotional ride that hits you with a wave of nostalgia and leaves you crying over what could have been.

5. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes

This drama is dark, intense, and incredibly haunting. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes tells the story of Kim Moo-young, a mysterious man with a painful past, and Yoo Jin-kang, a kind-hearted woman who falls in love with him despite the warnings. Their connection is deep and passionate—but it’s also surrounded by secrets and danger.

As their relationship unfolds, long-buried truths come to light, and everything begins to spiral. Moo-young’s tragic past is far more complicated than anyone imagined, and Jin-kang is caught in the middle of it all. Their love feels like fate—but also like a ticking time bomb.

The drama doesn’t hold back on emotional punches. It explores trauma, guilt, and the desperate desire to be loved. The ending is as devastating as the title suggests, but it’s also strangely poetic. This is the kind of drama that leaves you hollow in the best way.

6. Just Between Lovers

Just Between Lovers is a gentle, slow-paced drama that carries deep emotional weight. It follows two survivors of a tragic building collapse—Lee Kang-doo and Ha Moon-soo—who meet years later, still haunted by the same incident. Their bond grows as they work together and slowly begin to heal.

Both characters are broken in their own ways. Kang-doo hides his pain behind a tough exterior, while Moon-soo keeps hers buried deep inside. As they spend more time together, their shared trauma becomes the foundation for a quietly powerful love story. It’s soft, real, and incredibly moving.

What makes this drama so sad is how it deals with grief, survivor’s guilt, and healing at your own pace. It never rushes the characters or the story, allowing emotions to unfold naturally. Just Between Lovers will quietly break your heart and then slowly put it back together again.

7. Youth of May

Set during the Gwangju Uprising of 1980, Youth of May is a heartbreaking tale of love during one of South Korea’s darkest times. It follows Hwang Hee-tae, a medical student, and Kim Myung-hee, a nurse, who fall in love amidst the chaos and political unrest.

Their romance is tender and pure, offering a sense of hope in a time filled with fear. But the weight of history looms over them, and no matter how hard they try, they can’t escape what’s coming. The drama builds slowly, giving you time to fall in love with the characters before it hits you with the tragedy.

By the end, Youth of May leaves you gutted. It’s not just a love story—it’s a reminder of the lives lost and the heartbreak that history holds. This drama is beautiful, painful, and deeply unforgettable.

8. A Love to Kill

A Love to Kill is a tragic love story wrapped in revenge and misunderstandings. It centers around Kang Bok-gu, a former fighter who discovers that his brother tried to take his own life because of a woman named Cha Eun-suk. Bok-gu vows to destroy her—but things get complicated when he falls in love with her himself.

The drama is filled with raw emotions—rage, regret, longing—and the characters are constantly torn between love and hate. Bok-gu’s inner conflict drives the story, and his pain feels so real it’s hard to watch. Every moment is heavy, and the romance is full of desperation.

As the truth unravels, the story becomes even more tragic. It’s not just about revenge—it’s about how love, once twisted by pain, can end up destroying everything. A Love to Kill is not easy to watch, but it’s impossible to forget.

9. Move to Heaven

Move to Heaven isn’t a traditional romance or tearjerker, but it’s one of the most emotional dramas out there. It follows Geu-ru, a young man with autism who works as a trauma cleaner, and his estranged uncle who suddenly becomes his guardian. Together, they clean out the homes of people who have passed away.

Each episode tells a different story through the items the deceased leave behind. Some are sweet, some are painful, and all of them will touch your heart. Through these stories, Geu-ru and his uncle also begin to heal their own wounds and grow closer as a family.

This drama is gentle but incredibly powerful. It talks about death, love, family, and closure in a way that’s respectful and moving. Move to Heaven will break your heart again and again—but it will also leave you feeling strangely comforted.

10. Autumn in My Heart

Autumn in My Heart is one of the original K-dramas that defined sad love stories. It begins with a baby-switch scenario—two girls are accidentally swapped at birth, and when the truth is discovered years later, their lives are turned upside down. Eun-suh, who was once part of a loving family, is sent to live in poverty while the other girl takes her place.

Years later, Eun-suh reunites with her childhood “brother” Joon-suh, and their bond slowly turns romantic. But their love is filled with obstacles, from family disapproval to devastating illness. The whole drama is like one long heartbreak, where nothing ever seems to go right for the people you’re rooting for.

It’s poetic and tragic in a way that only early 2000s K-dramas can be. The music, the story, the acting—all come together to deliver maximum emotional impact. Autumn in My Heart is painful, yes, but also beautifully done. A true tearjerker from beginning to end.

These sad K-dramas aren’t just stories—they’re emotional journeys that stay with you. They break your heart in the best way and remind you how powerful love, loss, and healing can be. If you’re ready to cry a little, these are the perfect dramas to dive into.