Cover Byeon Woo-seok sings on the ‘Lovely Runner’ K-drama OST as the lead singer of the fictional band Eclipse. (Photo: tvN)
Byeon Woo-seok sings on the ‘Lovely Runner’ K-drama OST as the lead singer of the fictional band Eclipse. (Photo: tvN)
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These K-drama actors took centre stage both on screen and in the recording studio, lending their voices to unforgettable OST tracks
K-drama OSTs have always played a pivotal role in helping audiences connect to the characters, relationships and stories on a deeper level. Whether it’s a kiss in the rain or a meet-cute, what’s playing in the background doesn’t just set the tone or make or break a scene; it helps make it more memorable. OSTs extend the life of a K-drama beyond the screen and the finale. It becomes even more special when lead actors lend their vocals to the tracks, making the connection feel all the more immediate. From seasoned singers to newcomers, here are eight K-drama leads who took the mic and recorded songs for their shows’ OSTs.
Don’t miss: Unforgettable chart-topping songs from K-drama OSTs—and why we still can’t stop listening to them
Bae Suzy
K-drama songs: “Winter Child” for Dream High, “I Love You Boy” for While You Were Sleeping, “Ordinary Days” for DOONA!
The While You Were Sleeping OST is undoubtedly one of the best K-drama soundtracks, with popular songs like Henry’s “It’s You”, Eddy Kim’s “When a Long Night Comes” and, of course, Bae Suzy’s hit track “I Love You Boy”. A former member of the K-pop girl group Miss A, Suzy also sings on the OST for Dream High, a K-drama about aspiring idols, and DOONA!, the Netflix K-drama about a retired K-pop idol. Other K-dramas starring Suzy that feature tracks by her on their OSTs include Start-Up and Uncontrollably Fond.
See also: Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy to reunite in ‘All the Love You Wish For’ after 7 years
Byeon Woo-seok (as Eclipse)
K-drama songs: “Sudden Shower”, “Run Run” and “You & I” for Lovely Runner
Playing the lead singer of Eclipse, the fictional band in the K-drama Lovely Runner, actor Byeon Woo-seok showcased his singing talent. He worked with a voice coach in preparation for the role, and it paid off. “Sudden Shower” was a breakout hit and is now synonymous with the K-drama and the Byeon Woo-seok fandom. Other popular tracks include the up-tempo “Run Run” and the romantic “You & I”, along with a couple of additional songs.
Don’t miss: 9 romantic K-dramas where the male lead fell in love first—and fell the hardest
Park Hyung-sik
K-drama songs: “I’ll Be Here” for Hwarang, “Because of You” for Strong Girl Bong-soon, “Lean on Me” for Doctor Slump
From Hwarang to Doctor Slump, former K-pop idol Park Hyung-sik has provided vocals for the OST of several of his K-dramas. “Because of You” remains one of his most memorable OST tracks, thanks to Strong Girl Bong-soon’s popularity and his on-screen chemistry with Park Bo-young. His latest, “Lean on Me”, from Doctor Slump, was warmly received by fans who were as excited to hear him on an OST as they were to see him in a new K-drama.
Don’t miss: From ‘Buried Hearts’ to ‘Doctor Slump’: Must-see Park Hyung-sik Korean dramas across genres
IU
K-drama songs: “Someday” for Dream High, “Happy Ending” for Hotel del Luna, “Midnight Walk” for When Life Gives You Tangerines
Singing powerhouse IU has lent her vocals to a number of her K-drama OSTs. She sang “Someday” for the Dream High OST, where she starred in her breakout role as Pil-sook. For Hotel del Luna, she wrote and sang “Happy Ending”, a special track that wasn’t part of the official OST but was released as a gift for fans of the K-drama. Most recently, she recorded her rendition of “Midnight Walk”, the song originally performed by d.ear for the When Life Gives You Tangerines OST. IU also famously sang a track on the Crash Landing on You OST despite not starring in the drama.
See also: 5 life lessons from ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’
Cha Eun-woo
K-drama songs: “Rainbow Falling” for My ID Is Gangnam Beauty, “Love So Fine” for True Beauty, “Jealousy” for A Good Day to Be a Dog
Like his face card, Cha Eun-woo’s voice card never declines. The Astro visual has recorded tracks for several of his K-dramas, including “Rainbow Falling”—his first notable OST song as a lead actor—for My ID Is Gangnam Beauty. It was, however, “Love So Fine” for the popular K-drama True Beauty that would go on to become his top-streamed OST. He also sang “Please Remember” for the Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung OST and, more recently, “Jealousy” for A Good Day to Be a Dog.
Park Bo-gum
K-drama songs: “My Person” from Love in the Moonlight, “Waterfall” from Good Boy
Park Bo-gum may have showcased his musical talents before as the host of Music Bank and on various variety shows, but for many casual K-drama viewers, his chart-topping ballad “My Person” from the hit series Love in the Moonlight was the first time they experienced his voice in a professionally recorded OST. The track not only topped South Korean charts but also became inseparable from his image as a romantic lead. Recently, he recorded “Waterfall” for his latest K-drama Good Boy, where he starred as a boxing gold medalist turned police officer.
Park Eun-bin
K-drama songs: “Someday”, “Night and Day” and “Dream Us” for Castaway Diva
Only true Park Eun-bin fans would know she has always had a musical ear, having learned to play the piano at a young age. And only a few would have clocked that she sang “The Blue Night of Jeju Island” for the Extraordinary Attorney Woo OST. But in Castaway Diva, playing the role of a woman who’s been dreaming of becoming an idol all her life, Park Eun-bin finally gets to showcase her musical range as a singer with—count them—10 songs in the OST.
Park Seo-joon
K-drama songs: “Our Tears” for Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth, “Letting You Go” for Kill Me, Heal Me, “Long Way” for She Was Pretty
People know Park Seo-joon as the king of K-drama romcoms and from his role as Park Sae-ro-yi in Itaewon Class, but the seasoned leading man is also known to have serious singing chops. Fans may even remember him serenading Park Min-young’s Kim Mi-so in What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim. Though he would be the first to laugh off being called a singer, he has contributed vocals to the OSTs of a handful of his K-dramas, including Hwarang and She Was Pretty.
Maggie Adan is a content writer, editor, and strategist with extensive experience across print, digital, and social media publishing. Formerly editor-in-chief at K-Zone Philippines, Summit Books and Content Lab, she has written lifestyle stories covering everything from entertainment and travel to beauty and wellness. A storyteller at heart with a keen editorial eye and a passion for narrative, she contributes to various publications and helps brands create and curate content for their social media platforms.
