Cover The ‘Lovely Runner’ OST is a paid actor. (Photo: tvN)
The ‘Lovely Runner’ OST is a paid actor. (Photo: tvN)
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What would your favorite K-dramas be without these iconic songs from their OSTs?
A K-drama isn’t complete without a stellar soundtrack—one that strikes all the right notes and breathes life into the story. The perfect song at a pivotal moment can elevate a scene’s emotional impact and turn it into something unforgettable.
More than just background music, a well-curated original soundtrack (OST) cements a drama’s legacy, offering instant access to a viewer’s favourite scenes with just a few notes. If you’ve yet to start your own K-drama playlist, consider this your essential guide. From emotional ballads to high-energy anthems, these tracks aren’t just chart-toppers—they’re time machines that take you back to your favourite K-drama moments.
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“Spring Snow” from ‘Lovely Runner’, performed by 10CM
10CM’s romantic ballad about waiting for a love that blooms like spring and finding one another no matter what happens is the perfect anthem for our favorite time-travelling couple.
Spring holds significance for Im Sol (Kim Hye-yoon) and Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon Woo-seok). It’s springtime when Im Sol first jumps back through time to save Sun-jae. And it’s in the spring that their story ends, sharing a kiss under the cherry blossoms as they dream of a future together. The song also captures how they are fated to end up together, no matter how many times they’re forced apart. And how they always find each other in all their timelines.
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“Flower” from ‘Crash Landing on You’, performed by Yoon Mirae
Yoon Mirae’s “Flower” captures the sweeping emotions of Crash Landing on You with metaphors of love carried by the wind and light in the darkness. The song mirrors the romance of Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) and Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin)—from Se-ri’s unexpected arrival in North Korea via a freak hurricane, to the unforgettable moment when Jeong-hyeok lifts a candle to help her find him in a crowded market. Like the drama, the song is about longing but touched by lightness, strength tempered by vulnerability.
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“Romantic Sunday” from ‘Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’, performed by Car, the Garden
If the opening notes of “Romantic Sunday” don’t instantly transport you back to the seaside village of Gongjin, are you truly even a fan of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha?
Car, the Garden’s light and breezy track became the unofficial anthem of the K-drama and the fans who would eagerly await the weekend to catch the latest episodes. It highlights not only the refreshing romance between Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a) and Hong Du-sik (Kim Seon-ho) but also the coastal charm of Gongjin and the heartwarming stories of its residents.
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“Tell Me It's Not a Dream” from ‘Queen of Tears’, performed by 10CM
In 2024, 10CM delivered not one but two standout OSTs. While “Spring Snow” tugged at the hearts of Lovely Runner fans, “Tell Me It’s Not a Dream” had Queen of Tears audiences swooning. The song’s themes of enduring love and unwavering support perfectly encapsulate the relationship between Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun) and Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won), making it one of the year’s most beloved tracks.
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“Your Existence” from ‘Twenty Five Twenty One’, performed by Wonstein
Wonstein’s “Your Existence” distils the heart of Twenty Five Twenty One—the way Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri) and Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk) lift each other through challenges, simply by being there. The song is a quiet celebration of resilience, comfort and the brightness one person can bring into another’s life, even in difficult times.
“It’s You” from ‘While You Were Sleeping’, performed by Henry Lau
This timeless ballad weaves themes of destiny and love into While You Were Sleeping, following the deepening connection between Jung Jae-chan (Lee Jong-suk) and Nam Hong-joo (Bae Suzy). “It’s You” reflects the slow-burn nature of their romance and the how, even in a a relationship where fate plays a huge part, timing is key.
“Backpacker” from ‘Study Group’, performed by Seok Matthew and Park Gunwook
Switching gears from romantic ballads, the high-energy rap track “Backpacker” from Study Group seamlessly sets the tone—and the beat—to the high-octane and heart-pumping fight scenes in the K-drama.
The song is all about grit, determination, and resilience—core themes that define Hyun Ga-min’s (Minhyun) fight to defend his friends, survive in a school run by bullies and make it to the top of his class.
See also: 6 cliffhangers that make K-drama viewers impatient for the second season of ‘Study Group’
“Future” from ‘Start-Up’, performed by Red Velvet
It’s hard to ignore destiny when you’ve got Red Velvet singing “You are my future, future all the time” in the background. The track accompanies the moment Nam Do-san (Nam Joo-hyuk) first lays eyes on Seo Dal-mi (Bae Suzy), highlighting the sparks that fly between them and not-so-subtly foreshadowing their future.
The song beautifully explores the feeling of new beginnings in love and in life, the struggles that come with starting from the bottom—and the joys of having someone to share the journey with.
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“Stay with Me” from ‘Goblin’, performed by Chanyeol and Punch
A true classic among K-drama OSTs, “Stay with Me” is heavy with longing and destiny—fitting for a story as sweeping as that of Goblin. The song speaks to the ancient love between Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) and Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun), and the intertwined fates of all the characters. With its haunting melody and heartfelt lyrics, it’s no surprise this track remains a fan favourite years later.
