Tears Will Flow: 5 Sad K-Dramas to Watch If You Need a Good Cry
Sometimes a good cry can be necessary and start a much needed healing process, so don't be afraid to let your emotions out once in a while.
The world of television is so vast and filled with completely different shows that sometimes it is difficult to decide what to tune in when you finish something. And with the worldwide addiction to K-dramas, the choices have become even greater.
K-dramas are usually lighthearted, with a touch of fantasy, but sometimes they are heavy on drama and end up being tear-jerkers. Of course, the shows that bring out such emotions are not only tragic, but also overwhelming, and sometimes the tears that come out are tears of joy or bittersweet.
So here are 5 K-dramas that will definitely tug at your heartstrings and make you cry for a long time. Check them out when you need a good cry.
1. Reply 1988 (2015)
After ten years, this K-drama is still the one that people keep saying is the best ever created. The series revolves around five childhood friends who live in the same neighborhood in Seoul and have only each other to rely on as they go through the turbulent teenage years.
Each of them has their own problems, for example Sung Deok Sun is suffering at home as well as at school. Kim Jung Hwan has nothing but football, Sung Sun Woo is struggling to keep up with his excellent grades and so on. The number of times the show will make you cry both happy and sad tears is numerous, so make sure you have a box of tissues before you tune in.
“Best drama of all time. I never get tired of rewatching this. And every time I watch it at different points in life, it hits differently and I learn new lessons,” Redditor Shana1199 said.
2. Move to Heaven (2021)
Move to Heaven is a South Korean drama that combines heartbreaking emotion with social commentary in a way that no other show has been able to do. The story follows Han Geu Roo, an autistic young man, and his ex-convict uncle Sang Gu as they work together in a kind of "trauma cleaning" business after Geu-Roo's father dies.
“It can be both sweet and painful, and is definitely emotional. It makes you FEEL. If you need a good cry, watch this show. And it's not the devastated type of crying but the "I'm so deep in my feelings right now, I need to let it all out"-type of crying. The show deals a lot about death, grief, understanding, forgiveness and what one leaves behind in a wonderful way,” Redditor Ideasforgoodusername said.
3. My Mister (2018)
Another deeply moving K-drama that explores the complexities of human relationships and focuses on the importance of emotional healing. The series follows Park Dong Hun, a middle-aged man struggling with personal and professional challenges life keeps throwing at him, and Lee Ji An, a troubled young woman caught in a cycle of despair.
The two of them form an unlikely bond based on the fact that Ji An witnesses Dong Hun taking a bribe. But what he doesn’t know is that she is not a friend of any sorts after all and is really working for his nemesis.
4. When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025)
The latest K-drama on Netflix has become an instant fan favorite. And there are many reasons why. When Life Gives You Tangerines invites viewers to reflect on what really matters when life feels overwhelming, and provides plenty of food for thought for people going through tough times.
Set on Jeju Island, the series revolves around a spirited girl and a steadfast boy. Their brief romance blossoms into a lifelong tale of setbacks and triumphs, proving that love transcends time.
“This drama is.... How can I put it? Well, let's say, for the other dramas I've watched, all the loss and all the sadness feels like I sympathize with the character. But, with wlgyt , I feel the sadness together with them. As if I lost my OWN family and the guilt I felt on what I've done to my family after watching wlgyt is weighing on my soul,” Redditor ayanokoujisouma said.
5. Our Blues (2022)
Another bittersweet drama set on Jeju Island that will definitely make you cry. It revolves around a bunch of people who don't even know of each other's existence, but are still intertwined in the most unpredictable ways.
“People in their 20's might not like or even relate to some of the characters or stories, but older viewers will really enjoy it. Dong-Seok was my favorite character because he let his hatred and misunderstanding of his mother shape his life and relationships. It's one of the few dramas that made me both cry and think about the relationships I had with the people in my life,” Redditor knawmeen said.
