Copyright gqindia
When it comes to K-dramas, no one does heartbreak quite like Koreans. These shows are packed with raw emotions, unforgettable characters, and storylines that tug at your heart until you are reaching for a whole box of tissues. If you are in the mood for a good cry or just want a story that stays with you long after the final episode, here's a list of some of the best heartbreaking K-dramas that will make you cry buckets. 7 heartbreaking K-dramas that will leave you in tears; on Netflix, ZEE5, Viki Rakuten & more 1. My Mister – Netflix Park Dong-hoon (played by the late Lee Sun-kyun) is an exhausted engineer carrying the weight of family responsibilities, and Lee Ji-an (IU), a young woman, is trapped in debt, poverty, and emotional trauma. Their lives collide when they begin to quietly understand each other’s pain in ways no one else does. What starts as a tense connection slowly becomes a powerful emotional bond. The K-drama is filled with small, quiet moments of suffering: Ji-an’s struggle to survive, Dong-hoon’s silent heartbreak, and the sense of isolation both feel in their daily lives. This drama is gentle but heartbreaking, focusing on loneliness, moral dilemmas, workplace pressure, financial hardship, healing, and human kindness. 2. The Red Sleeve – Viki Rakuten Set in the Joseon era, this historical romance follows Crown Prince Yi San and court lady Seong Deok-im. While he longs for her love and loyalty, she values her freedom and dreams of living life on her own terms. Their relationship grows slowly, filled with longing, duty, and sacrifice, against the backdrop of palace politics. This is a beautifully crafted historical K-drama that blends quiet romance with emotional intensity. The love story between Yi San and Deok-im is tender but tragic. Their connection is strong, but the palace demands come with heartbreaking consequences. It’s the kind of K-drama that lingers in your mind because of its heartbreak and stunning performances. 3. Just Between Lovers – Netflix Also known as Rain or Shine, the K-drama follows Lee Kang-doo (Lee Jun-ho) and Ha Moon-soo (Won Jin-ah), two survivors of a tragic mall collapse that changed their lives forever. Years later, they meet again, each quietly carrying scars, both physical and emotional. As they work on the reconstruction project of the same site, they slowly begin to heal through each other’s presence. This is a soft, melancholic, and beautifully written melodrama about trauma, guilt, grief, and second chances. It focuses on how people live with their pain, how loss shapes them, and how love can become a gentle kind of therapy. 4. Come and Hug Me – Amazon Prime Video This intense melodrama follows Chae Do-jin (Jang Ki-yong) and Han Jae-yi, whose lives were shattered by a horrific crime in their childhood. Do-jin (Jin Ki-joo) is the son of a notorious serial killer, while Jae-yi is the daughter of one of his victims. Despite their traumatic past, the two find comfort and love in each other. But their connection comes with constant fear, stigma, and danger. The chemistry between Jang Ki-yong and Jin Ki-joo is raw and sincere, and the drama handles trauma with sensitivity. It’s gripping, painful, and at the same time, hopeful. 5. Mother – ZEE5 This powerful remake of the Japanese drama follows Soo-jin (Lee Boo-young), an elementary school teacher who discovers that one of her students, Hye-na (Heo Yool), is being severely abused at home. Desperate to help her, she kidnaps Hye-na to protect her and becomes her surrogate mother. What follows is a tense, emotional journey as they run from the authorities, the abusers, and their own painful pasts. The K-drama is not a light watch. It’s heavy, emotional, and unflinching in its portrayal of child abuse and healing. Hye-na’s suffering is heartbreaking, and Soo-jin’s love for her is beautiful and painful. Their bond is filled with moments that make you cry, not because of melodrama, but because the emotions feel so real. 6. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes – Viki Rakuten This gripping melodrama follows Kim Moo-young, (Seo In-guk) a mysterious, emotionally detached man with a troubled past, and Yoo Jin-kang (Jung So-min), a warm, compassionate woman who slowly begins to understand the pain he hides. As the two grow closer, Jin-kang’s older brother Jin-guk, a detective, becomes convinced that Moo-young is dangerous and connected to a suspicious death. What begins as a simple romance turns into a tense, heartbreaking story about trauma, fate, and whether love can survive the truths that emerge. 7. That Winter, The Wind Blows – Netflix This classic melodrama follows Oh Soo (Zo In-sung), a lonely gambler living a reckless life, and Oh Young (Song Hye-kyo), a visually-impaired heiress who has shut herself off from the world. When Soo pretends to be Young’s long-lost brother to escape a dangerous debt, the two form an unexpected, emotional bond that blurs the lines between truth, comfort, and longing. The drama is atmospheric, slow, and beautifully melancholic.
