Original soundtracks, abbreviated OSTs, are the soul behind a K-drama. While the importance of other creative elements like plot, direction and screenplay is undeniable, music greatly enhances the viewing experience of a Korean drama. Today, we listen our way through some of the best K-drama OSTs of all time.
Leading the list is the hauntingly beautiful “Stay with Me”. This classic hit played a huge part in making the enchanting umbrella encounter between Kim Shin [played by Gong Yoo] and Ji Eun-tak [played by Kim Go-eun] in Goblin, one of the most cherished scenes in the history of Korean television. Recorded by K-pop boy group EXO’s Chanyeol and Korean singer Punch, “Stay with Me” quickly became one of the best K-drama OSTs ever composed, after its release in 2016.
Adding more flavour to the world of Korean drama soundtracks is another popular piece, the K-pop girl group New Jean’s digital single “Our night is more beautiful than your Day”. Released as a part of the soundtrack for the Netflix hit My Demon, this K-drama OST gained as much attention as the reimagined version of Bond’s “Explosive” that plays during the tango-fight scene in episode four of the show.
These best K-drama OSTs are worth listening to on repeat
Our Night is more beautiful than your Day – My Demon
A rendition of the hit 1996 Korean song by Kona, “Our Night is more beautiful than your Day” by NewJeans was released on 24 November 2023 as a part of the soundtrack for the hit romantic K-drama My Demon.
The new arrangement for the remake was created by NewJeans’ producer Lee Oh-gong. The song debuted with a whopping 132,159 unfiltered streams on Spotify, making it the best K-drama OST in 2023. It beautifully complements the intriguing love story between protagonists Do Do-hee [Kim Yoo-jung] and Jeong Gu-won [Song Kang].
Sharing their thoughts on the OST, NewJeans’ agency, ADOR, said, “While maintaining the dreamy and tropical atmosphere of the original song as much as possible, we added melodic synth sounds and minimal beat sounds to recreate the song in NewJeans’ unique style.”
Short Hair – Welcome to Samdal-ri
With vocals by Dokyeom, aka DK of K-pop group SEVENTEEN, “Short Hair” narrates the feelings of two former lovers reuniting after a long time and is the first OST of the JTBC K-drama Welcome to Samdal-ri, starring Ji Chang-wook.
Released on 3 December 2023, “Short Hair” is written by Park Geonho and is a reimagination of the 1980 classic “Bobbed Hair” by Korean singer Choi Yong-pil.
The song debuted with around 33,985 streams on Spotify and has surpassed over 5,00,000 views on YouTube, as of 16 January 2024.
Here with me – See You in My 19th Life
The sixth part of the original soundtrack of the 2023 Korean drama See You in My 19th Life starring Ahn Bo-hyun and Shin Hye-sun, this K-drama OST was praised for its soulful composition.
With vocals by K-pop group NCT’s Doyoung, the song portrays the intertwined destinies of the drama’s protagonists Ban Ji-eum [Shin] and Moon Seo-ha [Ahn] and makes for one of the best K-drama OSTs of all time.
After the release of the song on 23 July 2023, an official statement by its label SM Entertainment revealed that with this OST, Doyoung “surpasses various vocal ranges and boasts a wide spectrum of vocal skills”. It also stated that “Here With Me” is meant to further heighten the “immersion of the drama”.
Beautiful Day – Dr. Romantic 3
This OST was released on 12 May 2023 for the medical K-drama Dr. Romantic 3 and is considered by fans as one of the best solo romantic songs of NCT singer Doyoung.
The track’s release was followed by a behind-the-scenes YouTube video, which showcased a confident Doyoung performing the song at the recording studio.
The lyrics of the K-drama OST narrate the process of moving on from one’s memories. It effortlessly helps render the suppressed emotions of Dr Kim [Han Suk-kyu] and his teammates who work towards saving patients’ lives at Doldham Hospital.
With You – Our Blues
One of Billboard’s “25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2022”, this K-drama OST was released as a digital single on 24 April 2022 by YamYam Entertainment. It is a part of the official soundtrack of the tvN original romantic drama Our Blues, starring Kim Woo-bin.
With vocals by BTS singer Jimin and Wanna One’s member Ha Sung-woon, “With You” is a romantic ballad that beautifully narrates the desperate attempts of the protagonists to hold on to a broken relationship.
One of the best K-drama OSTs of all time, “With You” debuted at
15 on South Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart [dated 24-30 April 2022] and was the second most downloaded song in the first week of its release. The track also earned Jimin and Ha Sung-woon their first solo entries on the Billboard Global 200 chart [
19], on 7 May 2022.
Christmas Tree – Our Beloved Summer
A soft romantic ballad, this K-drama OST best portrays the feelings of first love.
With mesmerising vocals by V of BTS, the track was released on 24 December 2021 as part of the soundtrack for Choi Woo-shik and Kim Dami’s hit romantic K-drama Our Beloved Summer.
“Christmas Tree” became the most streamed K-OST on Spotify on 29 July 2023 and garnered over 320 million streams on the music streaming platform.
It also became the first Korean OST to enter Billboard’s Hot 100 at
79. Furthermore, it was the first Korean solo song to top Billboard’s US Digital Song Sales chart.
Sweet Night – Itaewon Class
A part of the official soundtrack [OST] of the hit JTBC K-drama Itaewon Class, starring Park Seo-joon, “Sweet Night” was released on 13 March 2020 by Vlending Company.
The captivating Indie pop ballad talks about the protagonists’ desperate need to give a chance to a relationship that they had never entertained the possibility of before.
One of the best K-drama OSTs featuring BTS V, “Sweet Night” debuted at
3 on Korea’s Gaon Download Chart and at
39 on the Gaon Digital Chart [dated 8–14 March 2020]. The song also earned V the Best OST Award at the 2020 APAN STAR AWARDS and was named the most streamed K-OST by Spotify Wrapped in 2020 and 2021.
Give You My Heart – Crash Landing on You
Released as a digital single on 15 February 2020 by EDAM Entertainment, “Give You My Heart” is a part of the official soundtrack of the hit Netflix drama series Crash Landing on You. Recorded by IU, it was the best and the most iconic K-drama OST to come out in 2020.
The song topped multiple Korean music charts and debuted at
71 on Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart after its release. It peaked at
1 the following week.
After the release of “Give You My Heart”, IU revealed on multiple occasions that she participated in the theme song due to her relationship with the K-drama’s writer Park Ji-eun. She previously worked with Park in the KBS2 TV show The Producers, alongside Kim Soo-hyun.
Stay with Me – Guardian: The Lonely and Great God
Written by Lee Seung-joo and composed by the indie band Rocoberry, this classic hit was released on 3 December 2016. One of the best K-drama OSTs of all time, “Stay with Me” has vocals by singer Punch and K-pop idol Chanyeol. It is part 1 of the soundtrack of the hit television drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.
The music video for the same reached 1 million views within 24 hours of release and went on to become the most-viewed music video for an original soundtrack. As of 17 January 2024, the “Stay with Me” music video has surpassed 460 million views on YouTube.
Additionally, “Stay with Me” ranked
3 on Billboard’s US World Digital Songs and
5 on Spotify’s Global Viral 50 Chart. It is also the first Goblin OST to surpass 1 million downloads on Korea’s Gaon Digital chart.
[Hero and featured image: Courtesy Netflix]
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
-Which is the most viewed Korean drama OST on YouTube?
With over 460 million views as of January 2024, “Stay with Me” from Goblin is the most-viewed K-drama OST on YouTube, states Billboard.
-Which is the most famous Korean drama?
Some of the most famous Korean dramas are Secret Garden, Hotel Del Luna, Crash Landing on You, Descendants of the Sun, Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Goblin, My Demon, Squid Game, Sweet Home, The Glory, The World of the Married, Gyeongseong Creature, Business Proposal and Welcome to Samdal-ri.
-Which is the most streamed Korean drama OST on Spotify?
Some of the most streamed K-drama soundtracks are “Sweet Night”, “Christmas Tree”, “With You” and “Stay with Me”.
-Which is the fastest Korean drama OST to reach 100 million streams on Spotify?
BTS V’s “Sweet Night” and “Christmas Tree” are the fastest K-drama OSTs to surpass 100 million streams on Spotify.
What Korean drama will release in 2023?
Netflix's New K-Dramas Line-up in December 2023.
Check out the complete list: ... .
Sweet Home [Season 2] ... .
Gyeongseong Creature [Season 1] ... .
Welcome to Samdalri [Season 1] ... .
Like Flowers In Sand [Season 1] ... .
Castaway Diva [Season 1] ... .
My Demon [Season 1].
What is OST in Korean dramas?
In addition to the plot and cast of Korean dramas, The OST [original soundtrack] in the dramas is also extremely important in determining whether the audience's emotions can be brought in.
Who is the Queen of Ost?
Queen of soundtracks: The Legendary Baek Ji Young and her Golden OST Discography.
What is the best Kdrama of the year?
The 10 best Korean dramas of 2023.
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Crash Course in Romance. Season: limited series. ... .