Music plays a big part in the movies and TV series we watch. They are the final flourish to a scene, that little swirl that adds to our emotions and makes us feel like we, too, are miles away from where we sit and actually there where things are happening. Music builds the suspense of a scene as we follow the protagonist and stake out a dangerous criminal. Music leaves us all soft and mushy when the hero and heroine share their first kiss. Music tugs at our hearts and brings tears to our eyes during a particularly sad moment or makes us laugh louder when something hilarious is happening.
Most Korean dramas have soundtracks and songs that play during the most iconic scenes in the series. For some dramas, it’s just one song that swells to a crescendo or plays softly in the background when something is happening. There may be other songs too, but they aren’t as iconic as that one song.
For other Korean dramas, however, the whole soundtrack is a treat in itself. You have a complete album full of songs and instrumental music that sweeps you away again with all the feels that you experienced when you watched the drama for the first time. If you love music and watching series, here’s a little bit of both—Korean dramas with beautiful soundtracks that you’ll want to keep listening to as your re-live all your favourite scenes:
1. Crash Landing on You
Crash Landing on You is the story of a successful businesswoman from South Korea who accidentally lands in North Korea when a fluke storm happens while she is paragliding. As she tries to find her way home, she befriends the people who live by the border, including a very handsome captain. It’s a romantic comedy, and you’re bound to laugh in several parts and cry in some. Nevertheless, this series’ soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful with its instrumental counterparts and unforgettable songs. High on the top of the list is The Song for My Brother, a piano piece that weaves its way and plays a significant part in the story.
Watch: Netflix
Listen to the soundtrack: Spotify
2. Goblin: The Great and Lonely God
Sometimes, TV series make the soundtracks outstanding, and sometimes it’s the other way around. Goblin or Guardian: The Great and Lonely God is one such series where the music is so intertwined with the scenes that it’s impossible to consider them apart from each other. This series tells the story of a hundred-year-old guardian—a goblin—and the girl who is his destined bride. It’s a story of betrayal, of loss, of kindness and compassion, and a whole lot of other things. And to accompany the storyline is a beautifully haunting soundtrack with themes that you will hear throughout the series. In fact, one of them, Stay with Me, has such an iconic scene that it is often parodied in shows and videos everywhere.
Watch: Amazon Prime | Apple TV | Netflix | Viki | Viu
Listen to the soundtrack: Spotify
3. Hospital Playlist
Hospital Playlist is perhaps the most different of all the other series on the list. While the others have memorable instrumental music that often plays like one (or several) of the series’ themes, Hospital Playlist is full of songs that you can sing in karaoke bars or out loud when you’re at home and think no one’s watching. This slice-of-life series is the story of five friends who graduated together and are now doctors in each of their chosen specialisations. Seasons 1 and 2 let us journey with them through the challenges they face in their day-to-day life as doctors. At night, however—or at least when they’re not on call—they play in a band they formed during college days. Each episode has a theme song, and each theme song is catchy and will have you humming or attempting to sing every time you listen to it.
Watch: Netflix
Listen to the soundtrack: Spotify — Season 1 | Season 2
4. The King’s Affection
The King’s Affection has a short soundtrack (as compared to Crash Landing on You, for example), but it evokes all the feels you could possibly need. This 20-episode series is about a girl forced to become the Crown Prince after her brother died. It is set in the Joseon era when people believed that being born twins in a royal family meant bad luck. Yi Hwi (the girl twin turned Crown Prince) learns to navigate palace politics while keeping a safe distance from everyone so no one can find out about her precious secret. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), there are some characters who are there for her and who she learns to lean on. With its mix of vocal and instrumental music, the soundtrack provides a really beautiful backdrop for the story.
Watch: Netflix
Listen to the soundtrack: Spotify
5. The King: Eternal Monarch
Haunting, mysterious, and at times thrilling, the soundtrack of The King: Eternal Monarch depicts the lives and emotions of two people from different worlds. On one hand, you have modern-day South Korea, and on the other, you have a parallel universe South Korea with a kingdom instead of the democratic country it is today. It isn’t your typical star-crossed lovers who meet and then have to decide which world to live in. As these are parallel universes, there exists a parallel version of themselves in every world—which could cause trouble along the way. This is where the plot thickens. Throw in a scheming uncle, a few murders along the way, and you’ll have a TV drama worth binge-watching. The music lends a hand in making us feel things. (SPOILER! Cue that moment when Lee Min Ho rides on a horse to rescue Kim Go Eun.)
Watch: Netflix
Listen to the soundtrack: Spotify
6. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Though Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is set in Goryeo Dynasty, its music is a blend of beautiful instrumental music and modern songs. Nevertheless, despite how odd it may sound to hear a little bit of rap while people are dressed in historical attire, the music lends to the occasion and the story in a beautiful way. This drama is one of those that has a certain theme when a particular scene happens. Keep a lookout for it, and you might recognize some familiar tunes during certain scenes or even predict when something is about to happen.
Watch: Amazon Prime | Viu
Listen to the soundtrack: Spotify
7. Tale of the Nine-Tailed
A lot of Korean dramas have dedicated and well-composed soundtracks, but Tale of the Nine-Tailed is one of those few with a really rare epic soundtrack. I’m talking about something that reminds me of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings—think full orchestra with all its grandeur as it sweeps you along and makes you feel things. Yes, that’s what Tale of the Nine-Tailed’s soundtrack sounds like. Unfortunately, with all the other kinds of music out there, it often gets neatly set aside from some more popular forms of music. But if you want to listen to something that will help you appreciate broader forms of music, give it a listen. While you’re at it, give the series a watch.
Watch: Amazon Prime | Netflix | Viki | Viu | WeTV
Listen to the soundtrack: Spotify
8. When the Weather is Fine
When the Weather is Fine has a soundtrack that matches its setting—a small-town place where the people know each other and where not much happens…except, one day it does, especially in the life of the heroine, played by Park Min Young. What I love about this series’ soundtrack is that, while it has some memorable songs, there is a bunch of instrumental music that both fit the setting and give the ears a pleasant treat. Think light piano music that whisks you away to another world. Intrigued? Give it a listen—you won’t regret it.
Watch: Hulu | iFlix | WeTV | Viki
Listen to the soundtrack on Spotify:
