K-pop and Korean love songs: Love songs that really capture the Korean view of romance

SugarYENA

YENA(최예나) – ‘설탕’ Stage Video

A pop tune that captures the flutter of sweet romance.

It’s one of the songs that brightens Yena’s solo work, included on her single album “NEMONEMO,” released in September 2024.

The lyrics, which compare feelings of love to “sugar,” are especially memorable.

They portray how your heart is stirred by the other person’s casual words and actions—something many listeners will relate to.

With its brisk rhythm and Yena’s bright vocals, it’s a track that lifts your spirits just by listening.

Also great as background music!

Bloom(G)I-DLE)

(여자)아이들((G)I-DLE) – ‘Bloom’ SPECIAL CLIP

A heart-fluttering pop tune that wraps you up as if a flower of love were blooming.

It’s a song by (G)I-DLE, the five-member group drawing global attention with its international lineup, included on their July 2024 mini-album “I SWAY.” Crafted by member Minnie, its poetic world likens the start and growth of a new romance to flowers, sketching out a radiant future.

With a bright, funky sound and a melody line that gently conveys the thrill of love, it lets you bask in happiness as if surrounded by blossoms.

If you’re searching for yet-unseen love or new possibilities, it will surely give you a gentle push forward.

After MidnightASTRO

ASTRO 아스트로 – After Midnight M/V

Astro, the male idol group whose name means “celestial body” or “star” in Spanish, included the romantic love song After Midnight—set against the theme of a summer night—on their 2021 album SWITCH ON.

The track features lively dance beats intertwined with beautiful strings and synths.

It’s K-pop packed with appeal, showcasing their rich choral work as they deliver a song that hints at a more mature relationship.

Why not spend your summer with its sultry phrases whispering words of love?

시든 꽃에 물을 주듯(The Lonely Bloom Stands Alone)HYNN(박혜원)

[MV] HYNN(박혜원) _ The Lonely Bloom Stands Alone(시든 꽃에 물을 주듯)

An adult love ballad about the end of a romance.

HYNN is a female vocalist, but her voice is expansive and powerful, reminiscent of Korean male singers.

From the opening to the chorus, the rhythm and melody portray the feeling of love withering and fading like a flower.

If you’re heartbroken, it will hit you hard and bring you to tears; even if you’re not, it draws you into an emotional world.

Recommended for those who like Korean female singers with powerful voices and a strong command of both high and low registers.

Thank you for Goodbye（헤어져줘서 고마워 ）BEN

[MAJOR9/벤] 벤(BEN) ‘헤어져줘서 고마워(Thank you for Goodbye)’ OFFICIAL MV

This is a song whose title, “Thank You for Breaking Up with Me,” has an undeniably powerful impact.

A line like that is dramatic, but it’s also something you’d never want to hear even once in your life.

Whether such an impactful phrase is sincere or just part of the complex push and pull between men and women is the question.

The couple in this song is facing a breakup crisis.

It’s a heartbreakingly imaginable situation: even while dating, something feels unfulfilled, and one person has lost the reason to stay together.

Ben’s heartrending vocals hit you right in the heart.

Ordinary ConfessionLEE MU JIN

[MV] LEE MU JIN(이무진) _ Ordinary Confession(잠깐 시간 될까)

A mid-tempo number brimming with the positive flutter of being in love.

It’s a 2023 song by singer-songwriter Lee Mujin, who rose to fame through the audition show “Sing Again: The Unknown Singer” and his hit “Traffic Light.” A confession song with an adorably gentle, roundabout way of asking.

From Lee Mujin’s crisp, clear vocals to the bouncy melody, it lifts your spirits! While it mainly captures the feelings right before confessing, it also softly connects to the emotions of just starting to date.

Highly recommended if you like cute love songs!

For YouBTOB

비투비 (BTOB) – For You (신데렐라와 네 명의 기사 OST) [Music Video]

The OST from the Korean drama “Cinderella and Four Knights.” It’s a poignant love pop song by the popular group BTOB.

The lyrics, which delve a bit deep, portray an intense, serious romantic feeling.

The man in this song has never experienced a love so powerful it could change his life and make him tremble.

The moment he meets the woman of his destiny, he feels as if everything is turned upside down.

The love sung about here is very passionate and intense.

It’s a great track to listen to when you want to boldly make a move on someone you like—it’ll give you a boost of energy.