10 Heart-Wrenching K-Dramas That'll Leave You in Tears

K-dramas have grown in popularity in recent years, and it is easy to see why. They are complex, and well written, with incredible actors bringing amazing characters to life.

All these factors add up to a recipe for some truly heart-wrenching stuff, so get your tissues ready and check out our list.

1. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes

IMDB rating 7.8/10

A detective finds himself in an impossible position when his sister falls in love with a man who he knows is connected to a murder. A murder that was disguised as a suicide, no less. Despite his best efforts to protect his sister, he cannot get her to see reason.

2. Move to Heaven

IMDB rating 8.5/10

Being the one to clean up after horrific crime scenes would be a tough job. And the two main characters in this one demonstrate that so perfectly. Throughout the series, as they perform their roles with professionalism and diligence, they also share horror stories from their past.

3. Thirty-Nine

IMDB rating 7.7/10

Some viewers made the mistake of thinking that this was Korea's answer to the popular US comedy Sex and the City. Boy, were they wrong.

Yes, the show does focus on three strong female leads. But the similarities end there. What follows is tragedy, pain, and seemingly endless suffering.

4. Uncontrollably Fond

IMDB rating 7.8/10

Some breakups are so painful that you never want to see that person again. Unfortunately, that is the case for the two leads in this one and they end up being forced to work together. Throw in some nasty twists and turns and you’ve got one sad show on your hands.

5. Mr. Sunshine

IMDB rating 8.7/10

Do not let the name fool you. There is nothing sunny about this one at all. This show takes us all back to the horrific 1871 Shinmiyangyo incident. For those unfamiliar with its history, this was when the US basically invaded Korea, and slaughtered at least 350 Koreans, taking others prisoner, and injuring an immeasurable amount. And this is where the plot of the series comes in.

It focuses on a young boy who ends up in America after this incident and then returns to Korea. Be prepared for horrible deaths that will hit you in the very first episode.

6. Red Sleeve

IMDB rating 8.5/10

Love stories can be the most beautiful or the most devastating. Red Sleeve chose devastating. The series is based on a novel and does not pull any punches from his subject matter. The King of Joseon falls in love with a lady of his court, and thus the stage is set for him to consistently want to choose his country over his own feelings and crush the watching audience.

7. Snowdrop

IMDB rating 8.1/10

Considering that Snowdrop is based on the words of a man who escaped from a North Korean political prison camp, it is a safe bet that this one will be emotional. The series is adapted from his personal handwritten notes, and the producers did a beautiful job of capturing the desperation and fear.

8. The Good Bad Mother

IMDB rating 8.4/10

The Good Bad Mother will hit home for everyone who has or has ever had a mother. A brilliant lawyer is horribly brain damaged in an accident and must be cared for by his mother. The scene is thus set for them to argue, and bring up sins of the past, in this relenting heart-wrencher.

9. Autumn in My Heart

IMDB rating 7.9/10

Lifelong friendships have a way of tugging at our heartstrings, and that is exactly what this series does. Two dear friends were forced to part ways, finding themselves reunited after many years. But all is not smooth sailing, as this show loves to make the audience feel deeply.

10. Secret Love

IMDB rating 8.0/10

Four friends, a myriad of secrets, and plots to seek revenge and find true love. This one will have you crying and cringing in disbelief as you watch events unfold. Betrayals are common, and yet you somehow won’t see them coming in this masterful series.