10 Most Watched K-Drama OSTs on YouTube
Song Joong-ki (left) and Song Hye-kyo (right) in a still from ‘Descendants of the Sun.’ Photo: KBS, courtesy of Netflix.
It’s World Music Day, and we’re celebrating iconic K-drama OSTs. From BTS V’s soulful “Sweet Night” in Itaewon Class to K-will’s catchy “Talk Love” in Descendants of the Sun, and Punch and EXO Chanyeol’s timeless “Stay with Me” in Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, we’re revisiting the most-loved K-drama soundtracks with millions of views on YouTube—a nostalgic trip down memory lane with the OSTs that live rent-free in our heads.
“For You” – Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo – 109 M
“For You” by EXO-CBX is a love song that still moves fans emotionally to this day, all thanks to Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin of EXO-CBX, the subunit of the iconic EXO. One of the best tracks from the OST for the classic K-drama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), “For You,” secured the fifth spot on the Gaon Digital Chart and the ninth spot on the Billboard World Chart. The song is like a love letter of longing that promises to wait for the beloved while cherishing memories, layered with a comforting melody and vocals that befit the emotional impact of the music. The drama itself is a poignant period love story, to which the song acts like a soothing antidote, and it’s this perfect pairing that makes it popular still, apparent in the growing number of views even after almost a decade of its release.
“Sweet Night” – Itaewon Class – 109M
A self-composed song by BTS member V makes it a distinct addition to the Itaewon Class (2020) song list. The stripped-down arrangement with only a subtle mix of guitars and violins makes it the perfect accompaniment to V’s signature baritone singing as well as the drama’s emotional ethos. “Sweet Night” is wistful yet very calm as it tries to tone down your pent-up feelings, wishing a sweet good night to those in pain, who are longing for love, longing to be seen and understood, and longing for happiness, much like the characters in the story. That essentially strikes a chord, extending the song’s reach beyond the drama’s fame and cementing its place as a timeless indie-pop ballad.
“Start” – Itaewon Class – 121M
According to Korea JoongAng Daily, “Start” was the first K-drama original song from the 2020s to cross 100 million views on YouTube. It ruled the music charts in Korea at the time before becoming a global hit. The song comes with pop, rock, and R&B elements with an energetic sound and empowering message highlighted by an extra catchy chorus. It’s the drama’s theme song, centered on ambition, grit, and triumph, that Gaho breathes life into with his powerful vocals.
“Talk Love” – Descendants of the Sun – 147M
Descendants of the Sun (2016) remains a synonym for a blockbuster hit K-drama with unforgettable soundtracks. One of the best examples is its “Talk Love,” a pop-R&B fusion that captures the magic of a meet-cute and the excitement of falling for that someone special. The song opens with a piano section before transitioning into acoustic instrumentation, melodic harmonies, and that catchy whistling hook. K-will’s voice shines from low to high registers as he captures the blossoming romance between the main leads played by Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo. A classic K-drama OST that it is, “Talk Love” keeps the memories of the drama alive and keeps being rediscovered and loved.
“Beautiful” – Guardian: The Lonely and Great God – 150M
The soft piano melody paired with Crush’s soulful vocals recalls beautiful memories with an ex and hoping they’ll come back. As noted by Stone Music Entertainment, “‘Beautiful’ was the song that viewers asked the most about for its OST release,” and added that the song’s impact is also evident in its feature in the iconic beach goodbye scene from episode 3, where Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) puts an umbrella over Ji Eun-tak’s (Kim Go-eun) head—a moment that remains one of the most memorable from the show. To this day, “Beautiful” remains one of the most-viewed K-drama songs on YouTube.
“Once Again” – Descendants of the Sun – 153M
“Once Again” is a moody song for the second leads, Jin Goo and Kim Ji-won, playing the star-crossed lovers in the drama. Kim Na-young and Mad Clown’s collaboration makes for a fantastic song of contrast—hip-hop and melancholic balladry. There’s a touch of a reverb effect on Kim’s vocals, creating a subtle echo-like sound, making the song more immersive and the emotions deeper. Mad Clown adds to it his bold rap lines, with the accompanying piano sound rounding out the richness of the music.
“This Love” – Descendants of the Sun – 261M
This song showcases Davichi’s signature sound in all its glory—emotional ballads that they are best known for. No wonder “This Love” has scored millions of views on YouTube, solidifying its reputation as one of the most-watched K-drama songs on the platform. It’s a bittersweet track about love slowly drifting apart, yet also referring to the memories that linger, evoking the essence of Jin Goo and Kim Ji-won’s characters and their forbidden love.
“Everytime” – Descendants of the Sun – 279M
With 279 million views and counting, the success of “Everytime” speaks for itself. And it’s no surprise—the love song is a stunning collab between two of Korea’s finest singers, Punch and EXO’s Chen. Featured in the drama’s initial phase, when sparks fly between the leads on their first meeting, the vocals perfectly capture the attraction, romantic tension, and thrill of falling in love. The song’s pièce de résistance is Punch’s emotive “I Love You” at the end, a beautiful conclusion to an iconic track.
“Say Yes” – Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo – 324M
Another standout hit from Punch’s discography, “Say Yes” is a quintessential K-drama love song that captures the longing for mutual love and acceptance—think wanting someone to feel the same way and say yes to your feelings. While Punch does perfect justice to express that sentiment, Loco brings much coolness and style to the track. And while it doesn’t balance out the song’s softness, it surely adds freshness to the sound. The result is a compelling hip-hop track that complements the passions of youth and the feelings of first love in the drama.
“Stay with Me” – Guardian: The Lonely and Great God – 533M
If you’re not living under a rock, you’ve heard this song at some point or the other. “Stay with Me” by Punch and Chanyeol off the hit series Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016-2017). The music video was a massive hit, racking up a million views in just 24 hours, and it’s only gone up from there. It’s still the most-watched K-drama song on YouTube with a whopping 533 million views! The song also debuted at No.1 on Mnet, No.2 on Genie, and No.10 on Melon after its release, and even landed Chanyeol a Melon Weekly Popularity Award for four weeks straight. The song is a dreamy, passionate romantic ballad with Punch’s singing and Chanyeol’s rap blending seamlessly into a K-drama classic.
