A perfect ending is not always a happy ending. It can be an incomplete one, which can leave your mind twisting and thinking, and also can end on a sad note, making it hard to be absorbed by people who crave the ‘and they stayed happy together forever’ endings. Shows that do not have happy endings tend to tell our brains how the world of cinema is not always a wonderful, dreamy world but is only inspired by reality most of the time.
To break the stereotypical perfect endings, there are shows and movies that do not follow the pattern of making everything happy and wonderful in the climax of the show. And today, we have a list of 12 K-dramas that don’t have happy endings.
A Korean Odyssey
Where to watch: Netflix
This show leaves its viewers with a bittersweet feeling at the end, and you would have to watch the show to get to know the reason behind it. The show is a fantasy drama featuring Lee Seung-gi and Oh Yeon-seo and has 1 season only.
Black
Where to watch: Netflix
A thriller rom-com show featuring Song Seung-heon, Go ara, and Kim Dong-jun revolves around the story of a grim reaper who gets punished for falling in love with a woman who is mortal, ultimately breaking the rules of heaven. In the end, you will tend to know the main value of human life.
Hymn of Death
Where to watch: Netflix
![Hymn of Death | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5QxdSiwK-nw/0.jpg "12 K-dramas that don't have happy endings 4")
A South Korean romance miniseries featuring Lee Jong-suk, Shin Hye-sun, and Ko Bo-Gyeol was released in the year of 2018 and has 1 season. The plot of the show revolves around the true events and story of Kim Woo Jin, a famous Playwright and Yun Shim Deok, an opera soprano, who fell for each other, but their fate ended their story with a tragedy.
Mr. Sunshine
Where to watch: Netflix
![Mr. Sunshine | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rPJSo4fhtRU/0.jpg "12 K-dramas that don't have happy endings 5")
Another historical melodrama show featuring Kim Tae-ri and Lee Byung-hun is a 1 season k-drama show that revolves around the story of a boy from a poor family in Korea who ends up in the USA after the 1871 Shinmiyangyo incident and returns back to Korea and falls for a noblewoman.
Memories of the Alhambra
Where to watch: Netflix
![Memories of the Alhambra | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2Lcy3XUDd_A/0.jpg "12 K-dramas that don't have happy endings 6")
With a total number of seasons 1, this one falls under the genre category of science fiction, fantasy, and romance thriller. This show covers the unique and suspenseful love story of Yoo Jin Woo and Jung Hee Joo.
Hotel del Luna
Where to watch: Netflix, Prime, Viki
A 2019 rom-com show featuring Yeo Jin-goo, Lee Ji-eun, and Lee Do-hyun revolves around the story of a hotel located in the middle of Seoul that serves only ghosts and is managed by a beautiful CEO who is cursed to do so as a punishment for something she doesn’t remember.
Vagabond
Where to watch: Netflix
A 2019 crime-thriller K-drama featuring Lee Seung-gi and Bae Suzy is about the story of a stuntman who wants to become a superstar actor who loses his nephew in a plane crash and somehow ends up discovering a scandal.
The Red Sleeve
Where to watch: Viki
A romance-drama show released in 2021 features Lee Se-young and Lee Jun-ho. It is based on the novel of the same name and follows the love story of a king and a court lady.
Big Mouth
Where to watch: Disney + Hotstar
Adding versatility to the list, this one is a crime K-drama featuring Lee Jong-suk and Im Yoon-ah. It follows the story of an unsuccessful lawyer who gets engaged in a murder case.
Alchemy of Souls
Where to watch: Netflix
Starring Lee Jae-wook, Go Yoon Jung, and Jung So-min, it Is a 2022 Korean fantasy drama with 2 seasons revolving around young magicians and forbidden spell usage, which leads to the switching of bodies.
Uncontrollably Fond
Where to watch: Netflix, viki and Zee5
Released in the year of 2016, this one is a melodrama show. It revolves around the story of two childhood near and dear friends who get separated due to circumstances and are brought together again by fate to work on a documentary.
Snowdrop
Where to watch: Disney + Hotstar
This show was released in the year 2021 and is a romantic K-drama that covers the love story set against the backdrop of 1987 Seoul between a man who escaped from a political prison and a female university student.