Chances are that at some point, you’ve given a K-Drama a shot, whether it be for a certain idol starring in it or for a group providing a song for the original soundtrack. Or maybe you’re a veteran in the K-Drama scene with an entire playlist of your favorite OSTs. Wherever you fall on the K-Drama spectrum, an OST is a great way to get a feeling for a K-Drama and to find new musicians.

“Strangers” by The Rose

For their second OST, The Rose recorded “Strangers” for the K-Drama Hell Is Other People, also known as Strangers From Hell, starring Im Siwan and Lee Dongwook. Based on the NAVER webtoon series of the same name, this psychological thriller centers around Yoon Jongwoo, played by Im Siwan, as he moves to Seoul and into a cheap dormitory. The residence isn’t the best and the residents are abnormal, including the clean-cut Seo Moonjo who lives in the room next door. The longer Jongwoo stays, the stranger the residents become, and he soon begins to fear for his life. A thriller like this deserves an equally dark OST, which is what The Rose delivered with “Strangers.” Darker and heavier than any track they’ve released before, the tone is set by a deep bass line and Woosung’s low voice. 

“Remember me” by Gummy

A veteran in the Korean music scene and master of K-Drama OSTs, Gummy has an incredible list of tracks under her belt, including “Remember me” from Hotel del Luna. This dark fantasy K-Drama stars IU and Yeo Jingoo as the owner and manager of Hotel del Luna, a hotel that caters to ghosts. “Remember me” is a soft ballad track that first appeared in the closing scene of episode six, with Gummy’s emotional vocals expressing the emotions of Jang Manwol as she navigates her life as the owner of Hotel del Luna and her relationship with manager Gu Chansung. The track would go on to win awards at the Golden Disc Awards, Mnet Asian Music Awards, and Melon Music Awards.

“It’s Definitely You” by V & Jin

“It’s Definitely You” is the first OST by V and Jin of BTS and was recorded for V’s first K-Drama, Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth which features Park Seojoon, Go Ara, and Park Hyungsik in the main roles. This historical coming-of-age K-Drama is about an elite group of hwarang as they discover their passions, love, and friendship in the turmoil of the Silla Kingdom. “It’s Definitely You” is an upbeat, poppy track about the main love triangle. However, the lyrics do come across as slightly dark, featuring lines like, “This damn love, because of you I can’t quit even if I’m hurt. Even if I die, it’s only you,” and “I’ll sacrifice myself to protect you. I’ll do it obviously. I will make this crisis into an opportunity.” Nevertheless, it’s still a fun listen and a great OST debut by V and Jin.

“Let Me Out” by NU’EST W

“Let Me Out” was the first OST ever recorded by NU’EST W, a sub-unit of NU’EST while member Minhyun was in WANNA ONE, and was released for Hwayugi, also known as A Korean Odyssey. Starring Lee Seunggi, Oh Yeonseo, and Cha Seungwon, this K-Drama is an amalgamation of genres, including fantasy, romance, comedy, and horror. With a K-Drama as dynamic as this, it stands to reason that the OST should also be dynamic, which is what NU’EST W delivered with “Let Me Out.” Blending rock and dubstep with a side of rapping over an electric guitar, “Let Me Out” seems to have everything and the kitchen sink thrown into the mix but in a cohesive and catchy manner, telling the story of Son Ogong and Jin Seonmi’s evolving relationship in a way that will keep this track stuck in your head for days.

“In Your Time” by Lee Suhyun

This summer’s popular K-Drama It’s Okay To Not Be Okay starring Kim Soohyun and Seo Yeji is an unusual romance story between a community health worker at a psychiatric ward and a successful children’s author who end up healing each other's emotional and psychological wounds. “In Your Time” is one of the OSTs for the drama and is sung by one half of AKMU, Lee Suhyun. This soft ballad is featured when viewers are introduced to the cursed castle Ko Moonyoung grew up in, featuring a flashback to when Moon Gangtae delivered flowers to her doorstep as a child. After finding themselves in a similar scene, “In Your Time” begins to play. The OST peaked at No. 31 on Gaon and is Suhyun’s highest charting OST so far.

“Round and round” by HEIZE ft. Han Suji

Is a list of amazing K-Drama OSTs really complete if Goblin: The Lonely and Great God isn’t featured? Starring Gong Yoo, Kim Goeun, and Lee Dongwook, this drama is about a warrior cursed to live forever and watch his loved ones die, a punishment for the kills committed while protecting his country. He becomes an immortal goblin, using his powers to help people in spite of his awful past. For an emotional fantasy K-Drama such as this, it requires an equally emotional yet fantastical OST, which is where “Round and round” comes into play.  Originally just a short clip sung by Han Suji, the track was loved so much by fans that HEIZE was asked to sing the rest of the song. While this brought in a bit of controversy, the track has stuck around as a fan favorite and paints a perfect picture of the relationship that grows between Goblin and Ji Euntak.