For the past few years, Korean dramas or K-dramas have been all the rave, especially in the Philippines.

From the star-crossed lovers of Crash Landing On You to the fantasy-filled world of Alchemy of Souls to the unpredictable and tension-filled romance of Nevertheless, many of these shows now have a permanent place in our hearts, immersing audiences in a story that keeps them up all night and constantly coming back for more. And no matter how long it’s been since we’ve binged them, these dramas continue to occupy spaces in our minds thanks to various songs featured in them.

From the likes of V of BTS gushing about being in love to Gaho motivating us to keep going against all odds, countless tracks have ultimately come to define iconic K-dramas and vice-versa. With this in mind, Billboard Philippines has compiled a list of these songs, ones that continue to remind us of our favorite series to this day and will continue to do so for many years to come.

“Say Yes” by Loco featuring Punch – Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

Has a song ever simultaneously reminded you of heart-shattering memories and unforgettable romance? “Say Yes” by Loco and Punch definitely does for countless people as it remains synonymous to the popular time-traveling, historical drama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo starring singer-actress IU (real name: Lee Ji-eun) and actor Lee Joon-gi.

“Love You With All My Heart” by Crush – Queen of Tears

A heart-wrenching yet beautifully emotional drama is only as good as its songs and Queen of Tears‘ soundtrack absolutely delivered, especially with this heartfelt track by Crush.

Queen of Tears tells the story of an estranged married couple played by Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won and the shocking news that eventually leads them down the road to rekindling their lost love. A lot of people still aren’t over this hit drama and how much tears it eventually made everyone shed and one good listen to “Love You With All My Heart” will surely remind us of the show’s bittersweet memories.

“Love Me Like That” by Sam Kim – Nevertheless

Starring Han So-hee and Song Kang, Nevertheless is the story of an ambiguous romantic relationship between two college art students. One of them is heartbroken and searching for love. The other? A serial player unwilling to commit.

A sort of musical indicator to the exciting yet toxic attraction between the leads, Sam Kim’s “Love Me Like That” has come to remind listeners of the tumultuous tale of the main characters – a story of red flags, butterflies, and bad decisions.

“Go!” by DOKYEOM (DK of Seventeen) – Twenty-Five Twenty-One

A story spanning multiple real life events from 1998 to 2021, Twenty-Five Twenty-One is a story of 5 friends who navigate life over the years through various instances of heartache and loss as well as love and triumph. Couple this story with this motivational track from SEVENTEEN member DK, what we ultimately get is an inspiring reminder for us to keep moving forward in life, in love, and everything in between, no matter challenges may come.

“You Are My Everything” by Gummy – Descendants of the Sun

In more ways than one, 2016’s Descendants of the Sun had everyone’s hearts constantly racing back when it first premiered.

From fast-paced fight sequences to fate-defining medical procedures, this iconic drama starring Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo had everyone on the edge of their seats. Of course, the budding romance between its lead characters was the center of it all, ultimately supplemented by this equally emotional and iconic track from singer Gummy.

“Start Over” by Gaho – Itaewon Class

Against all odds, it’s never too late to begin again.

With Park Seo-joon and Kim Da-mi in the lead roles, Itaewon Class showcases the story of an ex-convict aiming for a second chance at life and seeking justice against the powerful family that led to his imprisonment.

With Gaho’s aptly titled “Start Over” serving as its main theme, this epic story of heroic triumph as well as newfound friendships and love moved the hearts of its viewers. To this day, it serves as a motivational reminder for us to keep going despite what challenges or failures life throws our way and that, in the end, the good will always prevail.

“Just Watching You” by JEONG SEWOON – Alchemy of Souls

Beautifully combining historical and fantasy elements, Alchemy of Souls had everyone invested in its magic-filled story of great battles, friendships, and, of course, romance. This song in particular from the drama stands out the most and has come to remind everyone of an unexplored romance between Mu-Deok/Nak-su played by Jung So-Min and Seo Yul played by Hwang Min-Hyun of the boy groups NU’EST and Wanna One.

“Romantic Sunday” by Car, the garden – Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

Good vibes, newfound romance, and a seaside town. Undeniably, the perfect recipe for one iconic feel-good drama.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, starring Shin Min-a and Kim Seon-ho, delivers a heartfelt tale between an uptight and no-nonsense dentist and a free-spirited and carefree handyman as they navigate life and love alongside the residents of the small town they reside in. “Romantic Sunday” feels almost too perfect to describe this series, as this high-spirited track from Car, the garden helps elevate the joyful tone of this hit drama even further.

“Give You My Heart” by IU – Crash Landing On You

Taking the K-drama world by storm and capturing the hearts of many, Crash Landing On You tells the story of the unlikely romance between a North Korean army captain and a South Korean CEO and heiress thanks to an unexpected turn of events.

Top-billed by Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, this was the drama was also a point of significance in the career of IU as it features her song “Give You My Heart”. Alongside being a track that befits the love between the show’s main characters, it also served as IU’s first time singing a song for a soundtrack in 9 years. An unforgettable song for an unforgettable drama.

“Christmas Tree” by V of BTS – Our Beloved Summer

Our Beloved Summer tells the story of former lovers played by Choi Woo-shik and Kim Da-mi forced to interact once again when a documentary they filmed back in high school becomes viral. The series explores the long-forgotten romance that started when they were younger as well as them navigating their adult lives in the present.

The song that ultimately came to define this drama was none other than “Christmas Tree” by V of BTS. Indeed, with his soulful singing and the track’s calming instrumentals, it served to help define why many consider this show to be their ultimate comfort K-drama despite what its initial premise might tell you.

“Stay With Me” by CHANYEOL of EXO and Punch – Goblin

With that electric guitar intro coupled with the dreamy mix of Punch’s vocals and Chanyeol of EXO’s rapping, this iconic song ultimately became synonymous with this equally iconic K-drama.

Starring Gong Yoo and Kim Go-Eun, Goblin is a fantasy series exploring fate, destiny, death, and romance, and everything else in between. Without a doubt, alongside the rest of its soundtrack, “Stay With Me” helped this series gain worldwide recognition, becoming a show that has helped define K-dramas for various generations.

“Running” by Gaho – Start-Up

Ending this list on a high and hopeful note is another motivational track from Gaho, this time from 2020’s Start-Up starring Bae Suzy, Nam Joo-hyuk, and Kim Seon-ho. It tells the story of a woman who dreams of becoming successful entrepreneur as she enters the world of start-ups and finds herself in an unprecedented love triangle.

Showcasing the highs and lows of chasing one’s dreams, this drama served as some much needed inspiration for its viewers mid-pandemic. Backed by the hopeful lyricism and instrumentals of Gaho’s “Running”, it continues to do so even until today.

How about you? What are your favorite songs from your favorite K-dramas?