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True to their commonly used moniker, many K-dramas (South Korean scripted television programming of any genre) can get quite melodramatic at times. Even the most uproarious Korean comedies know when to add some raw, emotional moments between the laughs, and the pure drama shows swing even harder with their tearjerker scenes. Korean television has been expertly crafting sad stories for years, with some of the best K-dramas of all time being outright tragedies. As K-dramas continue to find popularity with international audiences, there are plenty of shows to choose from if you just need a good, cathartic cry.

From period piece epics to intimate love stories cut tragically short, melancholy K-dramas span a wide breadth of genres and narrative premises. The unifying element in all these shows are how utterly depressing they are, with their soul-crushing endings likely leaving viewers emotional wrecks for days. At the same time, there is...

Thai auteur, Sivaroj Kongsakul made his feature directorial debut with “Eternity,” which screened at festivals including Busan, Rotterdam and Hong Kong back in 2010. Having waited for over a decade, Kongsakul has chosen to entwine the fates of an old man, a little girl and a young soldier in his second feature, “Regretfully at Dawn.”

The new film is confirmed to premiere in the New Directors section at the San Sebastian festival and will follow that shortly after with an appearance xx in Busan International Film Festival in October.

The film is very different from “Eternity” and from Kongsakul’s recent TV work.

In a small province not far from Bangkok, the life of Yong Junjam at first seems typical of an old man. The traces of his past as a soldier are also evident. Even though he currently feels unwell, Yong spends every day with the dream of building a tree-house by himself,...

K-dramas have evolved over the years, but at their core, they always focus on the ups and downs of being hopelessly in love. Queen of Tears captures hearts with its love story between Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in, navigating through hardships and strong love. Other shows like Autumn in My Heart and Stairway to Heaven offer heartwarming romances with iconic storytelling tricks.

Netflix's latest K-drama hit, Queen of Tears, is finished, but there are several other shows that can fill the void left by Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun) and Hong Hae-in's (Kim Ji-won) love affair. Long before they gained worldwide acclaim with projects like Parasite and Squid Game, Koreans have always been great when doing romances. Over the years, the genre has evolved, incorporating new elements that make them feel modern. At its very core, however, K-drama love stories are always effective, since they almost always focus on the...

K-dramas transcend genres, but similar to life, they don't always end on a happy note. In the last few years, Korean entertainment has been gaining international recognition thanks to global hits such as Netflix's Squid Game and Bong Joon Ho's Parasite. Known for their inventive storytelling, however, K-dramas are able to resonate with the public because of their universal themes.

Because of its tendency to lean on human storylines, K-dramas often mirror real-life experiences regardless of their genre. So while they usually tackle the joys of all kinds of love, they also don't shy away from exposing the harsh realities that come with it. Just like life, K-dramas can be bittersweet, but sometimes, they can also be devastatingly sad.

Related: 15 Essential K-Dramas That Every Fan Needs To Watch

Autumn In My Heart

In the early 2000s, sappy K-dramas were all the rage, and it started with Autumn In My Heart.

There are countless great K-dramas, but for those wanting to start their new TV obsession, here's an essential list of the best ones out there. In recent years, Korean entertainment has started gaining more notoriety thanks to projects like Academy Award-winning Parasite and Netflix's Squid Game. With that, there's also growing interest in not only being up-to-date with currently airing series but also revisiting past shows that are now considered cult classics.

It took a little while before Korean dramas made their way to Western countries. That being said, they have long been beloved in the East and Southeast Asian region, with countless shows being re-broadcasted by local networks usually once they have wrapped up their stint in South Korea. Over the years, this has created a varied catalog, but this is the essential list of K-dramas that every fan needs to go through.

Related: Where To Watch The...

Romance drama ‘Adagio’ from New Wave drama series director Yoon Seok-Ho.

South Korea’s Hive Filmworks has boarded international sales rights on two upcoming titles led by romance drama Adagio, directed by Yoon Seok-Ho, known for seminal Korean Wave drama series including Winter Sonata and Autumn In My Heart.

Based on Yuki Ibuki’s Japanese novel The Wind Leading To Love, the film follows a man and a woman going through midlife crises who encounter each other in a peaceful seaside village where – despite their different backgrounds – they classical music connects their lonely and injured souls.

The film stars Kim Ji-young,...