“Twenty Five, Twenty One” is not the only K-drama that makes viewers sad by ending with separation.
Not all Korean dramas wrap up with a happy and satisfactory ending. Just like in real life, many K-drama romantic leads also end up parting ways, even not seeing each other ever again.
1. Song Hye Kyo – Jang Ki Yong (Now, We Are Breaking Up)
Ha Young Eun (Song Hye Kyo) and Yoon Jae Guk (Jang Ki Yong) have a vague open ending that left the viewers dissatisfied. Young Eun stays in Korea while Jae Guk travels the world alone. In the final scene, Young Eun and Jae Guk reunite in Busan, where they had their first night together. They smile at each other and say nothing more.
2. Kim Go Eun – Ahn Bo Hyun (Yumi’s Cells)
Goo Woong (Ahn Bo Hyun) and Yumi (Kim Go Eun) are in love but he turns out to not be the right man for her. The two split up after dating for some time. Yumi will officially move on and start a relationship with Yoo Babi (GOT7’s Jinyoung) in season 2 of Yumi’s Cells. This disappoints viewers who root for Goo Woong.
3. Park Bo Gum – Park So Dam (Record of Youth)
Deciding to focus on their careers, Park Bo Gum and Park So Dam walk separate paths in the finale of Record of Youth. Sometimes love and career just don’t go together!
4. Kim So Hyun – Song Kang (Love Alarm)
After facing many misunderstandings and differences in family backgrounds, Jojo (Kim So Hyun) breaks up with her high school boyfriend, Sun Oh (Song Kang). In season 2 of Love Alarm, despite Sun Oh trying to hold onto Jojo, she and Hye Yeong (Jung Ga Ram) become endgame.
5. Jang Dong Yoon – Chae Soo Bin (If We Were a Season)
First love rarely works out and If We Were a Season proves that. The drama ends when the two childhood friends have not had the chance to confess their love for one another. Gi Seok (Jang Dong Yoon) gives Yoon Hae Rim (Chae Soo Bin) a tight hug before she gets on the train to leave.
6. IU – Lee Jun Ki (Moon Lovers)
In the tragic ending of Moon Lovers, Hae Soo dies of a serious illness, then returns to the modern world. Prince Wang So ascends the throne, raising their daughter. The drama ends when Hae Soo bursts into tears at a painting of Wang So at a gallery.
7. Kim Go Eun – Park Hae Jin (Cheese in the Trap)
In the controversial ending of Cheese in the Trap, Hong Seol and Yoo Jung are apart from each other. After their split, Hong Seol repeatedly sends Yoo Jung emails but he refuses to give a response or even read any of them.
8. Yoona – Im Si Wan (The King in Love)
The King in Love‘s troublesome love triangle also has an ending that left viewers in anger. Wang Won (Im Si Wan) takes the throne, but he and Eun San (Yoona) are not together. To this day, whether Eun San loves the male lead or the second male lead is still under controversy.
9. Kim Tae Ri – Nam Joo Hyuk (Twenty Five, Twenty One)
With its final episode aired just 2 days ago, Twenty Five, Twenty One has entered this list. Because they couldn’t make a long-distance relationship work, Na Hee Do (Kim Tae Ri) and Baek Yi Jin (Nam Joo Hyuk) broke up in the last episode, leaving fans heartbroken. Na Hee Do later got married and had a daughter, while Baek Yi Jin was alone until the age of 40.
