Great post, the reason why some bad shows are still memorable for me is because they have good osts. I haven't even seen Memory but I love the osts specially the instrumentals. I hope we get to know more about these wonderful music directors through DB or any other platform because they are hardly ever mentioned somewhere in English credits.

I honestly really disliked Scarlet Heart (didn't watch the Chinese adaptation) even though I still watched the entire show in rapt attention... ? And even though I didn't like it, the entire OST remains on replay in my playlist. The songs were fantastic!

Other dramas that were saved by OST: Uncontrollably Fond and Love Rain.

Yes, sometimes the ost just save the drama itself. Just like back then in Style where I really bored yet the ost keep me back again to watch KimHyeSoo anyway.
Though I love KongHyoJin and JoInSung in It's Okay,That's Love but I didn't really enjoy that drama because it's just not my cup of tea. But once again, for me the ost just way too emotional more than the story.

The soundtrack to Dong Yi is lovely.

One thing that makes me sad is that sometimes it's hard to find OST tracks from outside Korea. (Or maybe inside, too?) Some of the nicest instrumental tracks just don't get included on iTunes (I'm looking at you, Goblin!). Sometimes I can find sheet music for them, and sometimes I can't. But yes, my OST sheet music collection has really grown since I started watching dramas, too!

I haven't even seen Dong Yi, yet I instantly fell in love with “Walk in a Dreamy Road” the moment I heard it (accidentally discovered it while looking for some other ost)
That song is GORGEOUS!! I luff it!!!

For me it's BOF, I hated the drama but the ost remains to be one of my favourites along with secret garden.

Hear, hear! Music directors hardly get any credit. I have been trying to find out who was REBEL's music director, to no avail. I might have to learn Korean just to read the end credits.

i gave rebel a 9/10 just for the music. the ost itself was amazing but the way they used it was also really well done. i can't wait to see ahn yeeun rule sageuk osts

Scarlet heart had the most amazing ost, undoubtedly. I loved the story though, till ep 12 I think until everyone kept dying and of course we didn't get any closer on the OTP.. sigh.

"There are also some OSTs that truly save otherwise shoddily written dramas, and these sometimes end up giving me hope that the drama would improve because evidently, the drama’s music directors knew what they were doing. "

Love this! Been there.
Great essay!

When I was a teenager, I liked bright pop song, the one that I could use to dance alone in my room. But in my early-twenties, I like to hear ballad song more, and k-drama (especially sageuk) has tons of excellent sad heartwrenching song

Rebel OST remains on top of my most favorite of all time, and I don't know when I'll get another perfect OST

Thank you, @witheachnewmorning, for your lovely and thoughtful article on Kdrama OSTs. I've not gotten around to seeing DONG YI, but you've put it on my radar with your comments on the music.

And thanks for your pointer to MEMORY with Lee Sung-min, who is one of my favorite actors (MISAENG, THE KING2HEARTS). “If I Lived Again” is wonderful. I didn't look up the lyrics, but the feelings... The combination of an evocative score and LSM might be too much to bear for someone with kin with Alzheimer's and dementia. But it might also be just the ticket for triggering a good cry. Sometimes cartharsis is just what the doctor ordered, and for me, music steeped in han is the sure-fire way to achieve it. Slip in a plaintive hageum, and I'm a goner.

I'm a sucker of a good scoremelodrama and sageuk ost

Thanks for mentioning "Dong Yi" and "Scarlet Heart".

Jang Nara's "Walk in a Dreamy Road" is also one of my faves too. Always brought me back to the reunion scene between Dong Yi and Sukjong outside of the palace, after she went missing for months.

Great post! One of the reasons why I still cannot get over Scarlet Heart is because of the OSTs. Every time I listen to the songs, the flashback of the scenes comes to my mind and my heart hurts a little. It's agonizing but it's addictive.

The OSTs were the only ones I loved about Ruler: Master of the Mask and The Best Thing. Both started out really well and then everything went downhill when the second half of the drama rolled. Thank goodness they managed to choose good songs.

"I especially enjoy this diversity because there are musical styles that are not often seen in modern K-pop anymore but can still be enjoyed occasionally in drama OSTs."

? Awesome post. A lot of the times I find myself in awe at the rate this industry can just produce a complete and original soundtrack for every new drama, and not just end up churning out repetitive sounds/melodies. Of course not all OSTs stand out, but I feel most of them really do capture the show's essence, enhance it, and even be that sole bright spot in this case.
Cheese in the trap, for one, is a drama that wouldn't hold such a dear place in my heart and memory if it weren't for the OST, which...of course (because anything involving Tearliner is ❤️).

"The best thing about OSTs are that they serve a variety of different purposes (there’s the cute theme, the romantic theme, the sad theme, and so on), hence they are created in vastly different musical styles, with a wide variety of artists brought together each time. I especially enjoy this diversity because there are musical styles that are not often seen in modern K-pop anymore but can still be enjoyed occasionally in drama OSTs"

This exactly! I've been enjoying OSTs more than KPOP songs. And it's because of this. Great post! ????

One of my all time favorite OSTs is Remember by Dear Cloud, the main OST for I Remember You.
The lyrics and the singer's voice gave me goosebumps every time it came on, couldn't help crying.

I can think of many dramas which have beautiful OST's but the one that truly brings tears to my eyes is the piano version of Reason from autumn in my heart ? I get goosebumps every time I listen to it

I haven't watched dong yi but I certainly got goosebumps from your description of that scene. I can see how the OST must have been important to that very scene. Indeed music surveyors are truly the best. It's unfortunate that they don't seem to get too much credit for it. When I think about all those scenes from even American dramas like originals, vampire diaries, one tree hill...etc where the various songs made all the scenes so much better and speak volumes than the script even did.
It'll be nice if there is ever a drama centred on a music director like another oh hae young was on the sound director. It really made me appreciate all the sounds in every drama and movie after that and even pay particular notice to them all

I really loved Chicago Typewriter's OST ! Beautiful drama with an amazing soundtrack !

wow i watched dong yi when i was only 10 (a year younger) too! At that point in time ( dong yi was my first ever kdrama) i thought that the whole story was really good and strong but now like after 6 years snd looking back i have to agree dong yi's relationship with the king was cute but not as powerful or as connecting for me as compared to other relationships in other dramas that i have watched over the years. BUT YES WALK IN A DREAMY ROAD IS STILL ONE OF MY TOP OSTs TODAY!! It has a traditional yet modern vibe to it and it just worked really well with the storyline :)

I just went and bought that Scarlet Heart song because of this post. Now I'm sitting crying in my room lol.... I had so many issues with that show I couldn't even pay attention to the OST! Thanks for the re-introduction.

When I saw you wrote about Dong Yi, couldnt help myself but leaving a comment here. I have fair shares of favourite OSTs, but Jang Nara's Walk In A Dream Road remains in the top spot. I love that drama, have been rewatching the drama many times and still cannot get over it, and still having the same feeling everytime I listen to the song, especially when the camera shows Dong Yi and the King long for each other, but they have to sacrifice their feelings. How can I not feel sad?
OST is important, it captures and heighten the emotions for viewers, which makes viewing experiences enjoyable. Glad that throughout my dramas watching, I come across many beautiful songs, and that includes instrumental musics. One of my favourite is Cinderella's Sister Minor Waltz. It is a very beautiful piece, and I recommend this music for those that is currently searching for one heartbreaking and heart-tugging instrumental music.
Music directors, singers, and everyone, you guys rocks!

It's not a fail drama but Iris OST Don't Forget by Baek Ji Young is gold

Memory is one of the best dramas