Friday Feature: Tears in Heaven

THIS POST HAS SPOILERS! It’s Friday, the happiest day of the week, so let’s have a look at some K-drama moments that had us weeping with sadness. Fair warning: We tried to write this post without spoilers, but it’s not possible. Spoilers ahead!

“King of High School Savvy”

“King of High School Savvy” will go down in history as the only K-drama where I was attached to almost every character, so it’s not surprising that it’s also the only K-drama to make me actually tear up. The three-way bond of affection between Lee Min Suk (Seo In Guk), his dad and his grandfather was one of the anchors of the show. Min Suk complained when Grandpa favoured his neglectful older brother over him, but he unfailingly went out to look for him when he got lost, and was happy to spend time with him whenever he could. Which made it all the more devastating when Grandpa died, having spent the night looking for Min Suk’s older brother. I’m not much for weeping, but even I choked up watching the devastated Min Suk and his dad cry over Grandpa. By the time they ran the memories’ reel, I was a goner. – Only 만

“I Hear Your Voice”

Choon Sim (Kim Hae Sook) is a tough broad, who is equally tough on her daughter, Hye Sung (Lee Bo Young). After being kidnapped and tortured by Joon Kook (Jung Woong In), Choon Sim is given the chance to speak with Hye Sung one final time. Rather than reveal her dire situation, Cheon Sim urges her daughter not to waste her life on revenge before hanging up. I am horrifed and crying as Choon Sim jeers at the man who will kill her, confident that her daughter will not live consumed by hate like him. Later, the water works are on again when Hye Sung realizes the significance of her final phone conversation with her mother. – Junggugeo Kaenada 중국어 캐나다

“It’s Okay It’s Love”

For what seemed like such a light and cheerful drama at the start, when “It’s Okay It’s Love” got serious, it really delved into some dark stuff. Underneath Jang Jae Yul’s (Jo In Sung) facade of easy charm lies a messy mixture of guilt, anger, and the horrible aftermath of the death of his abusive father. Add to this the constant attacks of his understandably angry brother, and it’s no wonder Jae Yul ended up hallucinating Han Kang Woo (Do Kyung Soo), a high school student with a history much like his own, who served as a focus for his guilt. The scene where Jae Yul finally accepts that Kang Woo is not real, and sends him off with a pair of shoes is entirely heart-rending, especially since it means that Jae Yul has forgiven himself for his awful past. – Only

“49 Days”

After spending most of the series acting obnoxious and indifferent towards Lee Kyung (Lee Yo Won), Yi Soo (Jung Il Woo) finally remembers that she was the reason he became a grim reaper. My tears arrive in torrents as the Yi Soo unveils the ring that he was going to give to Lee Kyung when he died in a motorcycle accident. They spend the day at an amusement park, then Yi Soo spends the night watching Lee Kyung sleep. The next morning, Yi Soo tells her that he loved her, and worked five years as a grim reaper in order to tell her that. However, he remains dead, and he wants Lee Kyung to live. Yi Soo throws Lee Kyung’s ring into the sea so that she can finally move on, kisses her then fades away. And, I can’t stop crying. – Junggugeo Kaenada

“Master’s Sun”

Uptight chaebol, Joo Joong Won (So Ji Sub) spends much of “Master’s Sun” trying to drive away Tae Gong Shil (Gong Hyo Jin), a woman who can see ghosts. Even when he finally comes to like her, it takes him some time to get over his mixed feelings. This is all swept aside when he saves her from being stabbed by stepping in front of the knife himself. After collapsing in her arms, Joong Won ends up in the hospital, where Gong Shil has to wait as he’s taken away for surgery. It’s not long before he returns, unhurt, glowing, and obviously a ghost. Gong Shil doesn’t want to believe he’s dead, but when he tells her he loves her and disappears into a white light, she breaks down in tears, and I have to blink a few times. What? I said I wasn’t much of a crier. – Only

“School 2013”

Heung Soo (Kim Woo Bin) spends a good chunk of the series being angry at Nam Soon (Lee Jong Suk) with the latter readily taking the punishment. Many tears are shed between the two boys, but the scene that caused me to join the cry fest was when Nam Soon gives in to Heung Soo’s demand that he sacrifice something he loves. Nam Soon reveals that he is dropping out of school, and Heung Soo laughs derisively at the idea that school means that much to him. Nam Soon states that what he is actually giving up is a chance to reconcile with Heung Soo, then walks away in tears. Heung Soo is too shocked to cry, so I decide to mirror Nam Soon in his place. – Junggugeo Kaenada

---

Readers: which K-drama moment had you dabbing at your eyes?

Turn on the waterworks in the Comments below.