We all love watching a good romance movie, but a sad film becomes even more heartbreaking to see one of the main characters die. We end up crying along while watching the film and wish that a miracle would happen so that the character will not die. Not all stories have happy endings and show us that we should live in the moment and be satisfied. You must keep your tissues ready while seeing these sad films. Let’s see the top ten Korean movies in which the lead character dies.
1. Train To Busan
Train to Busan is a South Korean action-horror film released in 2016 starring Ma Dong-Seok, Gong Yoo, Ma Dong-Seok, Jung Yu-mi, Choi Woo-Shik, Kim Su-an, Ahn So-hee and Kim Eui-sung. The film takes place from Seoul to Busan on a high-speed train when a zombie apocalypse breaks out in the country, threatening the safety of the passengers on the train. In the film, a father-daughter duo travels to Busan by train to meet the mother when the virus breaks out. Gong Yoo dies at the end of the film.
2. Be With You
Be With You is a South Korean romantic film released in 2018 starring So Ji Sub and So Ji Sub. It is a remake of the Japanese film of the same name. The film revolves around Soo-ah, who, before passing on, makes an unbelievable promise to her husband Woo-jin that she will one year later return at the start of the rainy season. By some miracle, she reappears before her son and husband having no recollection of memory. The reunion is sadly short-lived because she has to leave her family at the end of the rainy season.
3. The Classic
The Classic is a South Korean romance melodrama film released in 2003 and directed by Kwak Jae Yong. The film shows the parallel love story of a mother and her daughter. Ji Hae, the daughter, accidentally finds a secret box from her mother that has all the memories of her first lover. The love of her mother dies in the movie after three years of marriage.
4. Christmas In August
Christmas In August is a romance drama film released in 1998 starring Shim Eun-ha and Han Suk-kyu. In the movie, Jung-won is a photo shop owner who, after his failed engagement, lives with his sister and her family. He meets Da-rim, a parking agent. They have an instant connection between them, and they meet more often. Jung-won discovers he has a terminal disease, so he breaks off all contact with Da-rim. He subtly dies in the movie.
5. Fly High
Fly High is a 2009 movie directed by Park Jung Hun. The film revolves around Si-bum, who has a dream of being an actor. He one day meets Su-kyoung and falls in love with her at first sight. She has to, after a while, confront her mother’s death. They try to escape reality by taking a trip to the sea. Su-kyoung gets severely injured in an accident when she attempts suicide by drowning herself.
6. Birthday
Birthday is a South Korean film released in 2019 by Lee Jeong Un. It is based on an actual incident of the South Korean Sewol Ferry Disaster, in 2014. The story is about the loss of their eldest son Sun Ho played by Yoon Chan-young in the disaster on the 16th of April 2014. His parents are trying to cope with the loss and memory of their dead son while struggling to keep their family together. They must still be working hard to care for their younger daughter Ye-sol.
7. The Handmaiden
The Handmaiden is a South Korean psychological thriller film released in 2016 inspired by the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. It stars Kim Tae-Ri, Kim Min-hee, Cho Jin-Woong, and Ha Jung-woo. A wealthy Japanese heiress hires a handmaiden who is secretly involved in a plot to defraud her. At the end of the movie, both of them die.
8. …Ing
…Ing is a South Korean film released in 2003 starring Kim Rae-won, Im Soo-Jung, and Lee Mi-sook. The film was based on a high school girl Min-ah who lives with her mom. She has a terminal illness and deformity, and she stays aloof to the world. The story portrays an unconventional yet endearing relationship between her and her mother. Min-ah’s development is shown when she befriends the carefree and high-spirited photographer Young-Jae who moves into their apartment complex.
9. More Than Blue
More than blue is a South Korean film starring Lee Bo-young, Kwon Sang-woo, and Lee Beom-Soo. It has a Taiwanese remake of the same name, released in 2018. The story is about a terminally ill man who sets up his best friend with someone else even though he has loved her since high school. He doesn't want her to be lonely after he dies. After the death of his best friend, she commits suicide.
10. No Tears For The Dead
No Tears for the Dead is a South Korean action film released in 2014. The leads of this film are Kim Min-hee and Jang Dong-gun. The film story is about a professional hitman who is conflicted about whether he should kill his latest target or not. The hitman dies at the end of the movie.
