10 K-Drama Characters Who Deserved Better

K-dramas are known for their unpredictable plot twists, which sometimes disappoint fans by taking unexpected turns or killing off key characters who deserve better. Despite this, they continue to captivate audiences with their well-crafted characters and compelling storylines. These dramas excel in character development, creating a strong emotional connection between viewers and characters, regardless of whether they are heroes or villains. K-dramas are renowned for their emotionally charged storytelling, often leading to impactful deaths and character relationships that deeply resonate with audiences.

From tragic K-drama deaths to unsatisfying endings and disappointing romantic choices, some conclusions leave fans believing the characters deserved a better fate. Unfortunately, some beloved characters meet tragic ends or endure unjust hardships, which leaves a feeling of injustice. Whether they are central protagonists or supporting characters, their fates often leave a lingering sense of what could have been, had the story taken a different turn.

10 Yoo Na-bi

Nevertheless

Fans of the K-drama Nevertheless were left feeling that Yoo Na-bi deserved better. The plot follows Na-bi, a heartbroken art student, and Park Jae-eon, a player, as they navigate a friends-with-benefits relationship. The arrangement soon turns complicated and painful, particularly for Na-bi. Jae-eon’s habit of entertaining others while being with Na-bi highlights red flags she chooses to ignore. The show attempts to hastily redeem Jae-eon for the conclusion, but the sustainability of their romance is questionable. Na-bi and Jae-eon are one of the most notorious K-drama couples that shouldn’t have ended up together.

9 Hong Seol

Cheese In the Trap

In Cheese in the Trap, the story concludes with a disappointing ending, particularly for Hong Seol. The drama centers on her challenging relationship with Yoo Jung. After a critical incident leads to their separation, the plot moves forward with a time jump. The ending reveals that Hong Seol has been persistently sending emails to Yoo Jung, which he initially ignores. Only towards the end does he begin to read them. This unresolved and ambiguous conclusion leaves their romantic journey hanging, with Hong Seol’s enduring efforts and feelings left unreciprocated. Ultimately, she deserved a more satisfying resolution.

8 Kim Jung Hwan

Reply 1988

Fans of Reply 1988 were deeply disappointed by the conclusion of the romantic storyline in the series. The show raises the question of who Deok-sun will end up with: Jung Hwan or Taek? Being the fan favorite, many viewers expected Deok-sun to end up with Jung Hwan in the end. However, it was not meant to be, and Deok-sun ends up with Jung Hwan’s friend Taek instead. Fans felt that Jung Hwan’s character deserved a happier resolution, especially after investing in his journey throughout the series. His story’s conclusion leaves a poignant feeling of what could have been.

7 Ji-yeong

Squid Game

Ji-yeong has one of the most tragic backstories in Squid Game. Her life was filled with undeserved hardships, including being thrown into prison after killing her abusive father, who had murdered her mother. When released, she enters the 33rd Squid Game with no other options to start a new life. The hand she has been dealt in life seems entirely unfair. Her story reaches a sad end in Squid Game Season 1, Episode 6, Gbangu, where she sacrifices herself in the Marbles game, letting Sae-byeok win. She has lost her will to live, and tragically, Ji-yeong never experiences a life better than her troubled past.

6 Min Eun-ji

All of Us Are Dead

In All of Us Are Dead, Min Eun-ji endures a heartbreaking fate after surviving severe bullying and a suicide attempt. At the zombie outbreak’s onset, she becomes a halfbie, a part-human, part-zombie being. Remarkably, she continues to survive, even after being accidentally hit by a bus. Tragically, the series concludes with a twist, as it appears that government experimenters ultimately cause her demise. Ultimately, killing off her character in such a way undermines her journey of survival and strength in the face of adversity.

5 Court Lady Oh Soo-yun

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

Known for its many heartbreaking losses, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo features the profoundly tragic death of Court Lady Oh Soo-yun. To protect Hae-soo, Court Lady Oh heroically confesses to poisoning the Crown Prince, a crime she didn’t commit. Despite Hae-soo’s desperate pleas to the monarchy, asserting her innocence, the series intensifies its sorrowful tone when Court Lady Oh is ultimately executed. In a show for its heart-wrenching deaths, Court Lady Oh Soo-yun’s demise stands out for her underserved sacrifice in the name of love.

4 Baek Ye-jin and Na Hee-do

Twenty-Five Twenty-One

In Netflix’s Twenty-Five Twenty-One, the finale delivers a heart-wrenching conclusion to the love story of Baek Ye-jin and Na Hee-do. After years together, their relationship ends in a painful breakup filled with regret. When Ye-jin reads Hee-do’s diary, it leads to an emotional reunion. However, destiny pulls them apart again as Ye-jin moves to America. Years later, despite Hee-do’s marriage and Ye-jin’s successful career in Korea, their love remains. The series ends with Hee-do reflecting on their cherished memories, leaving a sense of tragic incompleteness for a couple who deserved a better ending together.

3 Jang Han Seo

Vincenzo

In Vincenzo, Jang Han Seo (Kwak Dong Yeon) initially appears as a harsh and insensitive chairman. However, it’s revealed that he’s merely an abused and manipulated puppet controlled by his stepbrother, the true culprit behind their misdeeds. Craving love and validation, Jang Han Seo finds understanding and acceptance from Vincenzo. In the end, Han-seo dies protecting his friend, Vincenzo, marking his redemption. This unfortunate timing deprived him of the chance to pursue a happier life, making his death even more tragic and poignant.

2 Seo Dan and Gu Seung Jun

Crash Landing On You

In Crash Landing On You, the series follows the intertwined lives of North Korean army captain Ri Jeong Hyeok, South Korean businesswoman Yoon Se Ri, and the con artist Gu Seung Jung. Seung Jung finds himself in North Korea, crossing paths with Seo Dan (Seo Ji Hye), Captain Ri’s fiancé. As events unfold, Seung Jung and Seo Dan develop feelings for each other. Sadly, the plot turns tragic: Seung Jung sacrifices his life to save Seo Dan. As someone who has been unlucky in love, her heartbreak is harrowing as the love she had yearned for and finally found tragically slips away.

1 Ji-su

Sweet Home

In a shocking twist to the Sweet Home series, Ji-su dies in season 2, episode 3, after a missile attack by the military. Trapped and unable to escape, her poignant final moments with Eun-yu highlight the despair of her situation. This impactful death casts a shadow over the season, emphasizing the bleakness and inevitability of loss in the K-drama series. Ji-su’s journey and potential, tragically cut short, underscore the series’ tendency towards dark, unhappy endings. Becoming one of Sweet Home‘s saddest deaths, Ji-su’s demise was immensely shocking and a waste of such a beloved character.