Top 8 Rainy Day K-pop Songs Koreans Love Across Generations
🌧️Rainy Day Playlists in Korea: Songs That Never Get Old
안녕하세요. I'm Hangeulia. ^-^
When it rains in Korea, people don’t just grab an umbrella — they grab a playlist. Rain isn’t just weather; it’s bi (비 – rain) wrapped in gam-seong (감성 – deep emotion). And honestly, I love every single song here. By the way, when I say K-pop, I mean it in the Korean way — not only idol tracks but also ballads and timeless classics that have stayed in our hearts for years. Because in Korea, rainy days call for all kinds of songs, old and new. So let’s dive into the 8 tracks that never leave Korea’s rainy-day playlist ^^
🎵 Epik High – Umbrella (에픽하이 – 우산, ft. Younha, 2008)
Lyric core message
“Umbrella” turns the umbrella into a symbol of love and protection. “그대는 내 머리 위에 우산 (You are the umbrella over my head)” means the lover once sheltered me; now I’m alone in the rain, shoelaces loose, shoulders wet — bi (비 – rain) as nun-mul (눈물 – tears), and rainy night streets as a lonely inner landscape.
Why Koreans love it on rainy days
That blend of hip-hop beats + Younha’s aching vocal = a uniquely Korean “ballad-meets-rap” vibe. It paints the image of standing alone in the drizzle so vividly that cafes, radios, and streets still return to it every monsoon season.
My take (Hangeulia style)
Whenever Younha hits that “I cry” line, my eyes start raining too ㅠㅠ Don’t just grab an umbrella — grab this song. ^^
🎵 IU – Rain Drop (아이유 – Rain Drop, 2010 · digital single)
Lyric core message
Like a sudden so-na-gi (소나기 – summer shower), love comes and goes without warning. “사랑은 저 빗방울처럼 모두 까맣게 잊어버리고 젖어 버리고선 아파하는 감기 같은 걸까요” likens love to raindrops and even to a cold — brief, painful, unforgettable.
Why Koreans love it on rainy days
The rain here = memories, tears, regrets. IU’s crystal-clear voice perfectly fits the image of watching rain outside a window. The light melody feels like a shower that passes but leaves you thoughtful.
My take (Hangeulia style)
Her pure voice makes me feel brighter, even while the lyrics talk about heartache. It’s like being soaked but smiling anyway ^^
🎵 Heize – You, Clouds, Rain (헤이즈 – 비도 오고 그래서, 2017)
Lyric core message
Rain brings back memories of an ex. “비도 오고 그래서 네 생각이 났어, 생각이 나서 그래서 그랬던거지 별 의미 없지” = on rainy nights, thoughts of you just happen. The song blends longing, regret, and the acceptance that both must move on.
Why Koreans love it on rainy days
Its casual, conversational lyrics make anyone feel “that’s exactly me.” When rain falls, this song becomes the background of cafes, rooms, and lonely alleys everywhere.
My take (Hangeulia style)
The moment she sings “비도 오고 그래서 네 생각이 났어,” my heart is already soaked. Even if I don’t have someone specific in mind, the rain makes me think I should ^^
🎵 Paul Kim – Rain (폴킴 – 비, 2016 · digital single)
Lyric core message
Drizzling on and off mirrors a lover’s unstable heart. Though the sky clears, the singer’s heart stays wet. “나에게 햇살 같아, 그런 널 왜 난 보냈을까” = regret over letting go of sunshine-like love.
Why Koreans love it on rainy days
Paul Kim’s warm yet aching voice embodies “a heart soaked in rain.” Everyday images — radio static, melodies, streets — feel like everyone’s own story.
My take (Hangeulia style)
From the very first note, Paul Kim’s emotional voice makes my heart ache. Even on a sunny day, this song brings back the deep, rainy-day feeling. 😭
🎵 Im Hyun-jung – Love is Like Spring Rain, Farewell is Like Winter Rain (임현정 – 사랑은 봄비처럼 이별은 겨울비처럼, 2003)
Lyric core message
Love = spring rain, warming and leaving sweet traces. Farewell = winter rain, cold, leaving wounds. The contrast of seasons and rain embodies both the joy and pain of love.
Why Koreans love it on rainy days
The very title is poetry. This song became a textbook example of rainy-day ballads, touching universal emotions that keep it alive across decades.
My take (Hangeulia style)
If I had to pick one rainy-day ballad, I’d probably start here. “사랑은 봄비처럼, 이별은 겨울비처럼” — it makes me choke up yet strangely comforted ^^
🎵 Seo Young-eun – Rainy Street (서영은 – 비 오는 거리, 2004 · remake of Lee Seung-hoon’s 1997 original)
Lyric core message
Walking down rainy streets recalls a breakup: “그날도 비가 내렸어, 나를 떠나가던 날.” Rain = trigger of heartbreak, only the lover can stop this cold rain.
Why Koreans love it on rainy days
Seo Young-eun’s warm voice reinterprets the classic, making it a staple for 2000s listeners. Rain as heartbreak is universal, but her delivery feels both personal and timeless.
My take (Hangeulia style)
Seo Young-eun’s clear and pure voice brings back those rainy-day memories that everyone keeps tucked away in their hearts. 💕
🎵 Kang In-won – Watercolor on a Rainy Day (강인원 – 비 오는 날의 수채화, 1989 · Park Jung-hyun remake 2011)
Lyric core message
Rain paints the streets like a canvas. “세상 사람 모두 다 도화지 속에 그려진 풍경처럼 행복하면 좋겠네” — the wish for a world more peaceful, colorful, and kind.
Why Koreans love it on rainy days
Unlike most sad rain songs, this one brings hope. Park Jung-hyun’s remake adds vocal power, making the raindrops feel like vivid colors on the city.
My take (Hangeulia style)
Whenever I listen, the rain feels brighter. Raindrops turn purple, chocolate, sparkling…🎨 it recharges my heart ^-^
🎵 Kim Hyun-sik – Like Music, Like Rain (김현식 – 비처럼 음악처럼, 1986 · Kyuhyun remake 2020)
Lyric core message
“비가 내리고 음악이 흐르면 난 당신을 생각해요” = rain and music recall lost love. Love was once like beautiful music, now it lingers as pain like falling rain.
Why Koreans love it on rainy days
Kim Hyun-sik’s husky voice pierces like raindrops. Kyuhyun’s 2020 remake bridges generations, carrying the song’s timeless sorrow and beauty forward.
My take (Hangeulia style)
First note and I’m gone ㅠㅠ Kim’s raw voice, Kyuhyun’s clear delivery — both versions stay in my rainy-day playlist forever.
🎵 Quick guide: release years & versions
| Artist | Song Title | Year | Notes / Remakes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epik High (에픽하이) | Umbrella (우산) |
2008 | ft. Younha (윤하) |
| IU (아이유) | Rain Drop | 2010 | Digital single |
| Heize (헤이즈) | You, Clouds, Rain (비도 오고 그래서) |
2017 | Album /// (너 먹구름 비) |
| Paul Kim (폴킴) | Rain (비) | 2016 | Digital single |
| Im Hyun-jung (임현정) | Love is Like Spring Rain, Farewell is Like Winter Rain (사랑은 봄비처럼 이별은 겨울비처럼) |
2003 | Album Year Out...In The Isalnd |
| Lee Seung-hoon (이승훈) | Rainy Street (비 오는 거리) |
1997 | Seo Young-eun (서영은) remake, 2004 |
| Kang In-won (강인원) | Watercolor on a Rainy Day (비 오는 날의 수채화) |
1989 | Park Jung-hyun (박정현) remake, 2011 |
| Kim Hyun-sik (김현식) | Like Music, Like Rain (비처럼 음악처럼) |
1986 | Kyuhyun (규현) remake, 2020 |
🎵 Final Thoughts
Next time it rains where you are, don’t just grab an umbrella — grab this playlist. Trust me, it’ll make your day feel a little more hangukjeok (한국적 – Korean-in-spirit) ^^ Which one are you pressing play on first?
With love,
한글리아 😊
