Valentine's Day and Music

Valentine's Day has a way of putting love songs in your head. Chocolates and flowers are great, but sometimes the right song says what words can't. K-pop idol love songs in particular go far beyond a simple "I love you" — they capture the nervous flutter of a new crush, the ache of missing someone, and the quiet trembling of unrequited love, all with stunning precision.

Today I've picked 10 K-pop love songs released between 2016 and 2023 that feel tailor-made for Valentine's Day. Whether you're in the mood for something acoustic and intimate or a punchy upbeat pop banger, there's something here for every taste.

How I Picked These Songs

Three criteria shaped this playlist.

First: generational range. The list spans from 2016 releases all the way to 2023, so fans of different eras all have something to connect with.

Second: genre diversity. A playlist of nothing but tearful ballads gets heavy fast. I mixed in breezy pop, acoustic-driven tracks, and dance anthems to cover different moods throughout the day.

Third: mainstream appeal. These are songs with hundreds of millions of YouTube views and strong chart runs — tracks you can put on around friends or a date and hear "oh, I love this one." No deep cuts, no homework required.

The Playlist

1. TWICE - "What is Love?" (2018)

▶ TWICE "What is Love?" Official MV | Watch on YouTube

A song built around first-love curiosity — "I wonder what love actually feels like." It captures the giddy confusion of someone who hasn't been in love yet but desperately wants to know. The music video is a blast too, with the members parodying iconic romance films from Hollywood and Korean cinema alike.

Since its 2018 release it has crossed 800 million YouTube views. If you're working up the nerve to confess your feelings to someone this Valentine's Day, let this song do some of the heavy lifting.

2. IVE - "After LIKE" (2022)

▶ IVE "After LIKE" Official MV | Watch on YouTube

"What comes after the feeling of liking someone?" That's the question driving this track. The sound — a confident blend of EDM and disco — matches the attitude of the lyrics perfectly. Instead of pining quietly, the song says: "I'll show you how I feel through action, not just words." It's the kind of track that makes you feel bold.

It hit 16 million views in its first 24 hours and has since passed 300 million. IVE's self-assured energy makes this one a strong Valentine's Day opener.

3. BTS - "Boy With Luv" (Feat. Halsey) (2019)

▶ BTS "Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey)" Official MV | Watch on YouTube

This funk-pop collab with Halsey is a love letter to the small stuff. The line "I've come to know the little things about you" is the heart of it — a reminder that love isn't about grand gestures, it's about paying attention, laughing together, and showing up in the ordinary moments.

It set a then-record of 74.6 million views in a single day. The purple-toned visuals and bouncy melody are pure Valentine's Day energy.

4. BLACKPINK - "Stay" (2016)

▶ BLACKPINK "Stay" Official MV | Watch on YouTube

If you only know BLACKPINK for their fierce, high-energy anthems, this one will surprise you. Opening with harmonica and acoustic guitar, "Stay" is a country-pop ballad — gentle, vulnerable, and deeply emotional. Each member's voice carries the same plea: "Please don't go. Stay with me." It hits differently than anything else in their catalog.

Released in 2016, it crossed 300 million views by 2021 and keeps finding new listeners. Perfect for when you want to slow things down and actually feel something.

5. EXO - "Love Shot" (2018)

▶ EXO "Love Shot" Official MV | Watch on YouTube

A sleek pop-dance track about rediscovering the meaning of real love. Members CHEN and CHANYEOL co-wrote the lyrics, which gives it a personal edge. The beat is addictive and the chorus refuses to leave your head. The MV is equally sharp — polished cinematography paired with EXO's synchronized choreography (called "knife-like" by fans for its precision).

As of March 2022 it has surpassed 500 million views, cementing it as one of EXO's signature tracks. If you want something a little more intense and magnetic for Valentine's Day, this is it.

6. BTS - "Spring Day" (2017)

▶ BTS "Spring Day" Official MV | Watch on YouTube

A lyrical ballad about longing and separation, using the metaphor of spring arriving after a long winter. The central lyric — "I miss you" — is simple, but the way the song frames it, as an internal winter that only ends when someone returns, is quietly devastating. It's a song best heard alone, with room to feel it.

It set a K-pop record with 10 million views in its first 24 hours. For anyone spending this Valentine's Day apart from someone they love, this one's for you.

7. NewJeans - "Ditto" (2022)

▶ NewJeans "Ditto" Official MV (side A) | Watch on YouTube

A nostalgic electronic ballad blending house and UK garage, built around platonic love — the pure, uncomplicated kind. The high school setting in the MV captures that specific feeling of being young, surrounded by friends, and having feelings you can't quite name yet. The song comes in two versions (side A and side B) that tell the same story from different perspectives, which is a clever touch.

The scenes where friendship and a quiet crush weave together are the kind that stick with you. Valentine's Day isn't only for romantic love — this one works for the people in your life you just really care about.

8. NewJeans - "OMG" (2023)

▶ NewJeans "OMG" Official MV | Watch on YouTube

Inspired by high school drama, this track nails the tunnel-vision feeling of a crush: "Oh my god, I can't see anyone but you." The pop melody is immediately catchy — the kind you're still humming an hour later without realizing it. Once it's in your head, good luck getting it out.

The MV pays homage to Korean director Park Chan-wook's film "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK" (2006). It also connects narratively to "Ditto," so watching both back-to-back makes for a satisfying mini-story. If you're in the thick of a crush right now, this song gets it.

9. SEVENTEEN - "Darl+ing" (2022)

▶ SEVENTEEN "Darl+ing" Official MV | Watch on YouTube

SEVENTEEN's first fully English-language track, originally written as a gift for their fanbase CARAT (the name for their fandom — a term of endearment in Korean idol culture). The warmth shows in every lyric. Soft guitar and synth give it a comfortable, unhurried feel, and at 96 BPM it's the perfect pace for just sitting with someone you care about.

Play this one when you want to tell someone — a partner, a close friend, anyone — "you're someone special to me," without making it complicated.

10. Red Velvet - "Feel My Rhythm" (2022)

▶ Red Velvet "Feel My Rhythm" Official MV | Watch on YouTube

Dreamy and elegant, with a classical music sample woven through the production. The song is about moving freely across time and space — a journey without limits. It leans into Red Velvet's signature duality: what fans call the "Red" side (bright, energetic) and the "Velvet" side (sophisticated, atmospheric). This one sits comfortably in Velvet territory.

Technically it's more about freedom than romance, but that's exactly what makes it a good Valentine's Day pick for a different reason: sometimes the most loving thing you can do is celebrate yourself. This song carries that message well.

Mood Guide

Ten songs is a lot to navigate. Here's a quick cheat sheet — pick the vibe that matches where you're at right now.

Bonus Picks

If ten isn't enough, here are three more worth adding to the queue.

aespa - "Better Things": A fully English single from 2023 with a tropical, sun-drenched feel. The message — "better things are coming" — lands somewhere between encouragement and comfort. Light and genuinely uplifting.

Taeyeon - "Make Me Love You": A solo track from TAEYEON of Girls' Generation (one of K-pop's foundational groups). Her vocal power is front and center, layered over lush synth production. The lyrics capture that hesitation before falling for someone — the "I'm almost there but not quite" feeling.

CHEN - "Everytime": The OST (original soundtrack) for the Korean drama Descendants of the Sun (2016). The line "I'll always be there to protect you" is exactly what Valentine's Day calls for. CHEN's emotional tenor voice makes it genuinely moving, even if you never watched the show.

Closing Thoughts

Music outlasts chocolate. Whether you're sharing this playlist with someone special or spending Valentine's Day on your own with good headphones, each of these songs holds a different shape of love — the nervous kind, the aching kind, the quiet everyday kind.

A first confession, a long-distance longing, a friendship that means everything — it all counts. Hope these songs make your February 14th a little more memorable.

References

- allkpop — TWICE 'What is Love?' hits 800M views
- allkpop — IVE 'After LIKE' surpasses 300M views
- Wikipedia — Boy with Luv
- Wikipedia — Stay (Blackpink song)
- UPI — EXO 'Love Shot' hits 500M views
- Wikipedia — Spring Day
- Wikipedia — Ditto (NewJeans)
- Wikipedia — OMG (NewJeans)
- Wikipedia — Darl+ing
- Wikipedia — Feel My Rhythm