Despite the fact that most nations have COVID-19-related travel restrictions in place, the worldwide popularity of Korean pop culture has continued to grow and reach new heights, despite these restrictions. Songs used in local dramas have recently taken over the mantle from K-pop as a significant vehicle for the dissemination of "Hallyu," also known as the Korean Wave.

In recent years, Korean soundtracks have been created with an eye on the charts, thanks to the rising popularity of television dramas. Popular mainstream artists such as BTS members Jin and V, as well as trot singer Lim Young-Woong, have helped songs from popular Korean dramas to reach the top of music charts.

A song from the SBS romantic comedy series "Our Beloved Summer" featuring BTS member V was released on December 24 and debuted at No. 79 on the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks later, nearly two weeks after its initial release. It was the first time a Korean drama song appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 music list in the United States. During the same week, the song remained at the top of Billboard's chart of the best-selling songs of all time.

BTS member Jin performed the song "Yours," which was featured on the soundtrack of the tvN mystery series "Jirisan." Following the release of the song on November 7, it debuted at No. 45 on the global Spotify list and at No. 1 on the iTunes chart for the top 100 country singles.

Unlike typical K-pop songs, which emphasize singers' forceful dance moves and magnificent performances, the original soundtracks of dramas place a strong emphasis on the delicate vocals of the performers. According to industry insiders, the popularity of songs is determined not just by the performers' vocal ability, but also by their celebrity.

After winning TV Chosun's smash popular audition show, "Mr. Trot," in 2020, Lim Young-Woong catapulted to stardom. On October 11, he released the song "Love Always Run Away," which was used on the soundtrack of KBS 2TV's weekend drama "Young Lady and Gentleman." The song has been at the top of local music streaming charts for several weeks, and it now ranks in the top 100 on Melon's top 100.

According to Lim Jin-mo, a pop music critic based in Seoul, the original soundtracks of dramas have garnered such widespread appeal as a result of the ongoing epidemic, which has been accompanied by a significant increase in viewership of over-the-top platforms.

"When compared to other K-pop songs, Korean drama soundtracks have garnered a relatively lesser level of public interest, albeit this is steadily improving," says the author. According to Lim, when an increasing number of people become familiar with Korean entertainment content available on OTT platforms, they become more drawn to the featured songs.

According to music critic Jung Min-Jae, Korean dramas with several soundtracks are "atypical" when compared to other countries' entertainment content since they have multiple soundtracks. It has, however, been "customary" since the late 2000s, according to Jung, because dramas and soundtrack singers have frequently established a wonderful synergy, he says.

However, the popularity of Korean drama soundtracks differs depending on where you live. When songs from local dramas are performed by K-pop idols and artists who are well-known outside of Korea, they tend to acquire more international recognition. Meanwhile, according to Jung, the popularity of these songs among local listeners is determined by the dramas' viewership statistics.