Summary

• Some k-dramas have disappointing cliffhanger endings that leave viewers dissatisfied and with unanswered questions.
• K-dramas like "Twenty-Five, Twenty-One" and "Signal" have weak endings that don't do justice to their established plots.
• "Arthdal Chronicles" and "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" have cliffhanger endings that left audiences irritated and wanting more.

When it comes to k-dramas, it isn't too uncommon for some of the best and most popular series to be totally ruined by a cliffhanger ending. Oftentimes, there are k-dramas that start off strong, engaging their audiences and building interesting storylines and relationships, only to drop the ball when it gets to the show's finale. The worst of these cliffhanger endings are those that don't do justice to the k-dramas' established plot, and worse, offer an abundance of unanswered questions that ultimately leave viewers feeling dissatisfied.

The following k-dramas are those that are notorious for their disappointing cliffhanger endings. These are series that audiences loved right up until the last episode when, without reason, everything began to go awry. Suddenly, the tone shifted, the characters began acting out of character, and the storylines that had been leading to a final answer never reached their conclusion. The show seemed like it should continue, and yet, it never did. In some cases, these cliffhanger endings are so shocking and unclear, that they ruin the entire k-drama.

10 Twenty-Five, Twenty-One

Oftentimes, the worst mistake a k-drama can make is giving the romantic pairing an unsatisfying ending, and unfortunately, Twenty-Five, Twenty-One does just that. While the majority of the series builds up this great k-drama romance between a fencer and a sports reporter, it comes crashing down in the end when they break up. But worse than that, the show leaves the characters' futures open-ended. If they don't end up together, who do they marry and have kids with, and why do we only see one of them in the present day? In this way, Twenty-Five, Twenty-One has a weak ending that doesn't do its characters justice.

9 Signal

It's really no surprise that a crime k-drama series with magical, time-traveling walkie-talkies has an open ending. Signal follows two present day detectives that begin solving cold cases with the help of a walkie-talkie that connects them to a detective from the past, ultimately opening up a series of alternate timelines and realities. Signal ends in an unclear way when a character who was supposed to be dead remains alive. This seems almost like a guarantee that the series should continue to see how this new development plays out, and yet a second season for the series hasn't been confirmed. Ultimately, this ending left many viewers disappointed and confused.

8 Arthdal Chronicles

A fantasy k-drama series whose intense, interweaving storylines only headed towards a cliffhanger was Arthdal Chronicles. The series takes place in the fictional land of Arth where power struggles are common, and the show's protagonist must fight to revive his tribe. While the series seemed to be leading towards an epic ending, it stopped right before the action could start, promising an epic battle but until the release of a yet unmade season. This definitely irritated audiences who had expected more from the high-stakes series, and left many questions about the characters' futures and fates.

7 Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

A k-drama with a notoriously upsetting ending is Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. This historical k-drama series follows a modern-day woman who is transported into Korea's Goryeo dynasty and falls in love with a prince. Such a romantic premise seems like it should end happily, however, this series doesn't. In fact, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo ultimately sends its heroine back to the present-day, separating the two forever. Although the male romantic lead promises to find her, the series doesn't bother showing audiences this new journey. In this way, this k-drama left fans on the edge of their seats, hoping for a continuation that would never come.

6 SKY Castle

The academic thriller SKY Castle offers a more classic cliffhanger ending that is just as infuriating as the rest. SKY Castle follows four Korean families as they push their children towards academic success at whatever cost. The series also focuses on a sadistic tutor that hurts her students more than she helps them. Although at first the series ends on a happy note, the final shot closes in on this evil k-drama villain. Although she was thought to be apprehended, this last scene insinuates that her reign of terror isn't over yet. However, then the series ends, and no answers are given, leaving a bittersweet ending.

5 Cheese In The Trap

Yet another disappointing ending to a k-drama romance occurs in Cheese in the Trap. The k-drama follows the complicated relationship between a kind girl and a rich, manipulative boy. At the end of the series, a serious accident causes to the pair break up. Then, a time jump occurs. It may seem like this could reveal the couple back together, but this assumption would be wrong. Instead, Cheese in the Trap ends on a somewhat despairing note wherein the female lead has sent her ex-boyfriend countless emails that he has never read, until he finally opens one. This vague ending is not enough to satisfy their romantic arc.

4 Love Alarm

Love Alarm is a k-drama that takes place in a world where an app can alert individuals whether a person within 10 meters has romantic feelings for them, yet despite this love-centric premise, the series fails its romantic storylines. While Love Alarm originally followed a young woman and the love triangle her "love alarm" got her into, the second season of the series completely ignored this major plot, ending with the protagonist miraculously moving on from both of them. Although this isn't a typical cliffhanger, Love Alarm essentially left its original plot open-ended by completely ignoring it and leaving preexisting plotlines unresolved.

3 Memories Of The Alhambra

Yet another irritating cliffhanger trope is the person who was killed, yet may still be alive, which is the core of Memories of the Alhambra's mistake. The k-drama follows a CEO that travels to Spain to meet the creator of a revolutionary video game, only to be entangled with the creator's sister. Ultimately, the series ends with the CEO being killed as a bug in the game, however, there is a subtle hint that the man is still alive. Unfortunately though, five years after the show's release, it seems unlikely that fans will ever find out the character's fate, much less the other loose ends the series provides.

2 Vagabond

One of the most distressing k-drama endings in recent years was Vagabond. The action k-drama follows a man grieving the loss of his nephew in an airplane crash when he realizes that the accident may not have been an accident after all. Based on the mysterious synopsis of the show, Vagabond clearly has many questions to answers, however, the cliffhanger ending throws this concept to the wayside. The series ends with no clear answers about the plane crash, and instead, offers a bigger question about the main character's love interest. This was a massive disappointment for viewers, who have since rallied for a second season.

1 Fashion King

Finally, one of the most well-known bad k-drama endings comes from 2012's Fashion King. Following a group of hopeful fashion designers, the series engaged audiences with its high-stakes ambiance and complicated relationships. However, Fashion King came to a heart-stopping end when one of the main characters is inexplicably assassinated in a hot tub. The series provides no answers are to why this happened or who was behind it, and from there, the series ends for good. This is a prime example of a terrible k-drama cliffhanger ending, and worse, a k-drama plot that makes no sense at all.