K-Pop — Entry No. 0142
OST
ost · noun
OST
ost
[oh-ES-tee]
nounbeginner
Meaning
Original Soundtrack — music composed or recorded specifically for a Korean drama, film, or variety show. OSTs are a defining feature of K-drama culture, typically released as individual singles during a drama’s broadcast run rather than as a single album at the end.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
EXO’s Chen recorded ‘Everytime’ for Descendants of the Sun (2016), which became one of the highest-charting OSTs in Korean music history. The Goblin (도깨비, 2016) OST featuring ‘Stay With Me’ by EXO’s Chanyeol and Punch is widely considered one of the greatest drama soundtracks ever made. IU is renowned as a prolific OST artist, and Stray Kids, TWICE, and solo idol acts regularly contribute tracks that often outperform their regular singles on streaming charts.
Example Sentences
이 OST 너무 좋아요. 드라마가 생각나요.
i OST neomu joayo. deurama-ga saengnagnayo.
I love this OST so much. It makes me think of the drama. (The bittersweet feeling when a song instantly transports you back to a pivotal scene)
OST 전부 외웠어요!
OST jeonbu oewosseoyo!
I memorized the entire OST! (Proud declaration — a milestone for any dedicated K-drama fan)
OST 가수가 누구예요?
OST gasu-ga nuguyeyo?
Who is the OST singer? (The question every fan asks the moment a song hooks them mid-episode)
⚠️ Don’t use ost when…
Many international fans assume ‘OST’ means the full instrumental score, but in Korean usage it almost always refers to the vocal tracks released as singles during the drama’s run. Also, OSTs are licensed separately from the drama — streaming the show on Netflix does not guarantee you will find the complete OST on that same platform.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Goblin (도깨비, 2016) — ‘Stay With Me’ by EXO’s Chanyeol and Punch plays during pivotal moments between the Goblin and his bride, becoming so inseparable from the show that fans report being unable to hear the song without crying.
- K-Pop: Chen (EXO) — Everytime (Descendants of the Sun OST, 2016)
💡 Did You Know? Korean drama OSTs are released as individual tracks on a rolling schedule throughout a drama’s broadcast rather than all at once, meaning a new emotional song drops almost every week — engineered to keep fans hooked between episodes.
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.