# A Shoulder to Cry On (소년을 위로해줘)
**A Shoulder to Cry On** (소년을 위로해줘; also known as *Comfort the Boy* or *Sonyeoneul Wirohaejwo*) is a 2023 South Korean BL ('Boys' love': romance genre between male characters) web drama adapted from Dongmul's webtoon of the same name, published on Lezhin Comics. It stars [OMEGA X](https://www.edgepedia.org/omega-x) members Kim Jae Han (Jaehan) and Shin Ye Chan (Yechan) as two high school students whose hostile relationship begins with a false accusation and develops into romance.[1](https://www.dramabl.com/drama/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/) • [2](https://www.soompi.com/article/1569905wpp/15-k-dramas-to-watch-in-march-2023)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original title | 소년을 위로해줘 (*Sonyeoneul Wirohaejwo*), also translated as Comfort the Boy[1](https://www.dramabl.com/drama/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/) |
| Source material | BL webtoon of the same title by Dongmul (동물), published on Lezhin Comics[1](https://www.dramabl.com/drama/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/) • [3](https://news.nate.com/view/20220609n25689) |
| Format | 7 episodes of about 30 minutes each, roughly 3.5 hours total[1](https://www.dramabl.com/drama/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/) |
| Run | First aired 15 March 2023; finale 29 March 2023[1](https://www.dramabl.com/drama/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/) |
| Platforms | WATCHA, Wavve, and TVING in South Korea; Viki and GagaOOLala internationally[1](https://www.dramabl.com/drama/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/) |
| Leads | Kim Jae Han as Lee Da Yeol, Shin Ye Chan as Jo Tae Hyun; both members of the group OMEGA X[2](https://www.soompi.com/article/1569905wpp/15-k-dramas-to-watch-in-march-2023) |
| Director | Song Soo Lim; screenwriters Song Soo Lim, Kang Jae Hyun, and Noh Ji[4](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/A_Shoulder_to_Cry_On) |
| Ratings | 7.5/10 on IMDb from about 1,800 users; 9.1/10 on Viki from over 27,000 users[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27116507/) • [6](https://www.viki.com/tv/38972c-a-shoulder-to-cry-on?locale=en) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Lee Da Yeol is a withdrawn high school senior who channels his energy into archery. His talent has earned him a scholarship to the school, and his future depends on staying out of trouble and winning an upcoming competition that could place him on the national team.[1](https://www.dramabl.com/drama/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/) • [7](https://blwatcher.com/bl-series/a-shoulder-to-cry-on-drama-review/)
The inciting incident takes place in the school nurse's office. While resting there for shoulder pain, Da Yeol walks in on the class president Jo Tae Hyun in a compromising position with a friend, trips, and falls on top of him just as the nurse arrives. Tae Hyun claims Da Yeol made physical advances toward him, and the accusation escalates to the teachers' office, putting Da Yeol's scholarship and club status at risk.[7](https://blwatcher.com/bl-series/a-shoulder-to-cry-on-drama-review/) • [8](https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4391/a-shoulder-to-cry-on-2023)
Rather than apologize, Tae Hyun follows Da Yeol between classes, taunts him, and steals a cherished arrow feather, provoking him repeatedly. As the two are forced into proximity, Da Yeol's hostility gives way to conflicted feelings, and the series follows their movement from enemies toward reluctant care and eventually romance, while Tae Hyun's childhood trauma is gradually revealed.[7](https://blwatcher.com/bl-series/a-shoulder-to-cry-on-drama-review/) • [9](https://v.daum.net/v/UU1O5gujuQ) Reviewers describe the tone as a school-life coming-of-age romance in which rumor functions as a form of power, rather than a melodrama.[1](https://www.dramabl.com/drama/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/)
## Cast and production
The casting centers on two members of the boy group OMEGA X: Kim Jae Han (Jaehan) plays Lee Da Yeol and Shin Ye Chan (Yechan) plays Jo Tae Hyun. The supporting cast includes Kim Dong Won as Kwon Min Joong, Da Yeol's rival in the archery club, Shin Si Ae as Kang So Young, Jung Ho Kyun as Shin Ye Bum, and Oh Joo Suk as Jang Won Kyung.[2](https://www.soompi.com/article/1569905wpp/15-k-dramas-to-watch-in-march-2023) • [4](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/A_Shoulder_to_Cry_On)
**Production companies.** The drama was produced by IPQ (formerly Picturesque) with MODT Studio.[4](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/A_Shoulder_to_Cry_On) • [10](https://www.etnews.com/20230602000116) Song Soo Lim directed, with screenplays by Song Soo Lim, Kang Jae Hyun, and Noh Ji; some international listings also credit Song Joo Sung or Kim Jin Chul as directors.[4](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/A_Shoulder_to_Cry_On) • [7](https://blwatcher.com/bl-series/a-shoulder-to-cry-on-drama-review/) • [11](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/umc.cmc.v1agqnq122dcm8n884suq4ka)
The production was nearly derailed before release. In November 2022, allegations surfaced that OMEGA X's agency chief had assaulted and verbally abused members during the group's United States tour, and the production company issued a statement expressing regret over the situation and hope for an amicable resolution between the two actors and their group.[12](https://www.fnnews.com/news/202211041538512221) The drama aired as planned the following March.
## Release and reception
The series premiered on 15 March 2023 on the Korean streamers WATCHA, Wavve, and TVING, with new episodes released Wednesdays and Thursdays, and was carried internationally on Viki and [GagaOOLala](https://www.edgepedia.org/gagaoolala).[1](https://www.dramabl.com/drama/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/) • [2](https://www.soompi.com/article/1569905wpp/15-k-dramas-to-watch-in-march-2023) After the third episode it reached the top of WATCHA's TOP 10 chart, and Korean press highlighted the leads' chemistry and acting.[9](https://v.daum.net/v/UU1O5gujuQ) The production company reported that the drama ranked highly on OTT charts in the countries where it was released simultaneously domestically and abroad.[10](https://www.etnews.com/20230602000116)
Audience ratings have been favorable: IMDb lists 7.5/10 from about 1,800 users, and Viki lists 9.1/10 from more than 27,000 users.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27116507/) • [6](https://www.viki.com/tv/38972c-a-shoulder-to-cry-on?locale=en) Critical reception was more mixed. BL Watcher praised the polished production and the two flawed protagonists but found the relationship scenes volatile and the plot heavy on conflict and melodrama.[7](https://blwatcher.com/bl-series/a-shoulder-to-cry-on-drama-review/)
Episode counts differ across databases: IMDb lists 9 episodes, while DramaBL, DramaWiki, TVmaze, and [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) list 7.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27116507/) • [1](https://www.dramabl.com/drama/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/) • [4](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/A_Shoulder_to_Cry_On) • [13](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/64383/a-shoulder-to-cry-on) The premiere date is likewise given as 14 March on some listings and 15 March on others.[14](https://socinety.com/en/show/a-shoulder-to-cry-on-2023) • [1](https://www.dramabl.com/drama/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/)
## Music and follow-up
The original soundtrack was performed by OMEGA X, with tracks including "Come Together", "You, Again" (너를 다시), and "Comfort" (쉬어가도 돼), each also released in English versions; Jaehan contributed lyrics to "You, Again".[15](https://mementobl.com/en/series/602/) • [9](https://v.daum.net/v/UU1O5gujuQ)
In June 2023, IPQ signed an agreement with the software company DT to develop a story game based on the drama's IP, describing the drama as the first case of adapting its idol-oriented video content into a game and signaling a plan to produce ten such titles per year.[10](https://www.etnews.com/20230602000116)
## References
1. [A Shoulder to Cry On, DramaBL](https://www.dramabl.com/drama/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/)
2. [15 K-Dramas To Watch In March 2023, Soompi](https://www.soompi.com/article/1569905wpp/15-k-dramas-to-watch-in-march-2023)
3. [오메가엑스 재한-예찬, 첫 주연작 '소년을 위로해줘' 칸 필름마켓 홍보 포스터 공개, Nate 연예](https://news.nate.com/view/20220609n25689)
4. [A Shoulder to Cry On, DramaWiki](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/A_Shoulder_to_Cry_On)
5. [A Shoulder to Cry On (TV Mini Series 2023), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27116507/)
6. [A Shoulder to Cry on, Rakuten Viki](https://www.viki.com/tv/38972c-a-shoulder-to-cry-on?locale=en)
7. [A Shoulder to Cry On, Series Review, BL Watcher](https://blwatcher.com/bl-series/a-shoulder-to-cry-on-drama-review/)
8. [Watch A Shoulder to Cry On, GagaOOLala](https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4391/a-shoulder-to-cry-on-2023)
9. [오메가엑스 주연 '소년을 위로해줘!', 왓챠 1위…따로 또 같이 활약, Xports News via Daum](https://v.daum.net/v/UU1O5gujuQ)
10. ['소년을 위로해줘!' 제작사 아이피큐, 디티와 게임 제작X출시 협약식 진행, 전자신문](https://www.etnews.com/20230602000116)
11. [A Shoulder to Cry on, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/a-shoulder-to-cry-on/umc.cmc.v1agqnq122dcm8n884suq4ka)
12. ['소년을 위로해줘!' 제작사 "오메가엑스 사태 유감, 원만히 해결되길", Financial News](https://www.fnnews.com/news/202211041538512221)
13. [A Shoulder to Cry On, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/64383/a-shoulder-to-cry-on)
14. [A Shoulder to Cry On, Socinety](https://socinety.com/en/show/a-shoulder-to-cry-on-2023)
15. [A Shoulder to Cry On, MeMento Boys Love](https://mementobl.com/en/series/602/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › East Asian drama series › East Asian web and streaming serials › Titles My to So*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license