Korean Pop Songs

By Chang Se-moon

Would you like to know what my favorite Korean pop songs are? I am not talking about K-pop. I am talking about really popular Korean songs that people often sing in singing rooms.

I have my favorite songs that I truly enjoy singing whenever I am fortunate enough to visit singing rooms with friends. Top on my list is Myeongdong Blues by Go Un-bong. As you know, Myeongdong is the most fashionable place in Seoul with many stylish stores and young shoppers. The song, however, relates to a lonely person walking in the drizzling rain in Myeongdong, recalling the romance that ended a long time ago. Near the top on my favorite list is Haeundae Elegy. Haeundae is a popular beach in Busan. Although the performance by Joo Hyun-mi is very good, I really like the beautiful playing of the song by violinist Jo A Ram. I bet even Shim Soo-bong, composer of Haeundae Elegy would agree with me.

Others among my favorites are: Old Feeling by Baik Nam-sook; Heart of a Waiting Woman by GyeEun-sook; Life Is a Live Broadcasting by Song Dae-kwan; Four Beats by Song Dae-kwan; and Sister by Seol Un-do. All these wonderful songs that I mentioned are available through Youtube.

Many other popular Korean pop songs are also available through Youtube. Some of the better packages include: Gayo Stage No.1335 Performance in Germany Part One; No. 1336 Performance in Germany Part Two; No. 1196 25th Year Anniversary Special Selections; No 1084 Sixty Popular Selections Part One; No. 1085 Sixty Popular Selections Part Two; and No. 1087 Sixty Popular Selections Part Four. Somehow, I was not able to locate No. 1086 Sixty Popular Selections Part Three on YouTube.

There are several new pop songs that are widely popular. I can think of two right away: Why Does My Age Matter and Unconditionally. I also like these songs but they are not necessarily my favorites. I somehow feel that recent pop songs do not convey the delicate flavor of traditional Korean pop songs. I cannot explain what that flavor is, but I can feel it when I listen to music.

I also need to mention some North Korean songs that are readily available on YouTube, especially those performed by the Moranbong Band and Wangjaesan Art Troupe. I know there are juicy stories relating to these groups and Ri Sol-ju who is the wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Since these stories are so complicated I will not get into them. One problem with performances in North Korea is that they always begin with a song or two that are dedicated to, and worship, the leader of North Korea.

I have no idea whether they sing those cultish songs because they are forced to do, or they want to. Regardless, sometimes I wonder how they would perform if they are allowed to sing whatever songs they want in a free environment that South Korea provides. I bet they would do really well, and might quickly forget all those songs dedicated to their brutal leaders.

I have visited Korea many times; sometimes to visit family and friends, and other times to make presentations at academic conferences. Every time I visited Korea, I made a habit of buying cassette tapes of the latest Korean pop songs that were popular. Some of my friends were surprised to find out that I could sing so many new songs. Well, the secret was my habit of buying cassette tapes of the latest popular songs.

I cannot tell whether it is good or bad, but times have changed. It is good that I can listen to the wonderful Korean pop songs without buying cassette tapes, because they are readily available on YouTube. It is bad when I think of lower sales experienced by all those stores that sold the tapes to me. I do not have any statistical data, but I feel as if many of these stores were forced to close because of Youtube. When I think of the closing of these stores while listening to Korean pop songs, I feel really sad. As you know, lyrics of many Korean pop songs are sad to begin with, especially the ones I like such as Myeongdong Blues, Haeundae Elegy, Old Feeling, and Heart of a Waiting Woman. I have noticed to my pleasant surprise that Korean pop songs of recent years are more cheerful, perhaps reflecting the economic fortunes of modern Korea.

Needless to repeat, I love Korean pop songs and will continue to love them. I have a deep appreciation of all those composers and singers who continue the popular tradition of Korean pop songs. If I have one regret, it is that I always wanted to, but have never been able to, attend one of the many gayo concerts.

Chang Se-moon is the director of the Gulf Coast

Center for Impact Studies.