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🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Songs to Listen to While Dreaming of Jeju

From Hankyoreh · (6m ago) Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A South Korean article explores songs associated with Jeju Island, inspired by a recent film about the '4.3 Incident'.
  • It highlights three songs: Hye Eun-yi's

The Hankyoreh reflects on the cultural landscape of South Korea through the lens of music, particularly songs that evoke the spirit and beauty of Jeju Island. Inspired by the recent film "I Am Name" which tackles the sensitive '4.3 Incident' with a different approach than previous works like "Jiseul," the article shifts focus to the musical expressions of Jeju.

Please spread the word that the movie is fun.

— Director Jeong Ji-youngThe author recalls a brief meeting with director Jeong Ji-young, who requested publicity for his film 'I Am Name'.

Despite Jeju's prominence as a tourist destination and its rich history, the author notes a surprising scarcity of popular songs specifically about the island, or that many are quite dated. This observation leads to a curated list of three songs that capture different facets of Jeju: Hye Eun-yi's "Gamsugwang," Choi Sung-won's "Jeju-ui Pureun Bam" (Blue Night of Jeju), and "Drive In Jeju" by Jaeju Sonyeon. Each song is presented not just as a piece of music, but as a cultural artifact reflecting the island's allure, its history, and the aspirations of those who connect with it.

Gamsugwang (Gasiri) Gamsugwang (Gasiriitgo) Nan eotteokhalleng (Naleuneun eotteodi sal-la-go) Gamsugwang (Gasiriitgo) Seollun saram bonaesien (Seollonim bonaenoni) Gageodeul-eong (Gasi-nan) Honjeo opseoye (das dwo-syeo-o-syeo)

— Hye Eun-yiThe lyrics of the song 'Gamsugwang', which incorporates Jeju dialect and is a modern reinterpretation of the Goryeo Dynasty song 'Gashiri'.

The article delves into the background of each song, from Hye Eun-yi's status as a '70s icon and the unique dialect used in "Gamsugwang," to Choi Sung-won's personal connection to Jeju and his subsequent move there, as exemplified in "Jeju-ui Pureun Bam." The inclusion of Jaeju Sonyeon's "Drive In Jeju" album further explores the theme of Jeju as a place of escape and reflection, with songs about the sea, friendship, and longing.

Let's leave everything behind and go to Jeju Island, let's cultivate calamondin fields and grow tangerines.

— Choi Sung-wonThese lyrics from Choi Sung-won's 'Blue Night of Jeju' reflect the song's theme of escaping to Jeju and living a simple life there.

This piece offers a distinctly Korean perspective, connecting contemporary cultural events (like the film) with enduring musical themes. It highlights how music serves as a vessel for national memory and regional identity, particularly for a place as symbolically significant as Jeju. The author's personal reflections and recommendations, such as suggesting a viewing order for the films, add a layer of intimate engagement, making the article feel like a personal essay shared with a like-minded audience, rather than a detached news report.

Sea, alcohol, friends, lovers, memories, longing, loneliness. This album sings about things we all know.

— Jaeju SonyeonDescribing the themes present in the album 'Drive In Jeju', which is dedicated to the island.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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