Table of Contents
🎶 Sumi
Jo - “If I Leave”: Music Video
🎯 Key
Takeaways
🎶 Sumi
Jo - “If I Leave”: Lyrics Summary
🎶 Sumi
Jo - “If I Leave”: Additional Information
🎶 Sumi Jo - “If I Leave”: Music Video
Sumi Jo’s “If I Leave” is the
original soundtrack for the 2001 drama Empress Myeongseong. The song
poignantly captures the tragic life and death of Empress Myeongseong. The music
video powerfully reconstructs the drama’s historical backdrop, iconic scenes,
and memorable lines, delivering grandeur and deep emotion. The drama's gravitas
was further enhanced by featuring top actors of the time, such as Lee Mi-yeon (이미연), Kim Jun-ho (김준호), Heo Joon-ho (허준호), and Moon Geun-young (문근영).
🎥 Dialogue
상궁: "이놈들 어느 안전이라고"
Court Lady: "Who do you think you
are in front of?"
🐾 In historical Korean
dramas, "안전" (anjeon) refers to the royal
presence, specifically the face or presence of the king or queen, and
symbolizes the sovereign's authority.
명성왕후: "내가 내가 조선의 국모다"
Queen Myeongseong: "I... I am the
mother of the Joseon."
…
…
…
명성왕후: "나는 조선의 국모다. 비록 타오르고 타올라 그저 한줌의 재로 흩어져 바람을 타고 빗물에 쓸려 외롭게 떠돌지라도 이것이 어찌 내 마지막이라 하겠는가!"
Queen Myeongseong: "I am the mother
of Joseon. Even if I burn and burn again, reduced to a mere handful of ashes
scattered by the wind and washed away by the rain, wandering in loneliness—how
could this ever be my end?"
🎯 Key
Takeaways
1. 쓸쓸한
"Lonely"
- "쓸쓸한":
adjective form of "쓸쓸하다 (to feel lonely, to be
desolate or solitary)"
📌
Example Usage
"쓸쓸한 거리를 혼자 걸었다."
"I walked alone on the lonely
street."
2. 달빛
"Moonlight"
- "달빛":
compound noun from "달 (moon)" + "빛 (light)"
📌
Example Usage
"달빛이 창가에 비쳤다."
"Moonlight shone through the window."
3. 아래 / 위
"Below / Above"
- "아래": noun
or particle meaning "under, below"
- "위": noun
or particle meaning "on, above, over"
📌
Example Usage
"달빛 아래에서 서 있었다."
"Stood under the moonlight."
"하늘 위에 별이 빛난다."
"Stars shine above the sky."
4. 그림자
"Shadow"
- "그림자": noun
meaning "shadow" or "silhouette"
📌
Example Usage
"가로등 아래에 그림자가 생겼다."
"A shadow formed under the
streetlamp."
5. 생기거든 / 생기다
"If it appears" / "To form, to
appear, to arise"
- "생기거든":
conditional form of "생기다 (to appear, to be
formed)"
- "생기다": verb
often used for unexpected occurrences
📌
Example Usage
"문제가 생기거든 바로 알려줘."
"If a problem arises, let me know
immediately."
6. 말해볼까요 / 말해보다
"Shall I try to say?" / "To try
to say"
- "말해볼까요":
interrogative and polite form of "말해보다 (to try to
say)"
- "말해보다":
compound verb from "말하다 (to speak)" + "보다 (to try)"
📌
Example Usage
"이제 말해볼까요?"
"Shall I try to say it now?"
7. 이 마음
"This feeling"
"이":
determiner meaning "this"
"마음": noun
meaning "heart, feeling, mind"
📌
Example Usage
"이 마음을 어떻게 표현해야 할까?"
"How should I express this feeling?"
8. 들어나 주라고 / 들어
주다
"To at least listen to me" / "To
listen (as a favor), to accept"
- "들어나 주라고":
indirect request form using "들어주다 (to do the favor
of listening or accepting)" + particle "-라고
(indirect quote)"
- "들어 주다":
"듣다 (to hear)" + auxiliary "주다 (to do for someone)"
📌
Example Usage
"내 말 좀 들어 주라고 한 거야."
"I just asked you to at least listen to
me."
9. 문득
"Suddenly"
- "문득":
adverb meaning "suddenly, unexpectedly, without warning"
📌
Example Usage
"문득 그 사람이 떠올랐다."
"That person suddenly came to mind."
10. 새벽
"Dawn"
- "새벽": noun
meaning "early morning, dawn"
📌
Example Usage
"새벽 공기가 차가웠다."
"The dawn air was cold."
11. 알리는 / 알리다
"Informing / To inform, to notify"
- "알리는":
attributive form of "알리다 (to inform, to let
someone know)"
- "알리다":
causative of "알다 (to know)" meaning "to
make someone know"
📌
Example Usage
"시간을 알리는 소리가 들렸다."
"A sound notifying the time was
heard."
12. 바람
"Wind"
"바람": noun
meaning "wind"
📌
Example Usage
"찬 바람이 불었다."
"A cold wind blew."
13. 지나거든 / 지나가다
"If it passes by" / "To pass
by"
- "지나거든":
conditional form of "지나가다 (to pass by)"
- "지나가다":
compound verb from "지나다 (to pass)" + "가다 (to go)"
📌
Example Usage
"시간이 지나거든 다 괜찮아질 거야."
"Once time passes, everything will be
okay."
14. 그저
"Just, merely"
"그저": adverb
meaning "simply, just, without special reason"
📌
Example Usage
"그저 바라만 보고 있었다."
"I was just watching silently."
15. 한숨 쉬듯 / 한숨
쉬다
"As if sighing" / "To sigh"
- "한숨 쉬듯":
expression meaning "like taking a sigh"
- "한숨 쉬다":
compound verb meaning "to sigh"
📌
Example Usage
"그는 한숨 쉬듯 말했다."
"He spoke as if sighing."
16. 물어볼까요 / 물어보다
"Shall I ask?" / "To ask, to try
asking"
- "물어볼까요":
polite interrogative form of "물어보다 (to try
asking)"
- "물어보다":
"묻다 (to ask)" + "보다 (to try)"
📌
Example Usage
"그 사람에게 물어볼까요?"
"Shall I ask that person?"
17. 살다 / 살고 있다
"To live / Is living"
- "살다": base
verb meaning "to live, to exist"
- "살고 있다":
progressive form meaning "is currently living"
📌
Example Usage
"나는 서울에 살고 있다."
"I am living in Seoul."
18. 슬퍼도 살아야 하네 / 슬퍼서
살아야 하네
"Even if I’m sad, I must live / Because
I’m sad, I must live"
- "슬퍼도":
concessive clause using "슬프다 (to be sad)" +
"-도 (even if)"
- "살아야 하네":
"살다 (to live)" + "-아야 하다 (must)"
- "슬퍼서":
cause clause using "-서 (because)"
- "슬퍼서 살아야 하네":
"Because I’m sad, I must keep living"
📌
Example Usage
"슬퍼도 살아야 하는 게 인생이야."
"Even if you're sad, you must go on
living. That’s life."
19. 삶이 다하고 / 삶이
다하다
"When life ends / To end one’s life"
- "삶이":
"삶 (life)" + subject marker "-이"
- "다하고":
connective form of "다하다 (to end, to be
complete)"
- "다하다": to
come to an end, to be exhausted
📌
Example Usage
"삶이 다하고 나서야 깨달았다."
"I only realized it after life had come to
an end."
20. 알텐데 / 알다
"You would know / To know"
- "알텐데":
contraction of "알 텐데", combining "알다 (to know)" + "-ㄹ 텐데 (would
probably, I assume)"
- "알다": to
know, to understand
📌
Example Usage
"그 사람도 알텐데 왜 말 안 했을까?"
"He probably knew too, so why didn’t he
say anything?"
21. 세상
"World"
- "세상": noun
meaning "the world," "life," or "society"
depending on context
📌
Example Usage
"세상은 넓고 할 일은 많다."
"The world is vast and there is much to
do."
22. 다녀간 / 다녀가다
"Passed by" / "To stop by and
leave"
- "다녀간": past
attributive form of "다녀가다 (to come by and go, to
visit briefly)"
- "다녀가다":
compound verb from "다니다 (to go around)" +
"가다 (to go)"
📌
Example Usage
"어느새 누군가 다녀간 흔적이 있었다."
"There were traces that someone had passed
by."
23. 이유
"Reason"
- "이유": noun
meaning "reason" or "cause"
📌
Example Usage
"그렇게 행동한 이유가 뭐야?"
"What’s the reason you acted that
way?"
24. 가고 / 가다
"To go / Going"
- "가고":
connective form of "가다 (to go)"
- "가다": verb
meaning "to go"
📌
Example Usage
"먼 길을 가고 있는 중이야."
"I’m on a long journey."
25. 기억하는 / 기억하다
"Remembering / To remember"
- "기억하는":
attributive form of "기억하다 (to remember)"
- "기억하다":
verb meaning "to recall, to remember"
📌
Example Usage
"그 순간을 아직도 기억하는 사람이 많다."
"Many people still remember that
moment."
26. 슬픔
"Sorrow"
- "슬픔": noun
meaning "sadness" or "grief"
📌
Example Usage
"그의 얼굴엔 깊은 슬픔이 묻어 있었다."
"Deep sorrow was written on his
face."
27. 사랑했다 / 사랑하다
"Loved / To love"
- "사랑했다":
past tense form of "사랑하다 (to love)"
- "사랑하다":
verb meaning "to love"
📌
Example Usage
"나는 그 사람을 진심으로 사랑했다."
"I truly loved that person."
28. 말해주길 / 말해주다
"To tell me (hoping they will)" /
"To tell (someone) something"
- "말해주길":
contracted wish form from "말해주기를" from "말해주다 (to tell someone)"
- "말해주다":
"말하다 (to say)" + "주다 (to do for someone)"
📌
Example Usage
"그 이야기를 꼭 말해주길 바랐어."
"I hoped you would tell me that
story."
29. 흩어진 / 흩어지다
"Scattered / To scatter, disperse"
- "흩어진": past
attributive form of "흩어지다 (to be scattered)"
- "흩어지다":
passive form of "흩다 (to scatter)"
📌
Example Usage
"바람에 꽃잎이 흩어진다."
"Flower petals scatter in the wind."
30. 노을처럼 / 노을
"Like the sunset glow / Sunset glow"
- "노을처럼":
"노을 (sunset glow)" + particle "-처럼 (like)"
- "노을": noun
meaning "sunset glow"
📌
Example Usage
"노을처럼 붉은 하늘을 바라보았다."
"I gazed at the sky red like the
sunset."
31. 아픈 기억
"Painful memory"
- "아픈":
attributive form of "아프다 (to hurt, to be
painful)"
- "기억": noun
meaning "memory"
📌
Example Usage
"그는 아픈 기억을 마음속 깊이 간직하고 있다."
"He holds the painful memory deep in his
heart."
32. 바래지면 / 바래지다
"If it fades / To fade"
- "바래지면":
conditional form of "바래지다 (to fade, to become
discolored)"
- "바래지다":
passive form of "바래다 (to bleach or fade)"
📌
Example Usage
"사진이 햇빛에 바래지면 색이 옅어진다."
"When a photo fades in sunlight, its color
lightens."
33. 웃어질까요 / 웃어지다
"Will I smile? / To smile
unintentionally"
- "웃어질까요":
interrogative and polite form of "웃어지다 (to smile
naturally, to break into a smile)"
- "웃어지다":
passive form of "웃다 (to smile)" implying a
spontaneous smile
📌
Example Usage
"이 노래를 들으면 나도 모르게 웃어질까요?"
"Will I smile without realizing it when I
hear this song?"
34. 그리운 / 그립다
"Longed-for / To miss, to long for"
- "그리운":
attributive form of "그립다 (to miss someone or
something)"
- "그립다":
adjective expressing longing
📌
Example Usage
"그리운 친구에게 편지를 썼다."
"I wrote a letter to my dear, missed
friend."
35. 옛 일
"Old story, something from the past."
- "옛": noun
modifier meaning "old, past"
- "일": noun
meaning "event, thing, matter"
📌
Example Usage
"그건 다 옛 일이야."
"That’s all in the past."
36. 저기
"Over there"
- "저기":
adverb or noun indicating a distant location
📌
Example Usage
"저기 앉아 있는 사람이 누구야?"
"Who is the person sitting over
there?"
37. 홀로
"Alone"
- "홀로":
literary or poetic form of "alone, by oneself"
📌
Example Usage
"그는 홀로 산을 올랐다."
"He climbed the mountain alone."
38. 선 / 서다
"Stood / To stand"
- "선": noun
form or past attributive form of "서다 (to
stand)"
- "서다": verb
meaning "to stand"
📌
Example Usage
"무대 위에 선 배우가 멋져 보였다."
"The actor who stood on stage looked
magnificent."
39. 별
"Star"
- "별": noun
meaning "star"
📌
Example Usage
"하늘에 별이 가득하다."
"The sky is full of stars."
40. 외로움
"Loneliness"
- "외로움": noun
form of "외롭다 (to be lonely)"
📌
Example Usage
"외로움이 마음을 가득 채웠다."
"Loneliness filled my heart."
41. 아는 / 알다
"Knowing / To know"
- "아는":
attributive form of "알다 (to know)"
- "알다": verb
meaning "to know, to understand"
📌
Example Usage
"아는 사람이 아무도 없었다."
"There was no one I knew."
42. 차마
"(Cannot) bring oneself to (do
something)"
- "차마": an adverb
used to express emotional reluctance or hesitation to do something difficult
📌
Example Usage
"차마 그 말을 할 수 없었다."
"I just couldn't bring myself to say
it."
43. 두고는 / 두다
"Leaving behind / To leave, to place"
- "두고는": form
of "두다 (to leave, to place)" + auxiliary use
of topic or contrast
- "두다": verb
meaning "to place" or "to leave something behind"
📌
Example Usage
"그 사람을 두고는 갈 수 없었다."
"I couldn’t leave that person
behind."
44. 떠나지 못해 / 떠나지
못하다
"Can’t leave / To be unable to leave"
- "떠나지 못해":
present tense negation of "떠나지 못하다"
- "떠나지 못하다":
"떠나다 (to leave)" + "지 못하다 (cannot)"
📌
Example Usage
"그곳이 너무 좋아서 떠나지 못해."
"I can’t leave because I love that place
so much."
45. 밤새
"All night long"
- "밤새": noun
and adverb meaning "throughout the night"
📌
Example Usage
"밤새 잠을 못 잤다."
"I couldn’t sleep all night."
46. 자리에만 / 자리
"Only in one’s place / Place, position,
seat"
- "자리에만":
"자리 (seat or position)" + particle "-에만 (only in/at)"
- "자리": noun
meaning "seat, place, position"
📌
Example Usage
"그는 자리에만 앉아 있었다."
"He just sat in his place."
47. 슬퍼하는 / 슬퍼하다
"Sorrowing / To feel sad"
- "슬퍼하는":
attributive form of "슬퍼하다 (to be sad, to
grieve)"
- "슬퍼하다":
verb form of the adjective "슬프다" used for
describing someone’s sadness
📌
Example Usage
"슬퍼하는 친구를 위로해줬다."
"I comforted my grieving friend."
48. 행복했다 / 행복하다
"Was happy / To be happy"
- "행복했다":
past tense of "행복하다 (to be happy)"
- "행복하다":
verb or adjective meaning "to be happy"
📌
Example Usage
"그때 정말 행복했다."
"I was truly happy back then."
49. 믿게 해 / 믿게
하다
"Make (me) believe / To make someone
believe"
- "믿게 해":
imperative or casual form of "믿게 하다"
- "믿게 하다":
"믿다 (to believe)" + causative "게 하다 (to make someone do)"
📌
Example Usage
"거짓말이라도 좋으니 믿게 해줘."
"Even if it’s a lie, just make me believe
it."
🎶 Sumi Jo - “If I Leave”: Lyrics Summary
“If I Leave” is a profoundly emotional
ballad that speaks from the perspective of someone preparing to part from this
world. The lyrics are filled with poetic resignation, touching on solitude,
fading memories, and the unspoken love that lingers even in sorrow. The speaker
reflects on the inevitability of departure and the hope that, even in their
absence, their love will be remembered. Rather than dwelling on despair, the
song channels a kind of serene dignity—an acceptance of life’s transience and a
quiet wish that those left behind carry on with peace. The orchestration
enhances this sentiment with dramatic swells and pauses, allowing the listener
to breathe in the emotion. It is a song of farewell, not in bitterness, but in
grace, leaving behind a final, enduring expression of love and longing.
🎶 Sumi Jo - “If I Leave”: Additional Information
Release Date: December 3rd,
2001
Album: Empress Myeongseong (The
Lost Empire) OST
Genre: Crossover (a blend of
classical and popular music), with a strong ballad character
Lyrics: Kang Eun-kyung
Composer: Lee Kyung-seop
🌍 If
you’d like to read the full lyrics, please visit official music platforms such
as Melon, Genie Music, Apple Music, or Spotify!
❗The copyright belongs to the original
creators, and the management of music royalties and copyrights is handled by
the respective copyright holders and organizations such as the Korea Copyright
Commission.
❗This analysis
is intended for educational and language-learning purposes and does not replace
the official lyrics.
Not just another lyric translation—this is your
gateway to mastering Korean through K-Pop.
This blog post isn’t about simply translating
or dissecting lyrics word for word. Instead, I break down the key vocabulary
and expressions in K-Pop songs, making Korean learning fun and immersive.
By the time you reach the end, you won’t just
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If you're serious about leveling up your
Korean, make it a daily habit: Pair this with my K-Drama Bites series,
and you’ll be picking up Korean naturally—step by step, with excitement.
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