Table of Contents
🎶 Kim
Kwang-seok - “As I Near Thirty (서른 즈음에)”: Music Video
🎯 Key
Takeaways
🎶 Kim
Kwang-seok - “As I Near Thirty”: Lyrics Summary
🎶 Kim
Kwang-seok - “As I Near Thirty”: Additional Information
🎶 Kim Kwang-seok - “As I Near Thirty (서른 즈음에)”: Music Video
🎯 Key
Takeaways
1. 하루
"One day" or "A day"
- "하루": noun
meaning a single day or a whole day period
📌 Example Usage
"하루 종일 비가 내렸다."
"It rained all day."
2. 멀어져 간다 / 멀어져 가다
"Is drifting away" / "To drift
away, to become distant"
- "멀어져 간다":
present tense form of "멀어지다" + connective
ending “-어” + auxiliary "가다" indicating continuation or movement away
• “멀어지다 (to become
distant)” → “멀어져 가다 (to be growing distant)” → “멀어져
간다 (is growing distant)”
"멀어져 가다":
verb phrase indicating gradual emotional or physical distancing
📌 Example Usage
"그의 뒷모습이 멀어져 간다."
"His figure is drifting away."
3. 내뿜은 / 내뿜다
"Emitted" / "To emit, to
exhale"
- "내뿜은": past
attributive form of "내뿜다 (to emit, to
release)"
- "내뿜다": verb
meaning to exhale or release gas, smoke, or emotion
📌 Example Usage
"그는 화를 내뿜은 듯했다."
"He seemed to have emitted his
anger."
4. 담배 연기
"Cigarette smoke"
- "담배":
cigarette
- "연기": smoke
📌 Example Usage
"방 안에 담배 연기가 자욱했다."
"The room was thick with cigarette
smoke."
5. 작기만 한 / 작기만 하다
"Only small" / "To be merely
small"
- "작기만 한":
attributive form of "작다 (to be small)" +
intensifier "-기만 하다 (only, just)"
- "작기만 하다":
expression emphasizing the only quality of being small
📌 Example Usage
"작기만 한 존재가 이렇게 큰 영향을 줄 줄 몰랐다."
"I didn’t know something so small could
have such a big impact."
6. 기억 속에
"In memory"
- "기억":
memory
- "속에": in,
within
📌 Example Usage
"그 장면은 아직도 기억 속에 선명하다."
"That scene is still vivid in my
memory."
7. 무얼 / 무엇을
"What" (object form)
- "무얼":
contraction of "무엇을"
- "무엇을":
object form of "무엇 (what)"
📌 Example Usage
"무얼 그렇게 찾고 있어?"
"What are you looking for so
intently?"
8. 채워 / 채우다
"Fill" / "To fill"
- "채워":
imperative or connective form of "채우다 (to
fill)"
- "채우다": verb
meaning to fill, to satisfy
📌 Example Usage
"빈 컵을 물로 채워."
"Fill the empty cup with water."
9. 살고 있는지 / 살고 있다
"Whether (someone) is living" /
"To be living"
- "살고 있는지":
indirect question form of "살고 있다 (to be
living)"
- "살고 있다":
present progressive form of "살다 (to live)"
📌 Example Usage
"그가 아직도 그 집에서 살고 있는지 궁금해."
"I wonder if he still lives in that
house."
10. 점점
"Gradually" / "Little by
little"
- "점점": an adverb
indicating slow or steady change
📌 Example Usage
"점점 날씨가 따뜻해지고 있다."
"The weather is gradually getting
warmer."
11. 머물러 있는 / 머물러 있다
"Remaining" / "To remain, to be staying"
- "머물러 있는":
attributive form of "머물러 있다"
- "머물러 있다":
compound form from "머물다 (to stay)" +
connective ending “-어” + "있다 (to be)"
📌 Example Usage
"그 자리에 여전히 머물러 있는 그림자가 있다."
"There is still a shadow remaining in that
spot."
12. 청춘
"Youth"
- "청춘": noun
meaning the period of youth, often associated with vitality or emotional
memories
📌 Example Usage
"청춘은 다시 돌아오지 않는다."
"Youth never comes back."
12. ~인줄 알았는데 / ~인줄
알다
“I
thought it was … but …” / “I believe (that) …”
- "~인줄
알았는데": past contrastive form of "~인줄 알다"
- "~인줄 알다":
expression meaning "to believe/assume something to be the case"
📌 Example Usage
"행복한 줄 알았는데 아니었어."
"I thought I was happy, but I
wasn't."
14. 비어 가는 / 비어 가다
"Becoming empty" / "To become
empty gradually"
- "비어 가는":
attributive form of "비어 가다"
- "비어 가다":
compound verb of "비다 (to be empty)" +
connective ending “-어” + "가다 (to go)" indicating progression
📌 Example Usage
"점점 마음이 비어 가는 기분이야."
"It feels like my heart is gradually
becoming empty."
15. 아무것도 찾을 수 없네 / 아무것도 찾을 수 없다
"Can't find anything" / "Not to
be able to find anything"
- "아무것도":
nothing, anything (used in negative context)
- "찾을 수 없네":
expression meaning "unable to find"
• “찾을 수 없다” + sentence ending “-네”
📌 Example Usage
"주위를 둘러봐도 아무것도 찾을 수 없네."
"I look around, but I can't find
anything."
16. 계절
"Season"
- "계절": noun
referring to one of the four seasons
📌 Example Usage
"이 계절이 되면 네 생각이 나."
"I think of you when this season
comes."
17. 다시
"Again"
- "다시":
adverb meaning "once more, again"
📌 Example Usage
"다시 시작해 볼까?"
"Shall we try again?"
18. 돌아오지만 / 돌아오다
"(Someone) comes back but~" /
"To come back, return"
- "돌아오지만":
contrastive form of "돌아오다 (to return)"
- "돌아오다":
verb meaning to return or come back
📌 Example Usage
"그는 돌아오지만 예전과는 달라."
"He came back, but he's not the
same."
19. 떠나간 / 떠나가다
"Left" / "To leave, to go
away"
- "떠나간": past
attributive form of "떠나가다"
- "떠나가다":
verb meaning to depart, to go away from a place or person
📌 Example Usage
"떠나간 사람을 잊을 수 없어."
"I can't forget the person who left."
20. 사랑
"Love"
"사랑": noun
meaning romantic or deep emotional affection
📌 Example Usage
"그녀는 첫사랑이었다."
"She was my first love."
21. 어디에
"Where (to)"
- "어디": where
- "-에":
location particle indicating destination or place
📌 Example Usage
"지금 어디에 있어?"
"Where are you now?"
22. 떠나보낸 / 떠나보내다
"Let go" / "To let go, to send
away"
- "떠나보낸":
past attributive form of "떠나보내다"
- "떠나보내다":
compound verb from "떠나다 (to leave)" + "보내다 (to send)"
📌 Example Usage
"그를 떠나보낸 날이 아직도 생생하다."
"The day I let him go is still
vivid."
23. ~한 것도 아닌데
“It’s not like I even ~ “
- "~한 것도 아닌데":
expression indicating contrast or confusion despite not having done something
📌 Example Usage
"잘못한 것도 아닌데 왜 이렇게 미안하지?"
"It’s not like I did something wrong, but
I still feel sorry."
24. 조금씩
"Little by little"
"조금씩": an adverb
meaning gradually, in small amounts
📌 Example Usage
"조금씩 나아지고 있어."
"I'm getting better little by
little."
25. 잊혀져 간다 / 잊혀져 가다
"Is being forgotten" / "To be
forgotten gradually"
- "잊혀져 간다":
present progressive passive of "잊다 (to
forget)" + auxiliary "가다"
• “잊다 (to forget)” → “잊혀지다 (to be forgotten)” → “잊혀져
가다 (to be in the process of being forgotten / to be gradually
forgotten) → “잊혀져 간다” (present progressive tense)
- "잊혀져 가다":
passive compound verb meaning "to be gradually forgotten"
📌 Example Usage
"그 기억이 잊혀져 간다."
"That memory is fading away."
26. 매일
"Every day"
- "매일":
adverb or noun meaning each day
📌 Example Usage
"매일 너를 생각해."
"I think about you every day."
27. 이별하며 / 이별하다
"Saying goodbye" / "To part, to
say goodbye"
- "이별하며":
connective form of "이별하다"
- "이별하다":
verb meaning to part or separate emotionally or physically
📌 Example Usage
"눈물로 이별하며 마지막 인사를 했다."
"We said our final goodbyes through
tears."
28. 살고 있구나 / 살고 있다
"(So you're) living" / "To be
living"
- "살고 있구나":
exclamatory form of "살고 있다 (to be living)"
- "살고 있다":
present progressive of "살다 (to live)"
📌 Example Usage
"이렇게도 살고 있구나."
"So this is how you’re living."
🎶 Kim Kwang-seok - “As I Near Thirty”: Lyrics Summary
“As I Near Thirty” is a poignant
reflection on time's slow, almost imperceptible passage and the fading
intensity of youth, love, and memory. The song captures the quiet despair accompanying
adulthood—the realization that the days are slipping away and that cherished
relationships, once thought to be permanent, are slowly becoming distant
memories. Kim Kwang-seok sings not with dramatic anguish but with a calm
resignation, using everyday imagery like cigarette smoke and seasonal change to
express how impermanence seeps into every part of life. The repetition of specific
lines mirrors the cycle of days and the emotional numbness that routine can
bring. It’s not simply a lament for lost love but a broader meditation on
emotional emptiness, the fading vibrance of youth, and the quiet sadness of
watching oneself slowly change. Through minimalism and introspection, the song
leaves a lasting emotional imprint that resonates deeply with those navigating
the emotional landscape of early adulthood.
🎶 Kim Kwang-seok - “As I Near Thirty”: Additional Information
Release Date: 1994
Album: Kim Kwang-seok 4th Album
Genre: Ballad / Folk
Lyrics: Kang Seung-won
Composer: Kang Seung-won
🌍 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.
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