Emotional Korean Ballad Breakdown: Vocabulary from ‘The Western Sky’

Table of Contents

🎶 Lee Seung-chul - “The Western Sky”: Lyrics Video

🎯 Key Takeaways

🎶 Lee Seung-chul – “The Western Sky”: Lyrics Summary

🎶 Lee Seung-chul - “The Western Sky”: Additional Information

🎶 Introduction to Lee Seung-chul & Ulala Session

🎶 Lee Seung-chul - “The Western Sky”: Lyrics Video

[Source] YouTube, SUPER SOUND Bugs!

 

🎧 I will also introduce covers by other musicians.

Ulala Session (울랄라세션)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3ly_4r5Fqs

[Source] YouTube, Mnet K-POP

 

🎯 Key Takeaways

1. "서쪽 하늘로"

- "서쪽 하늘로" means "toward the western sky." It indicates direction, often symbolizing farewell or the end of something in poetic expressions.

- "서쪽": "서쪽 (west)"

- "하늘": "하늘 (sky)"

- "하늘로": "하늘 (sky)" + direction particle "-로 (toward)"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 서쪽 하늘로 지는 해를 바라보았다."

"He looked at the setting sun toward the western sky."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"석양을 향해" – "toward the sunset"

📌 Example Usage

"석양을 향해 걸어가는 뒷모습이 쓸쓸했다."

"His figure walking toward the sunset looked lonely."

2. "노을은 지고"

- "노을은 지고" means "the sunset fades" or "the twilight sets." It conveys the image of the sun setting and the day coming to an end.

- "노을": "노을 (sunset, twilight)"

- "-은": topic particle

- "지고": "지다 (to set, fade)" + connector "-고 (and)"

📌 Example Usage

"노을은 지고 어둠이 내려앉았다."

"The sunset faded and darkness fell."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"해가 지고" – "the sun sets"

📌 Example Usage

"해가 지고 나면 기온이 뚝 떨어진다."

"After the sun sets, the temperature drops sharply."

3. "이젠"

- "이젠" means "now" or "from now on," often implying a shift in time or situation from the past.

- "이제": now

✂️ "이젠": "이제" + particle "-는" (topic marker, colloquial shortening)

📌 Example Usage

"이젠 정말 잊으려고 해."

"Now, I’m really trying to forget."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"이제부터는" – "from now on"

📌 Example Usage

"이제부터는 후회 없이 살 거야."

"From now on, I’ll live without regrets."

4. "슬픔이 돼 버린 / 슬픔이 돼 버리다"

- "슬픔이 돼 버린" means "has turned into sadness." It describes something that has completely become a state of sorrow.

- "슬픔이": "슬픔 (sadness)" + subject marker "-이"

- "돼": "되다 (to become)" + connective ending “-어”

 ✂️ “되어” → “돼” (contraction)

- "버린": "버리다 (to end up doing)" as a grammatical auxiliary indicating completion with an emotional nuance

 • “버리다” + attributive “-ㄴ” (past tense)

📌 Example Usage

"그 순간은 추억이 아닌 슬픔이 돼 버렸다."

"That moment became not a memory but a sorrow."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"상처로 남다" – "to remain as a wound"

📌 Example Usage

"그의 말은 내게 상처로 남았다."

"His words remained as a wound for me."

5. "그대를"

- "그대를" means "you" (as the object), using poetic/formal speech. It is the object form of "그대."

- "그대": poetic/formal way to say "you"

- "-를": object particle

📌 Example Usage

"그대를 잊을 수가 없어요."

"I can't forget you."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"당신을" – "you" (formal object form)

📌 Example Usage

"당신을 만난 건 내 삶의 행운이었어요."

"Meeting you was the luck of my life."

6. "다시 부를 수 없을 것 같아 / 다시 부를 수 없을 것 같다"

- "다시 부를 수 없을 것 같아" means "I don't think I can call you again." It conveys sorrow or the impossibility of reunion.

- "다시": again

- "부르다": to call

- "부를 수 없다": cannot call

- “부를 수 없을”: attributive form (future tense)

- "것 같다": it seems like, I think

- "없을 것 같아": it seems like it won’t be possible

 • “없을 것 같다” + sentence-final ending ”-아” (informal)

📌 Example Usage

"이젠 그 이름을 다시 부를 수 없을 것 같아."

"I don’t think I can call that name again."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"다시는 못 만나겠지" – "I guess I won’t be able to meet again"

📌 Example Usage

"그렇게 떠난 널 다시는 못 만나겠지."

"Now that you’re gone like that, I guess I won’t see you again."

7. "또"

- "또" means "again" or "also," often emphasizing repetition or addition.

📌 Example Usage

"또 그 사람을 생각하게 됐어."

"I ended up thinking of that person again."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"다시" – "again"

📌 Example Usage

"다시 시작해보자."

"Let’s start over again."

8. "한 번"

- "한 번" means "once" or "one time," often used to emphasize a single opportunity or occurrence.

- "한": one

- "번": time, instance

📌 Example Usage

"그 사람을 한 번만 더 보고 싶어."

"I want to see that person just one more time."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"단 한 번" – "just once"

📌 Example Usage

"단 한 번의 기회가 필요했다."

"All I needed was just one chance."

9. "불러보네 / 불러보다"

- "불러보네" means "I try calling" or "I call (reflectively/softly)." It expresses an emotional attempt to call out.

- "부르다": to call

- "보다": used as a grammatical auxiliary meaning "to try"

- "불러보다": to try calling

- "불러보네": present tense with emotional tone ending "-네"

📌 Example Usage

"그 이름을 또 불러보네."

"I try calling that name again."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"되뇌이다" – "to repeat (softly, reflectively)"

📌 Example Usage

"그녀의 이름을 되뇌이며 눈물을 흘렸다."

"I repeated her name as I cried."

10. "소리쳐 불러도 / 소리쳐 부르다"

- "소리쳐 불러도" means "even if I shout and call (out)." It implies desperate or emotional effort.

- "소리치다": to shout

- “소리쳐”: “소리치다” + connective ending “-어서”

 ✂️ “소리쳐서” → “소리쳐” (contraction)

- "소리쳐 부르다": to call out loudly

- "불러도": "부르다 (to call)" + "-어도 (even if)"

📌 Example Usage

"소리쳐 불러도 대답 없는 그대."

"Even if I shout your name, there’s no answer."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"외쳐도" – "even if I cry out"

📌 Example Usage

"아무리 외쳐도 그는 돌아오지 않았다."

"No matter how much I cried out, he didn’t return."

11 "늘"

- "늘" means "always" or "constantly." It emphasizes habitual or continuous action.

📌 Example Usage

"늘 그 자리에 있는 너."

"You, always in that same place."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"항상" – "always"

📌 Example Usage

"항상 네 생각을 해."

"I always think about you."

12 "허공에"

- "허공" means "space" or "air."

- "-에" is a location particle meaning "in" or "at."

📌 Example Usage

"허공에 부서진 이름을 불러."

"I call a name shattered in the air."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"공중에" – "in the air"

📌 Example Usage

"공중에 손을 흔들었다."

"I waved my hand in the air."

13 "부서져 / 부서지다"

- "부서지다" means "to be broken" or "to shatter."

- "부서져" is the connective form: "shattered and..."

• “부서지다” + connective ending “-어”

📌 Example Usage

"이름이 부서져 허공에 흩어진다."

"The name shatters and scatters in the air."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"깨지다" – "to break"

📌 Example Usage

"유리가 깨졌어요."

"The glass broke."

14 "돌아오는 / 돌아오다"

- "돌아오다" means "to return" or "to come back."

- "돌아오는" is the attributive form: "returning" or "that returns."

📌 Example Usage

"돌아오는 기억들이 아프게 해."

"The returning memories hurt me."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"귀환하다" – "to return" (formal)

📌 Example Usage

"그는 무사히 귀환했다."

"He returned safely."

15 "너의 / 너는 (넌) / 너를 (널)"

- "너의" means "your."

- "너는 (넌)" is "you" + topic particle "는" (contracted: 넌).

- "너를 (널)" is "you" + object particle "를" (contracted: 널).

📌 Example Usage

"너의 이름을 불렀어. 너를 잊지 못해."

"I called your name. I can’t forget you."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"당신의 / 당신을 / 당신은" – formal versions of "your / you"

📌 Example Usage

"당신의 미소를 아직도 기억해요."

"I still remember your smile."

16 "이름"

- "이름" means "name." It refers to a person’s identity.

📌 Example Usage

"이름을 불러보지만 대답은 없네."

"I try calling your name, but there’s no answer."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"성함" – "name" (honorific)

📌 Example Usage

"성함이 어떻게 되세요?"

"What is your name?"

17 "더 견딜 힘조차 없게 / 더 견딜 힘조차 없다"

- "더" means "more."

- "견딜" is the future-attributive form of "견디다 (to endure)."

- "힘" means "strength."

- "-조차" adds "even (that too)."

- "없게" is "없다 (to not have)" + "-게" (so that).

📌 Example Usage

"더 견딜 힘조차 없게 아파졌어."

"It became so painful I didn’t even have the strength to endure."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"버틸 기운도 없다" – "I don’t even have the energy to bear it."

📌 Example Usage

"이젠 버틸 기운도 없어."

"I have no strength left to go on."

18 "나를 (날) / 나는 (난) / 나의 (내)"

- "나" means "I" or "me" or “my.”

- "나를 (날)" is object form; "날" is a contraction.

- "나는 (난)" is subject form; "난" is a contraction.

- "나의 (내)" is possessive: "my." "난" is a contraction.

📌 Example Usage

"날 잊지 말아줘."

"Don’t forget me."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"저를 / 저는 / 제" – humble/polite versions of "me / I / my"

📌 Example Usage

"저를 기억해 주세요."

"Please remember me."

19 "버려두고 가지 / 버려두고 가다"

- "버려두다" means "to leave (someone) behind" or "abandon."

- “버려두고”: “버려두다” + “-고 (and)”

- "가다" means "to go."

- "버려두고 가지" means "you leave me and go."

• “가지”: “가다” + sentence ending “-지” (It is used to express, ask, command, or suggest something positively.)

📌 Example Usage

"버려두고 가지 말아줘."

"Please don’t leave me behind."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"남겨두고 떠나다" – "to leave someone behind and go"

📌 Example Usage

"그녀는 나를 남겨두고 떠났다."

"She left, leaving me behind."

20 "사랑하는 / 사랑하다"

- "사랑하다" means "to love."

- "사랑하는" is the attributive form: "loving" or "beloved."

📌 Example Usage

"사랑하는 사람을 위해 울었어."

"I cried for the one I love."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"아끼는" – "to care for (affectionately)"

📌 Example Usage

"아끼는 친구가 멀리 떠났어."

"A close friend moved far away."

21 "떠나가는 / 떠나가다"

- "떠나가다" means "to leave" or "to go away."

- "떠나가는" is the attributive form: "leaving."

📌 Example Usage

"떠나가는 너의 뒷모습이 잊히질 않아."

"I can’t forget the sight of you leaving."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"헤어지다" – "to part"

📌 Example Usage

"우린 결국 헤어졌어."

"We ended up parting ways."

22 "하늘도"

- "하늘" means "sky."

- "-도" is the additive particle meaning "even" or "also."

📌 Example Usage

"하늘도 함께 울고 있었어."

"Even the sky was crying with me."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"하늘마저" – "even the sky (with emphasis)"

📌 Example Usage

"하늘마저 나를 외면한 날이었다."

"Even the sky turned away from me that day."

23 "슬퍼서 / 슬프다"

- "슬프다" means "to be sad."

- "슬퍼서" is the cause connector: "because (someone is) sad."

📌 Example Usage

"슬퍼서 하늘도 울고 있었어."

"The sky was crying because it was sad."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"가슴 아파서" – "because it hurts emotionally"

📌 Example Usage

"가슴 아파서 눈물이 났어."

"I cried because my heart hurt."

24 "울어준 / 울어주다"

- "울다" means "to cry."

- "울어주다" means "to cry for someone (out of sympathy)."

- "울어준" is the attributive past form: "cried for."

📌 Example Usage

"하늘이 나를 위해 울어준 것 같았어."

"It felt like the sky cried for me."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"눈물을 흘려준" – "shed tears for someone"

📌 Example Usage

"친구가 내 얘기에 눈물을 흘려줬다."

"My friend shed tears over my story."

25 "날"

- "날" is a contracted form of "날짜" or "날 (day)."

- It often means "the day (something happens)."

📌 Example Usage

"그 날이 아직도 생생해."

"That day is still vivid in my memory."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"그날" – "that day"

📌 Example Usage

"그날을 잊을 수 없어."

"I can’t forget that day."

26 "빗속에 떠날 / 빗속에 떠나다"

- "비" means "rain."

- "빗속" means "inside the rain."

 • “비” + interfix -s (사이시옷, saisiot) + “속”

- "-에" is a location particle: "in/into."

- "떠나다" means "to leave."

- "떠날" is the future attributive form: "who will leave."

📌 Example Usage

"빗속에 떠날 용기가 없었어."

"I didn’t have the courage to leave in the rain."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"비 오는 날에 떠나다" – "to leave on a rainy day"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 비 오는 날에 떠났다."

"He left on a rainy day."

27 "나였음을"

- "나" means "I" or "me."

- "-였음" is the noun form of the past copula: "was."

- "-을" is the object particle.

📌 Example Usage

"그 사람이 너를 사랑한 건 나였음을 알아줘."

"Please know that it was I who loved you."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"내가 그 사람이었다는 걸" – "that I was the one"

📌 Example Usage

"내가 그 사람이었다는 걸 이제야 말할 수 있어."

"Only now can I say that I was that person."

28 "알고 있는 듯이 / 알고 있다"

- "알다" means "to know."

- "알고 있다" is the progressive form: "to be knowing / to know (continuously)."

- “알고 있는”: “알고 있다” + attributive “-는” (present tense)

- "듯이" means "as if."

📌 Example Usage

"모든 걸 알고 있는 듯이 말했어."

"You spoke as if you knew everything."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"다 아는 것처럼" – "as if you knew it all"

📌 Example Usage

"다 아는 것처럼 행동하지 마."

"Don’t act like you know everything."

29 "비가 오는 날엔 / 비가 오는 날에는"

- "비가 오다" means "rain is falling."

- "비가 오는 날" means "the day when it rains."

- "-에는 / -엔" is the locative particle meaning "on that day."

• “-에는”: locative particle “-에” + topic marker “-는”

✂️ “-에는” → “-엔” (contraction)

📌 Example Usage

"비가 오는 날엔 늘 네 생각이 나."

"I always think of you on rainy days."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"비 오는 날마다" – "every rainy day"

📌 Example Usage

"비 오는 날마다 네가 떠올라."

"I think of you on every rainy day."

30 "항상"

- "항상" means "always" or "at all times."

📌 Example Usage

"항상 그날을 기억하고 있어."

"I always remember that day."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"늘" – "always"

📌 Example Usage

"늘 네 곁에 있을게."

"I’ll always be by your side."

31 "그리워해 / 그리워하다"

- "그리워하다" means "to miss" or "to long for."

- "그리워해" is the informal present ending form.

📌 Example Usage

"아직도 널 그리워해."

"I still miss you."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"보고 싶어하다" – "to want to see (someone)"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 그녀를 보고 싶어했어."

"He wanted to see her."

32 "언젠간 / 언젠가는"

- "언젠가" means "someday" or "at some point."

- “언젠가는”: “언젠가” + auxiliary particle “-는” (emphasis, limitation)

✂️ "언젠간" is a contracted, informal form.

📌 Example Usage

"언젠간 다시 만날 수 있을까?"

"Will we meet again someday?"

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"어느 날엔가" – "one of these days"

📌 Example Usage

"어느 날엔가 전화가 오겠지."

"One of these days, I’ll get a call."

33 "만나는 / 만나다"

- "만나다" means "to meet."

- "만나는" is the attributive present form.

📌 Example Usage

"만나는 그날을 기다리고 있어."

"I’m waiting for the day we meet."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"다시 보다" – "to see again"

📌 Example Usage

"그를 다시 보는 날이 올까?"

"Will the day come when I see him again?"

34 "그날을 기다리며 / 그날을 기다리다"

- "그날" means "that day."

- “-을”: object particle

- "기다리다" means "to wait."

- "기다리며" is the connective form: "while waiting."

📌 Example Usage

"그날을 기다리며 오늘도 살아가."

"I live on today, waiting for that day."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"그 순간을 바라며" – "longing for that moment"

📌 Example Usage

"그 순간을 바라며 준비하고 있어."

"I’m preparing, hoping for that moment."

 

35 "비 내린 / 비가 내리다"

- "비" means "rain."

- "내리다" means "to fall" or "to come down."

- "비가 내리다" means "rain falls."

- "비 내린" is an attributive form meaning "fallen rain" or "rain that has fallen."

 • omission of subject particle “-가”

📌 Example Usage

"비 내린 거리엔 너의 기억이 남아 있어."

"On the rain-soaked street, your memory remains."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"비가 오다" – "rain comes/falls"

📌 Example Usage

"지금 비가 오고 있어요."

"It’s raining right now."

36 "하늘은"

- "하늘" means "sky."

- "하늘은" adds topic particle "-은" to "하늘," meaning "as for the sky."

📌 Example Usage

"하늘은 여전히 흐려 있네요."

"As for the sky, it's still cloudy."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"저 하늘은" – "that sky"

📌 Example Usage

"저 하늘은 너를 닮았어."

"That sky resembles you."

37 "왜 그리 날 슬프게 해"

- "왜" means "why."

- "그리" means "so" or "that much."

✂️ "날" is the contracted object form of "나를" (me).

- "슬프게 하다" means "to make (someone) sad."

- “슬프게 해”: present tense colloquial form

📌 Example Usage

"왜 그리 날 슬프게 해?"

"Why do you make me so sad?"

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"왜 이렇게 아프게 해" – "why do you hurt me like this"

📌 Example Usage

"왜 이렇게 아프게 해 나를."

"Why do you hurt me like this?"

38 "흩어진 / 흩어지다"

- "흩어지다" means "to scatter" or "to disperse."

- "흩어진" is the past attributive form: "scattered" or "spread out."

📌 Example Usage

"흩어진 기억들을 모아 보고 있어."

"I’m trying to gather the scattered memories."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"퍼지다" – "to spread"

📌 Example Usage

"소문이 빠르게 퍼졌다."

"The rumor spread quickly."

39 "눈물로"

- "눈물" means "tears."

- "-로" is a particle meaning "with" or "using."

📌 Example Usage

"눈물로 밤을 지새웠어."

"I stayed up all night with tears."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"울면서" – "while crying"

📌 Example Usage

"울면서 그 이름을 불렀다."

"I called that name while crying."

40 "잊고 싶은데 / 잊고 싶다"

- "잊다" means "to forget."

- "잊고 싶다" means "to want to forget."

- "잊고 싶은데" adds a contrastive or hesitant tone: "I want to forget, but…"

• “잊고 싶다” + connective ending “-은데” (contrast, regret, explanation)

📌 Example Usage

"잊고 싶은데, 자꾸 떠올라."

"I want to forget, but it keeps coming back."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"지우고 싶다" – "want to erase"

📌 Example Usage

"그 기억을 지우고 싶어."

"I want to erase that memory."

41 "가고 싶어 / 가고 싶다"

- "가다" means "to go."

- "가고 싶다" means "to want to go."

- "가고 싶어" is the informal present tense.

📌 Example Usage

"지금 너에게 가고 싶어."

"I want to go to you right now."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"찾아가고 싶다" – "want to go visit"

📌 Example Usage

"그 사람을 찾아가고 싶었어."

"I wanted to go visit that person."

42 "보고 싶어 / 보고 싶다"

- "보다" means "to see."

- "보고 싶다" means "to want to see" or "to miss (someone)."

- "보고 싶어" is the informal present tense.

📌 Example Usage

"지금 네가 너무 보고 싶어."

"I really miss you right now."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"그립다" – "to miss" (used with things/people)

📌 Example Usage

"그 시절이 너무 그리워요."

"I really miss those times."

43 "꼭"

- "꼭" means "surely," "certainly," or "definitely." It can also mean "tightly" depending on context.

📌 Example Usage

"꼭 다시 만나자."

"Let’s definitely meet again."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"반드시" – "certainly, without fail"

📌 Example Usage

"반드시 약속을 지킬게."

"I’ll keep my promise without fail."

44 "찾고 싶었어 / 찾고 싶다"

- "찾다" means "to find" or "to look for."

- "찾고 싶다" means "to want to find."

- "찾고 싶었어" is the past tense: "I wanted to find."

📌 Example Usage

"널 찾고 싶었어, 그래서 여기까지 왔어."

"I wanted to find you, so I came all the way here."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"되찾고 싶다" – "want to recover"

📌 Example Usage

"잃어버린 웃음을 되찾고 싶어."

"I want to recover the smile I lost."

45 "하지만"

- "하지만" means "but" or "however." It introduces a contrast.

📌 Example Usage

"하지만 넌 아무 말도 없었지."

"But you didn’t say a word."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"그러나" – "however" (more formal)

📌 Example Usage

"그러나 그는 끝내 돌아오지 않았다."

"However, he never returned."

46 "모습은"

- "모습" means "appearance" or "figure."

- "모습은" adds topic particle "-은": "as for (the) appearance."

📌 Example Usage

"모습은 아직도 그대로야."

"Your appearance is still the same."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"형체는" – "figure, form" (often poetic/formal)

📌 Example Usage

"그의 형체는 멀어져 갔다."

"His figure faded away."

47 "아직도"

- "아직도" means "still" or "even now." (Repeated entry from
34 – first mention stands.)

📌 Example Usage

"아직도 널 기다리고 있어."

"I’m still waiting for you."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"계속해서" – "continuously, still"

📌 Example Usage

"그는 계속해서 그 자리를 지켰다."

"He kept his place the whole time."

48 "그 자리에"

- "그" means "that."

- "자리" means "place" or "spot."

- “-에”: locative particle

- "그 자리에" means "at that place."

📌 Example Usage

"넌 그 자리에 아직 있니?"

"Are you still at that place?"

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"그곳에" – "at that place (more general)"

📌 Example Usage

"나는 여전히 그곳에 머물러 있어."

"I’m still staying at that place."

49 "하지만 난 널 사랑해"

- "하지만" means "but."

✂️ "난" is the contraction of "나는" (I + topic marker).

✂️ "널" is the contraction of "너를" (you as object).

- "사랑해" is the informal present form of "사랑하다" (to love).

📌 Example Usage

"하지만 난 널 사랑해, 아직도."

"But I still love you."

🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

"그래도 난 네가 좋아" – "even so, I still like you"

📌 Example Usage

"그래도 난 네가 좋아."

"Even so, I like you."

 

🎶 Lee Seung-chul - “The Western Sky”: Lyrics Summary

“The Western Sky” tells the story of irreversible parting and the lingering weight of grief. As the sunset fades into the western sky, the narrator watches memories dissolve into the past. The one they once loved is now unreachable—no longer someone who can be called back, no longer someone who will respond. And yet, they call out again, driven by habit, by longing, and by pain.

The song revolves around the image of rain, which serves as both a metaphor for sorrow and a literal memory trigger. On rainy days, the narrator always misses the one who left. The rain becomes a symbol of their tears, falling endlessly, with the wet sky amplifying their sadness rather than washing it away. Despite the effort to forget—to dissolve those memories in the rain—they remain painfully vivid.

There’s also a sense of resignation. The lyrics move from hope (“waiting for the day we’ll meet again”) to acceptance of absence. Even though the narrator wishes to find and see the person again, they remain in the same unreachable place, frozen in time and space, like a lingering phantom.

At the very end, however, the narrator declares that despite everything—despite pain, distance, and memory—they still love them. The love, no matter how unresolved, continues. The song expresses the timeless echo of love that survives even separation, even the absence of response.

 

🎶 Lee Seung-chul - “The Western Sky”: Additional Information

- Song Title (Korean): 서쪽 하늘

- Release Date: December 22, 2005

- Album: Blue Swallow OST

- Genre: Ballad

- Original Singer: Lee Seung-chul

- Notable Covers: Ulala Session (2011, Superstar K3)

- Lyricist: Lee Seung-chul

- Composer: Yoon Myung-seon

 

Legacy:

“The Western Sky” is widely considered one of Lee Seung-chul’s signature ballads. Its enduring appeal lies in its sincere lyrics, gentle yet expressive melody, and universal themes of love, loss, and memory. It remains a featured element in dramas, singing competitions, and tribute performances.

 

🎶 Introduction to Lee Seung-chul & Ulala Session

Lee Seung-chul (이승철) is a legendary Korean singer who debuted as the lead vocalist of the rock band Boohwal in 1985. After going solo, he became one of Korea’s most beloved balladeers, known for his rich, soulful voice and emotionally resonant performances. His hits include “Never Ending Story”, “Heeya”, and “My Love”. With a career spanning over three decades, Lee Seung-chul’s music continues to inspire younger artists and resonate with listeners across generations. His ability to blend powerful vocal techniques with heartfelt storytelling remains unmatched.

 

Ulala Session (울랄라세션) is a South Korean vocal group best known for winning the third season of Superstar K in 2011. The group quickly rose to national fame thanks to their dynamic arrangements, strong harmonies, and emotionally charged performances. Their rendition of “The Western Sky” is one of the most memorable moments in Korean audition show history, as it was dedicated to their late leader Lim Yoon-taek, who was battling cancer at the time. The sincerity of their performance moved both judges and the audience, breathing new life into the song and elevating it to a modern classic.

 

 

🌍 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 understand the words—you’ll feel the song the way native speakers do.

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.