🎶 “Isn't Anyone There”: Introduction
🎯 Key Takeaways
🎶 “Isn't Anyone There”: Additional Information
🎶 Introduction to Artist
🎶 “Isn't Anyone There”: Introduction
Stage Performance – Lee Mu-jin
Official Audio Track - Han Young-ae
Lyrics Summary
“Isn't
Anyone There” is considered a defining work of Korean blues music, released by
singer Han Young-ae in 1988. Adopting the simple structure of a call or plea,
the song captures the cry of existence and the solitude of life within the
quiet, nocturnal setting. It is widely regarded as a symbolic piece in the
history of Korean popular music for its poetic expression of inner emotions.
The
opening line, “Hello, is anyone there?” is less about seeking someone else and
more a solitary monologue seeking to confirm one’s existence. This line vividly
reflects emotions often found in the Korean psyche, such as han (a
sense of unresolved sorrow), longing, and resignation.
The
lyrics unfold along the passage of time: night, dawn, and morning. Through this
progression, the song visually depicts the speaker’s inner transformation and
psychological journey. In the silence of night, the narrator recalls those who
remember them; at dawn, they feel temptation and anguish; and by morning,
anxiety and desire return them to reality. This use of time as a symbol is a
common motif in Korean poetry and traditional folk songs.
A Practical Learning Guide
- The
lyrics are framed as a lonely inner monologue, calling out into the
darkness without expecting an honest answer. This kind of indirect, existential
expression is common in Korean lyrics and poetry.
- Repeated
expressions like “여보세요” and “거기 누구
없소” are examples of Korean rhetorical questions or
emotional exclamations that don't necessarily seek a reply but rather express
solitude or emotional emptiness.
- You’ll
encounter many everyday and poetic expressions that blend physical imagery and
emotional states:
• “창문을 두드리는 달빛” (moonlight knocking on the window)
• “검어진 골목길” (darkened alley)
• “아침을 보려 하네” (trying to see the morning)
These
metaphorical structures are essential for understanding Korean lyricism and
emotional nuance.
- The lyrics showcase
multiple nominalized verb forms:
• “깨우치려” → from “깨우치다” (to awaken, to enlighten)
• “지워주니” → from “지우다” (to erase)
• “움직이고” → from “움직이다” (to move)
• “불러봤소” → from “부르다” (to call)
- Contractions and
shortened forms also appear:
• “봤소” = “보았소” (past formal form of 보다)
• “계시는지” = “계시고 있는지”
• “일으켜 줘” = “일으켜 주어” → “일으켜 줘”
Understanding
these is crucial for grasping spoken and lyrical Korean.
- The verb endings
include old-fashioned or literary style forms such as:
• “-봤소”
• “-하네”
These
forms convey a tone of respect mixed with poetic nostalgia, offering a
valuable learning opportunity for speakers of various levels and expressive tones.
- Learn how to
interpret conditional and descriptive connectors such as:
• “듯” (as if / like)
• “하듯” (as though doing)
🎯 Key
Takeaways
📢 Explanations of basic dictionary definitions have been omitted.
1. "여보세요"
- "여보세요"
means "Hello" or "Hey there," often used to start a phone
call or to call out to someone from a distance.
📌 Example Usage
"여보세요? 누구 계세요?"
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"이봐요" –
"Excuse me" / "Hey"
📌 Example Usage
"이봐요, 잠깐만요!"
"Hey, wait a second!"
2. "거기 누구 없소 / 거기 누구 없다"
- "거기 누구 없소"
means "Isn’t anyone there?" or "Is no one there?"
- "거기":
"there" (location)
- "누구":
"who" (interrogative pronoun)
- "없소":
archaic/humble form of "없어요 (is not / there
isn’t)"
🐾 Speech endings like “없소” and “봤소,” which end with “~~소,” are rarely used in modern Korean.
📌 Example Usage
"거기 누구없소, 문
좀 열어주세요."
"Isn’t anyone there? Please open the
door."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"아무도 없나요?" –
"Is no one there?"
📌 Example Usage
"이 늦은 밤, 아무도
없나요?"
"This late at night, is no one
there?"
3. "어둠은 깔려 있어 / 어둠이 깔리다"
- "어둠은 깔려 있어"
means "The darkness has settled" or "It is already dark."
- "어둠은":
"어둠 (darkness)" + topic marker "-은"
- “깔리다”: to be laid, passive
form of “깔다 (to lay, to spread, to install)”
- "깔려 있어": Passive
progressive form of "깔다" indicating that
something has been laid or spread and remains
• “깔리다” + “있다” + sentence
ending “-어” (informal, colloquial)
➡️ “깔다” → “깔리다” → “깔려 있다” → “깔려 있어”
📌 Example Usage
"밤이 되자 어둠은 깔려 있었다."
"As night fell, darkness had already
spread."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"어둠이 내려앉다" –
"Darkness falls"
📌 Example Usage
"그 순간 어둠이 조용히 내려앉았다."
"At that moment, darkness quietly
settled."
4. "창문을 두드리는 / 창문을 두드리다"
- "창문을 두드리는"
means "knocking on the window."
- "창문을":
"창문 (window)" + object particle "-을"
- "두드리는":
"두드리다 (to knock, tap)" + attributive ending
"-는"
📌 Example Usage
"누가 창문을 두드리는 소리에 깼다."
"I woke up to the sound of someone
knocking on the window."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"창문을 톡톡 두드리다" –
"to lightly tap on the window"
📌 Example Usage
"비둘기가 창문을 톡톡 두드렸다."
"A pigeon tapped lightly on the
window."
5. "대답하듯 / 대답하다"
- "대답하듯"
means "as if responding" or "as though answering."
- "대답하다":
"to respond, to answer"
- "-듯":
"as if," used to compare or simulate an action
📌 Example Usage
"그녀는 미소를 지으며 대답하듯 고개를 끄덕였다."
"She smiled and nodded as if
answering."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"응답하듯" –
"as if replying"
📌 Example Usage
"별빛이 응답하듯 반짝였다."
"The starlight sparkled as if in
reply."
6. "검어진 / 검어지다"
- "검어진" means
"darkened" or "turned black."
- "검어지다": to
become dark or black
- "-ㄴ":
attributive ending for past transformation
📌 Example Usage
"시간이 지나 골목길이 검어진 듯했다."
"As time passed, the alley seemed to have
darkened."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"어두워진" –
"darkened"
📌 Example Usage
"어두워진 방 안에 혼자 있었다."
"I was alone in the darkened room."
7. "불러봤소 / 불러보다"
- "불러봤소"
means "I tried calling (someone)" or "I called out (once)."
- "불러보다":
"부르다 (to call)" + auxiliary verb "보다 (to try)"
- "-봤소": past
tense + archaic or polite form ending
➡️✂️ “부르다” → “불러보다” → “불러보았다” (past tense) → “불러봤다” (contraction) → “불러봤소”
📌 Example Usage
"그 이름을 하늘을 향해 불러봤소."
"I tried calling that name toward the
sky."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"불러보았다" –
standard past form of "불러보다"
📌 Example Usage
"나는 그를 불러보았다. 대답은
없었다."
"I called out to him. There was no
reply."
8. "기억하는 / 기억하다"
- "기억하는"
means "remembering" or "who remembers."
- "기억하다": to
remember
- "-는":
attributive ending for present tense
📌 Example Usage
"그 시절을 아직도 기억하는 사람이 있을까?"
"Is there anyone who still remembers those
days?"
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"잊지 않는" –
"not forgetting"
📌 Example Usage
"그 약속을 잊지 않는 사람이었다."
"He was someone who never forgot that
promise."
9. "편안이들"
- "편안이들"
appears to be a poetic or colloquial blend of "편안히들 (comfortably, all of you)"
- "편안히":
comfortably
- "-들":
plural marker for people
📌 Example Usage
"편안이들 주무시고 계시겠지요."
"You must all be sleeping
peacefully."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"다들 편히" –
"everyone comfortably"
📌 Example Usage
"다들 편히 쉬세요."
"Everyone, rest well."
10. "주무시고 계시는지 / 주무시고 계시다"
- "주무시고 계시는지"
means "whether (they) are sleeping"
- "주무시고":
honorific form of "자다 (to sleep)" + connective
“-고”
➡️ “자다” → “주무시다” → “주무시고”
- "계시는지":
honorific form of "있다 (to be)" + question
suffix "-는지"
➡️ “있다” → “계시다” → “계시는지”
➡️ “자고 있는지” → “주무시고 계시는지” (honorific)
📢 For additional information on
honorifics in Korean, please refer to the blog post below.
🔖 Mastering Korean Honorifics: A Guide to Respectful Communication in Korean Culture
📌 Example Usage
"지금쯤 주무시고 계시는지 모르겠네요."
"I wonder if they’re sleeping by
now."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"잠들었는지" –
"whether they fell asleep"
📌 Example Usage
"아이들이 잠들었는지 확인해 봤다."
"I checked to see if the children had
fallen asleep."
11. "밤이 긴 것 같은 / 밤이 길다"
- "밤이 긴 것 같은"
means "as if the night is long" or "feeling like the night is
long."
- "밤이":
"밤 (night)" + subject marker "-이"
- "긴": "길다 (to be long)" + attributive ending "-ㄴ"
- "것 같은":
"것 (thing)" + similarity expression "-같은" meaning "like, as if"
📌 Example Usage
"오늘 밤은 유난히 긴 것 같은 기분이야."
"Tonight feels unusually long."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"밤이 끝나지 않을 것 같다" –
"It feels like the night won’t end"
📌 Example Usage
"슬픔에 잠긴 밤은 끝나지 않을 것 같았다."
"The sorrowful night felt like it would
never end."
12. "아침을 보려 하네 / 아침을 보려 하다"
- "아침을 보려 하네"
means "trying to see the morning" or "hoping to make it to
morning."
- "아침을":
"아침 (morning)" + object marker "-을"
- "보려":
"보다 (to see)" + purpose connector "-려"
- "하네":
"하다 (to do, try)" + semi-formal declarative
ending
📌 Example Usage
"밤을 새우며 아침을 보려 하네."
"Staying up all night, trying to see the
morning."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"아침까지 버티다" –
"to endure until morning"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 아침까지 버티며 책을 읽었다."
"He endured until morning reading the
book."
13. "누군가 깨었다면
- "누군가 깨었다면"
means "if someone has woken up" or "if anyone is awake."
- "누군가":
someone
- "깨었다면":
"깨다 (to wake)" + past tense "-았/었-" + hypothetical "-다면"
➡️ “깨다” → “깨었다” (post tense) → “깨었다면”
📌 Example Usage
"누군가 깨었다면 제발 대답해줘."
"If someone’s awake, please answer."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"혹시라도 깨어 있다면" –
"in case someone is awake"
📌 Example Usage
"혹시라도 깨어 있다면 연락해줘."
"If by any chance you’re awake, contact
me."
14. "대답해줘 / 대답하다 + -아 주다"
- "대답해줘"
means "please answer (me)" or "respond to me."
- "대답하다": to
answer
- "-아/어 주다": auxiliary expression for favor/request
➡️ “대답하다” → “대답해 주다” + “대답해 줘” (informal, imperative, colloquial)
📌 Example Usage
"내가 부르면 꼭 대답해줘."
"When I call, please answer."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"응답해줘" –
"give me a response"
📌 Example Usage
"내 마음에 응답해줘."
"Answer to my heart."
15. "깨우치려 / 깨우치려 하다"
- "깨우치려"
means "to try to enlighten" or "to make (someone) realize."
- "깨우치다": to
enlighten, make aware
- "-려 하다":
intent/purpose expression, "to try to"
📌 Example Usage
"삶의 진실을 깨우치려 애썼다."
"I tried hard to awaken to the truth of
life."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"자각하게 하다" –
"to make someone realize"
📌 Example Usage
"그 말은 나를 자각하게 했다."
"Those words made me realize."
16. "유혹"
- "유혹" means
"temptation" or "allurement."
📌 Example Usage
"그의 말은 달콤한 유혹처럼 들렸다."
"His words sounded like sweet
temptation."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"매혹" –
"fascination, allure"
📌 Example Usage
"그녀는 매혹적인 미소를 지었다."
"She smiled with a captivating
charm."
17. "저녁 빛에 물든 / 저녁 빛에 물들다"
- "저녁 빛에 물든"
means "stained with the evening light" or "tinted by the glow of
evening."
- "저녁 빛에":
"evening light" + locative particle "-에"
- "물든":
"물들다 (to be dyed, colored)" + attributive
"-은"
📌 Example Usage
"저녁 빛에 물든 그 풍경이 아름다웠다."
"The scenery dyed in evening light was
beautiful."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"노을에 물든" –
"colored by sunset"
📌 Example Usage
"노을에 물든 하늘을 바라보았다."
"I gazed at the sky dyed by sunset."
18. "내 모습 지워주니 / 내 모습 지워주다"
- "내 모습 지워주니"
means "because you erase my image" or "you erase my past self
for me."
- "내 모습":
"my appearance/self" + object particle “-을"
(implied)
- "지워주다":
"지우다 (to erase)" + auxiliary "-아/어 주다 (to do for someone)"
- "지워주니":
present cause/reason ending "-니"
📌 Example Usage
"슬픈 내 모습을 지워주니 고마워."
"Thank you for erasing my sad self."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"기억을 없애주다" –
"to help erase a memory"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 아픈 기억을 없애주려 했다."
"He tried to help erase the painful
memory."
19. "감사하듯 / 감사하다"
- "감사하듯"
means "as if grateful" or "as though expressing thanks."
- "감사하다": to
thank
- "-듯": as if
📌 Example Usage
"그녀는 감사하듯 눈을 감았다."
"She closed her eyes as if expressing
gratitude."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"고마워하듯" –
"as if being thankful"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 고마워하듯 나를 바라보았다."
"He looked at me as if thankful."
20. "하루를 시작하려 / 하루를 시작하다"
- "하루를 시작하려"
means "about to start the day" or "to try to begin the
day."
- "하루를":
"day" + object particle "-를"
- "시작하려":
"시작하다 (to begin)" + purpose ending "-려"
📌 Example Usage
"기분 좋은 아침, 하루를
시작하려 한다."
"With a good mood, I try to start the
day."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"새로운 하루를 열다" –
"to open a new day"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 활기차게 새로운 하루를 열었다."
"He energetically began a new day."
21. "바삐들"
- "바삐들" is a
poetic contraction of "바삐들 (busily, all of
them)"
- "바삐":
busily
- "-들":
plural particle for people
🐾 One person moves “busily” as “바삐,”
while multiple people move “busily” as “바삐들.”
📌 Example Usage
"아침이 되자 바삐들 움직이기 시작했다."
"As morning came, they all started moving
busily."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"분주히 다들" –
"everyone in a rush"
📌 Example Usage
"분주히 다들 준비를 마쳤다."
"Everyone quickly finished
preparing."
22. "올까 하는 / 올까 하다"
- "올까 하는"
means "wondering if (someone) will come" or "thinking maybe
(they) will come."
- "오다": to
come
- "-ㄹ까 하다":
expression of uncertainty or possibility
- “-는”: present
attributive form
📌 Example Usage
"혹시라도 그가 올까 하는 기대를 버리지 못했다."
"I couldn’t give up the hope that he might
come."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"올지도 모르겠다" –
"might come"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 갑자기 올지도 모르겠다."
"He might show up unexpectedly."
23. "자려 하네 / 자려 하다"
- "자려 하네"
means "about to sleep" or "trying to go to bed."
- "자다": to
sleep
- "-려 하다": to
try/intend
- "하네":
semi-formal declarative ending
📌 Example Usage
"조용히 자려 하네, 오늘은
긴 하루였어."
"I'm trying to sleep quietly; today was a
long day."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"잠들려 한다" –
"trying to fall asleep"
📌 Example Usage
"그녀는 피곤해서 금세 잠들려 했다."
"She was tired and tried to fall asleep
quickly."
24. "잠을 자는 / 잠을 자다"
- "잠을 자는"
means "sleeping" or "who is sleeping."
- "잠을":
"잠 (sleep)" + object marker "-을"
- "자는":
"자다 (to sleep)" + attributive "-는"
📌 Example Usage
"잠을 자는 아이 얼굴이 평화로웠다."
"The sleeping child's face looked
peaceful."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"잠든" –
"asleep"
📌 Example Usage
"잠든 아기를 조용히 안았다."
"I gently held the sleeping baby."
25. "나를 깨워 줄 이 / 나를 깨우다"
- "나를 깨워 줄 이"
means "the one who will wake me up."
- "나를":
"me" + object marker
- "깨워 줄":
"깨우다 (to wake someone up)" + "-아/어 주다 (do for someone)" + attributive
"-ㄹ"
- "이":
"person" or "the one"
📌 Example Usage
"내일 아침 나를 깨워 줄 이가 필요해."
"I need someone to wake me up tomorrow
morning."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"알람 대신 깨워줄 사람" –
"someone to wake me up instead of an alarm"
📌 Example Usage
"알람 대신 깨워줄 사람이 있으면 좋겠다."
"I wish someone could wake me instead of
an alarm."
26. "나 좀 일으켜줘 / 나를 일으키다 + -아 주다"
- "나 좀 일으켜줘"
means "please help me up" or "lift me, please."
- "나 좀":
"나 (me)" + "좀 (a
bit, please – softener)"
- "일으켜줘":
"일으키다 (to raise, lift)" + auxiliary "-아/어 주다" + imperative form
📌 Example Usage
"넘어졌어… 나 좀 일으켜줘."
"I fell… please help me up."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"손 좀 잡아줘" –
"please hold my hand (to help me up)"
📌 Example Usage
"힘들어… 손 좀 잡아줘."
"I’m struggling… please hold my
hand."
🎶 “Isn't
Anyone There”: Additional Information
Song Title (Korean): 누구 없소
Release Date: September
1, 1988
Original Singer: Han Young-ae
Album: 바라본다
Genre: Blues
/ Folk
Lyricist: Yoon
Myung-woon
Composer: Yoon
Myung-woon
Cultural Impact & Legacy:
“누구 없소” became an
iconic Korean blues-rock anthem in the late 1980s, known for its raw emotional
tone and socially reflective lyrics. The song symbolized solitude and
existential questioning during a transitional era in Korean history,
post-democratization. Its intense delivery and poetic structure resonated with
a generation of Koreans navigating personal and societal change.
Over time, the song has become a cultural
touchstone frequently revived in television dramas, talent shows, and music
competitions. Its iconic opening line, “여보세요, 거기
누구 없소,” remains one of the most recognized lyrics in Korean
popular music.
Famous Cover Versions:
- Lee Mu-jin (이무진) – His 2023 cover version reimagined the song with a jazz-rock
flair and was critically acclaimed, reintroducing the classic to younger
audiences.
- Jung Hong-il (정홍일) – Delivered a passionate rock vocal version on 싱어게인, garnering attention for its power and emotion.
🎶 Introduction to Artists
Lee Mu-jin
📢 Please
check other posts in the K-Lingo category for introductions to other songs and Lee
Mu-jin.
🔖 Emotional Korean Song Lyrics Decoded: Lee Mu-jin’s ‘Traffic Light’ Explained
🔖 Why Lee Mu-jin’s “Propose” Is the Perfect Song to Learn Romantic Korean
Han Young-ae
Han Young-ae is a legendary South Korean blues
and rock vocalist, widely regarded as one of the first female rock artists in
Korea. Debuting in the 1970s, she became a cultural icon through her gritty
voice and socially conscious lyrics. Her 1988 hit, “누구 없소,” defined her legacy as a powerful voice in Korean soul and
rock.
Her work has influenced countless musicians and
remains relevant through frequent reinterpretations in Korean pop culture.
Han’s artistry continues to serve as a benchmark for emotional depth and vocal
authenticity.
🌍 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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