안녕하세요! Two weeks ago, RM wrote a short message for ARMY on Weverse about how...

Today marks the official opening of the “Min Yoon-gi Therapy Center” at Yonsei University’s Severance...

School started up again last Thursday. From Friday through Sunday we were off on an...

Serendipity I especially love how RM playfully links 그냥 (geu-nyang) (simply) with 고양이 (goh-yahng-yi) (cat),...

After an extremely busy week of grading finals, followed by a Friday evening with ARMY...

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting ARMYs who’ve come to see me...

MORE “MORE” may not be everyone’s cup of tea (but as someone who loves rock...

Translation of Every Song in Jack in the Box Album Where’s my safe zone?Let me...

Everythingoes The song’s intention is clear from its long, meditative intro: nearly two minutes of...

Uhgood Each line in the song is spare, yet heavy with nuance. Layered metaphors and...

Moonchild The term moonchild, loosely defined as someone idiosyncratic or out of step with the...

One of my students left Korea last year to attend law school in Boston. When...

Smeraldo Garden Marching Band In contrast to RM’s somber lyrics in “The Truth Untold,”, where...

Rebirth, Slow Dance, and Be Mine from Jimin’s MUSE album MUSE’s diverse genres—ranging from Taylor...

So Far Away I have often reflected on why SUGA chose Job’s story as the...

Interlude: Set Me Free One day, he’s so depressed that he’s “바닥에서 (bah-dahk-eh-suh) (on the...

Strange SUGA, whose exterior exudes insouciance while his interior burns with a furnace, uses this...

Moonlight (Korean title: 저 달 (juh dahl) (That Moon)) “Moonlight,” the opening track on SUGA’s...

People (Korean title: 사람 (sah-lahm) (A Human) Though the verses, layered with tight rhymes about...

It’s Friday once again here in Korea. After several days of high heat and humidity,...

Closer Than This This is an irresistibly catch song with smooth beats and flowing melodies....

Fly to My Room Blending neo-soul with vocal brilliance, BTS showcases V’s husky baritone and...

Epiphany Ever since this song first graced my ears, its poignant lines about self-love continue...

Ddaeng An artist is nothing without creativity, and BTS’s ability to conjure it at will...

Moon The theme of Jin’s “Moon” is a heartfelt reflection of his love for ARMY,...

In honor of Jin’s new album, “Echo,” releasing this Friday, I’d like to share a...

The Astronaut With Coldplay’s involvement in the composition, the song features a rich blend of...

My Time This song is JK’s reflective, sincere letter to himself, about the disjunction between...

Echo The songs on this album aren’t particularly groundbreaking or emotionally seismic. But Jin’s music...

With the Clouds In essence, the song masterfully expresses emotional fragility, hope, and human connection...

To Me, Today The lyrics capture a message of self-encouragement and embracing the present. Through...

Background This song has grown on me throughout the week, as I kept returning to...

Nothing Without Your Love While “Moon” is Jin’s heartfelt promise to remain ever near—to circle,...

Among my middle-aged peers, I stand out as somewhat unique: I stay closely attuned to...

Two bards have crossed paths to share their sorrow, lamenting a world that relentlessly pours...

(originally translated in 2018; revised in 2021)    Alain de Botton’s “On Love” might be...

(translated in 2018)   The term ‘singularity’ originates from a mathematical concept, indicating a point...

(translated in 2018)   The Truth Untold fascinates me ad infinitum. First of all, for...

(translated in 2021)   During the dog days of summer, the Korean peninsula enters its...

Blue Side For the bridge, J-Hope writes two four-line stanzas of fixed length with matching...

Forever Rain “Forever Rain” my favorite track from his magnificent mixtape album “mono.” The song...

A writer once said that each of us carries a crying child in a quiet...

I translated this song in 2019, but I can’t find the analysis I wrote then....

In 1986, a Korean folk duo 시인과 촌장 (City Dweller & Village Chief) released a song,...

Seoul In “Seoul,” RM takes us on a thought-provoking journey, offering perspectives that resonate with...

The next band I’d like to introduce is an indie group with perhaps the quirkiest...

While sharing my thoughts on the Korean alternative rock band The Rose a few weeks...

Last week, I was pleasantly surprised to see the Korean alternative rock band The Rose...

JK blocking Jin from blowing his signature kiss will never not be funny. Jin’s natural,...

(translated in 2019)   My initial attraction to Dionysus was due to its references to Greek...

Some of you may already know him, but there’s this Korean guy named Sung Joon...