[Korean Culture & Language] Thousand Years of Love

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노래방 (Noraebang or karaoke) is one of the most popular ways for Koreans to relieve stress after a long day at school or work. 노래 means song or to sing, and 방 means room. So, 노래방 is ‘a room to sing’. 

‘천년의 사랑(Thousand Years of Love)’ by 박완규(Park Wan Kyu) has been one of the most popular and most played 노래방(noraebang/karaoke) songs of all time in Korea, since 1999. One of the reasons for its popularity is that it has extremely high notes that require singers to scream loudly. Screaming at 노래방 is a good way to relieve stress.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5-AdXEkN2U

The following are the lyrics:

이대로 널 보낼 수는 없다고 밤을 세워 간절히 기도했지만
I prayed all night that I can’t let you leave like this. 

더 이상 널 사랑할 수 없다면 차라리 나도 데려가
If I can no longer love you, please take me with you.

내 마지막 소원을 하늘이 끝내 모른 척 져버린대도
Even if God pretends not to understand my last wish,

불꽃처럼 꺼지지 않는 사랑으로 영원히 넌 가슴속에 타오를테니
I’ll adore you forever, like the flame that never goes out in my heart.

나를 위해서 눈물도 참아야했던 그 동안에 넌 얼마나 힘이 들었니
You must have suffered a lot, crying behind closed doors.

천년이 가도 난 너를 잊을 수 없어 사랑했기 때문에
I can never forget you even after a thousand years because I love you.

내 마지막 소원을 하늘이 끝내 모른 척 져버린대도
Even if God pretends not to understand my last wish,

불꽃처럼 꺼지지 않는 사랑으로 영원히 넌 가슴속에 타오를테니
I’ll adore you forever, like the flame that never goes out in my heart.

나를 위해서 눈물도 참아야했던 그 동안에 넌 얼마나 힘이 들었니
You must have suffered a lot, crying behind closed doors.

천년이 가도 난 너를 잊을 수 없어 사랑했기 때문에
I can never forget you even after a thousand years because I love you.


It’s a heartbreaking song. However, by screaming and letting their emotions out while singing this song, their stress will definitely be released. Singing has been proven to be a natural antidepressant. Singing, according to Time Magazine, may produce endorphins linked with joy as well as boost the production of oxytocin, a hormone that has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress.

Do you have a favorite song that you listen to or sing when you’re feeling stressed?

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