Emotional Korean Phrases Explained with “My Love by My Side” from When Life Gives You Tangerines

Table of Contents

🎶 HONG ISAAC - “MY LOVE BY MY SIDE”: Music Video

🎥 "When Life Gives You Tangerines" Shorts: Dialogue

🎯 Key Takeaways

🎶 HONG ISAAC - “MY LOVE BY MY SIDE” Overview

🎶 HONG ISAAC - “MY LOVE BY MY SIDE”: Lyrics Summary

🎶 Key Points for Enjoying "MY LOVE BY MY SIDE"

🎶 HONG ISAAC - “MY LOVE BY MY SIDE”: Additional Information

🎶 HONG ISAAC - "MY LOVE BY MY SIDE": Music Video

[Source] YouTube, TODI

 

The music video interweaves scenes from the drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines” with shots of Hong Isaac singing in natural, warm-toned settings. The understated visuals echo the song's calm melancholy, connecting the viewer emotionally with the storyline and the musical mood. Jeju’s coastal landscapes and nostalgic memories enhance the song’s theme of love that remains quietly close, no matter the circumstance.

 

🎥 "When Life Gives You Tangerines" Shorts: Dialogue

금명: “천안에서 서울까지 왜 와?”

Geum-myeong: "Why did you come from Cheonan to Seoul?"

금명: “진짜 짜증나.”

Geum-myeong: "Seriously, you're so annoying."

애순: “그니까 금명아, 아빠 보면 성내지 말고, 살갑게 좀 해줘라 응?”

Ae-sun: "That's why, Geum-myeong, when you see your dad, don't be angry. Be kind to him, okay?"

애순: “20년을 짝사랑하는데…”

Ae-sun: "He’s been in unrequited love for 20 years..."

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애순: “여기요! 여기요! 119! 119 좀 부르라고. 119!”

Ae-sun: "Hey! Over here! Call 911! Someone call 911!".

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해설자(금명, 아이유): “속이 다쳐 온 딸을 위해 그들은 또 하나만 해댔다.”

Narrator (Geum-myeong, IU): "For their daughter, who returned with a wounded heart, they did one more thing again."

해설자(금명, 아이유): “그들은 나를 기어코 또 키웠다.”

Narrator (Geum-myeong, IU): "In the end, they raised me again, no matter what."

해설자(금명, 아이유): “내가 세상에서 100 그램도 사라지지 않게 했다”

Narrator (Geum-myeong, IU): "They made sure that not even 100 grams of me disappeared from this world."

 

🎯 Key Takeaways

1. 사랑 / 나의 모든 사랑

"사랑" means "love," a deep emotional attachment or affection. The phrase 나의 모든 사랑 emphasizes that every ounce of one’s love or affection is directed toward someone.

📌 Example Usage

"나의 모든 사랑이 너에게 향하고 있어."

"All my love is directed toward you."

 

"나의 모든 사랑이 떠나가는 날이 왔다."

"The day my whole love leaves has come."

🌀 Similar Expressions

정 ("affection") – Often used in Korean to describe emotional attachment that builds over time.

애정 ("affection/love") – A slightly more formal or literary expression of love or fondness.

📌 Example Usage

"그 사람에게 정이 많이 들었어."

"I’ve grown very attached to that person."

 

"그녀에 대한 애정이 식지 않았다."

"My affection for her hasn’t faded."

2. 떠나가다 / 떠나가는 날

"떠나가다" means "to leave" or "to depart." The phrase "떠나가는 날" refers to "the day someone leaves," often evoking sadness or emotional weight.

📌 Example Usage

"그가 떠나가는 날, 나는 울었다."

"The day he left, I cried."

 

"사랑이 떠나가는 날이 이렇게 올 줄은 몰랐다."

"I never expected the day love would leave to come like this."

🌀 Similar Expressions

이별하다 ("to part ways") – Specifically refers to parting, often in romantic contexts.

헤어지다 ("to break up") – A common expression for separating from someone, especially in relationships.

📌 Example Usage

"우리는 결국 이별했다."

"In the end, we parted ways."

 

"서로 울면서 헤어졌다."

"We cried as we broke up."

3. 웃음 / 당신의 웃음

"웃음" means "smile" or "laughter." The phrase "당신의 웃음" refers to "your smile," often highlighting its emotional impact or significance.

📌 Example Usage

"당신의 웃음 뒤에 많은 이야기가 숨어 있네요."

"There are many stories hidden behind your smile."

 

"그의 웃음은 나를 안심시켰다."

"His smile reassured me."

🌀 Similar Expressions

미소 ("gentle smile") – A softer, more delicate expression for smiling.

환한 얼굴 ("bright face") – Describes a joyful and radiant facial expression.

📌 Example Usage

"그녀의 미소는 참 따뜻해."

"Her smile is so warm."

 

"아이의 환한 얼굴을 보며 마음이 놓였다."

"I felt relieved seeing the child’s bright face."

4. 함께하다

"함께하다" means "to be together" or "to accompany." It implies sharing time, space, or experience with someone.

📌 Example Usage

"슬픔도 기쁨도 함께하고 싶어요."

"I want to share both sorrow and joy with you."

 

"당신과 함께한 시간은 소중했다."

"The time I spent with you was precious."

🌀 Similar Expressions

같이 있다 ("to be with someone") – A simpler expression for physically being together.

동행하다 ("to accompany") – A more formal term often used for traveling together or attending events.

📌 Example Usage

"그와 같이 있는 것만으로도 좋았다."

"Just being with him made me happy."

 

"친구가 여행에 동행해 줬다."

"My friend accompanied me on the trip."

5. 욕심 / 철이 없는 욕심

"욕심" means "greed" or "desire." The phrase "철이 없는 욕심" literally translates to "childish greed," referring to immature or thoughtless desire that lacks awareness or restraint.

📌 Example Usage

"철이 없는 욕심 때문에 널 힘들게 했어."

"My immature greed made things hard for you."

 

"그건 철이 없는 욕심일 뿐이야."

"That’s just a childish desire."

🌀 Similar Expressions

무모한 바람 ("reckless wish") – Highlights a desire that is unrealistic or risky.

지나친 기대 ("excessive expectation") – Refers to overreaching hopes or demands.

📌 Example Usage

"그건 무모한 바람일지도 몰라."

"That might be a reckless wish."

 

"그에겐 너무 지나친 기대를 했어."

"I placed too much expectation on him."

6. 미련

"미련" means "lingering attachment" or "regret," especially when someone cannot fully let go of a past event, person, or choice.

📌 Example Usage

"아직도 너에 대한 미련이 남아 있어."

"I still have lingering feelings for you."

 

"그 결정에는 미련이 많이 남는다."

"There’s a lot of regret about that decision."

🌀 Similar Expressions

후회 ("regret") – A general term for feeling remorse.

아쉬움 ("sense of loss") – Refers to feeling that something is incomplete or lacking.

📌 Example Usage

"그 말을 한 걸 후회해."

"I regret saying that."

 

"그와의 이별엔 아쉬움이 많다."

"There’s a lot of lingering sadness in our goodbye."

7. 당신이 있다

This phrase means "you are there" or "you exist (in my life)." It emphasizes the comforting or significant presence of someone.

📌 Example Usage

"그 자리에 당신이 있어 다행이야."

"I’m glad you’re there in that place."

 

"이 모든 일에도 당신이 있다는 게 위로가 돼."

"Even through all of this, your presence comforts me."

🌀 Similar Expressions

곁에 있다 ("to be by someone's side") – Implies emotional or physical closeness.

함께해주다 ("to stay with someone") – Shows continuous support or companionship.

📌 Example Usage

"늘 내 곁에 있어줘서 고마워."

"Thank you for always being by my side."

 

"힘든 순간에도 함께해줘서 고마워."

"Thanks for staying with me even in tough times."

8. 아니겠지요

This is a polite form of "it won’t be, right?" or "surely not," expressing doubt or hope that something negative isn't true.

📌 Example Usage

"혹시 그 사람이 떠난 건 아니겠지요?"

"Surely that person didn’t leave, right?"

 

"그 모든 게 거짓말은 아니겠지요?"

"All of that wasn’t a lie, was it?"

🌀 Similar Expressions

그럴 리 없죠 ("That can’t be") – Stronger denial or disbelief.

설마요 ("No way") – A short, casual way to express doubt or worry.

📌 Example Usage

"그럴 리 없죠. 그 사람은 그럴 사람이 아니에요."

"That can’t be. He’s not the type to do that."

 

"설마요, 진짜에요?"

"No way, is that for real?"

9. 여린 가지

"여린 가지" literally means "a tender branch." Figuratively, it conveys fragility or vulnerability, often used to describe a delicate emotional state or weak condition.

📌 Example Usage

"여린 가지 같은 마음이 부러질까 걱정돼."

"Your tender heart might break like a fragile branch."

 

"그는 여린 가지처럼 바람에도 쉽게 흔들렸다."

"He was swayed easily, like a tender branch in the wind."

🎨 Expressions

약한 존재 ("fragile being") – Emphasizes vulnerability, especially emotionally or physically.

부서질 듯한 마음 ("a heart that seems like it could break") – Poetic, describes emotional sensitivity.

📌 Example Usage

"그녀는 정말 약한 존재였다."

"She was truly a fragile being."

 

"부서질 듯한 마음을 안고 살아간다."

"I live with a heart that feels like it could shatter."

10. 혼자이다 / 혼자인 나를 느끼다

"혼자이다" means "to be alone." The extended-phrase "혼자인 나를 느끼다" conveys the realization or sensation of being alone, often emotionally charged.

📌 Example Usage

"여린 가지 사이로 혼자인 나를 느낄 때가 있어."

"Sometimes I feel alone like I’m swaying among fragile branches."

 

"그 순간, 나는 세상에 혼자라는 걸 느꼈다."

"In that moment, I felt completely alone in the world."

🌀 Similar Expressions

외롭다 ("to feel lonely") – Focuses on the emotional side of being alone.

고독하다 ("to be in solitude") – A more literary, deeper sense of isolation.

📌 Example Usage

"요즘 너무 외로워."

"I feel very lonely these days."

 

"그는 고독 속에서 자신을 되돌아봤다."

"He reflected on himself in solitude."

11. 느낄 때

This phrase means "when (one) feels." It marks a specific emotional or sensory moment.

📌 Example Usage

"혼자인 나를 느낄 때, 문득 그대가 생각난다."

"When I feel alone, I suddenly think of you."

 

"행복을 느낄 때가 언젠지 아세요?"

"Do you know when I feel happy?"

🌀 Similar Expressions

…할 때 느껴지다 ("to feel when…") – Passive variation focusing on the feeling being received.

느낌이 들다 ("to have a feeling") – General way to describe experiencing a sensation or emotion.

📌 Example Usage

"그 말을 들을 때 마음이 아프게 느껴졌어."

"When I heard that, I felt a pain in my heart."

 

"왠지 모르게 이상한 느낌이 들었어."

"I had a strange feeling for some reason."

12. 기억 / 아픈 기억

"기억" means "memory." The phrase "아픈 기억" refers to a "painful memory," often something emotionally wounding or traumatic from the past.

📌 Example Usage

"이렇게 아픈 기억이 자꾸 떠오른다."

"These painful memories keep coming back."

 

"그날의 기억은 아직도 생생해."

"The memory of that day is still vivid."

🌀 Similar Expressions

상처 ("wound") – Can be used figuratively for emotional pain.

트라우마 ("trauma") – Borrowed from English, used for deeper psychological wounds.

📌 Example Usage

"그 일은 마음에 깊은 상처를 남겼다."

"That incident left a deep wound in my heart."

 

"그 경험은 아직도 트라우마로 남아 있어."

"That experience still remains a trauma for me."

13. 내 사랑

"내 사랑" means "my love," commonly used to refer to someone deeply cherished, often in romantic or affectionate contexts. It can also signify one’s own feeling of love toward someone.

📌 Example Usage

"내 사랑, 어디에 있나요?"

"My love, where are you?"

 

"내 사랑은 항상 그대뿐이었어."

"My love has always been only you."

🎨 Expressions

사랑하는 사람 ("the one I love") – Slightly more formal or explanatory.

그 사람 ("that person") – Colloquial way to refer to someone one loves.

📌 Example Usage

"사랑하는 사람을 잃었어요."

"I lost the one I love."

 

"그 사람은 내 마음속에 있어."

"That person is in my heart."

14. 그대

"그대" is a poetic and respectful way of saying "you." Songs, poetry, or romantic language often use it to express deep affection or emotional connection.

📌 Example Usage

"그대가 있어 나는 행복합니다."

"Because you are here, I’m happy."

 

"그대여, 내 마음을 받아줘요."

"My dear, please accept my heart."

🌀 Similar Expressions

당신 ("you") – Polite and commonly used in formal or emotional contexts.

자기 ("honey" or "dear") – Informal and intimate between couples.

📌 Example Usage

"당신 없이는 못 살아."

"I can’t live without you."

 

"자기야, 잘 다녀왔어?"

"Hey honey, did you get back safely?"

15. 내 곁에 있어줘

This phrase means, "Stay by my side." It is a heartfelt request that someone remain close and not leave, emotionally or physically.

📌 Example Usage

"내 사랑, 내 곁에 있어줘."

"My love, stay by my side."

 

"힘들 때면 항상 내 곁에 있어줬지."

"You were always by my side when things got tough."

🌀 Similar Expressions

곁을 지켜줘 ("protect my side") – Emphasizes loyalty and presence.

떠나지 마 ("don’t leave") – More direct and emotionally urgent.

📌 Example Usage

"언제나 내 곁을 지켜줘서 고마워."

"Thank you for always staying by my side."

 

"부탁이야, 날 떠나지 마."

"Please, don’t leave me."

16. 이 세상

"이 세상" means "this world" or "this life." It is often used to contrast with another world or to highlight something unique, final, or universal within the current life or reality.

📌 Example Usage

"이 세상 하나뿐인 그대여."

"You’re the only one in this world."

 

"이 세상 어디에도 너 같은 사람은 없어."

"There’s no one like you in this world."

🌀 Similar Expressions

세상에 ("in the world") – Often used in exclamations or general comparisons.

현실 ("reality") – Emphasizes the real, practical world as opposed to ideal or imagined.

📌 Example Usage

"세상에 이런 일이 다 있나?"

"How could such a thing happen in this world?"

 

"현실은 우리가 생각한 것보다 냉정해."

"Reality is harsher than we imagined."

17. 하나뿐인

"하나뿐인" means "one and only." It emphasizes uniqueness or exclusivity and is usually used to describe something or someone irreplaceable.

📌 Example Usage

"너는 내 하나뿐인 사랑이야."

"You are my one and only love."

 

"그는 내 인생에 하나뿐인 친구야."

"He's the one and only friend in my life."

🌀 Similar Expressions

유일한 ("only, sole") – A more formal or written-style synonym.

단 하나의 ("just one") – Used for strong emphasis in both speech and writing.

📌 Example Usage

"그는 나의 유일한 가족이었어."

"He was my only family."

 

"그건 단 하나의 기회였어."

"That was the one and only chance."

18. 오직

"오직" means "only" or "nothing but." It’s an adverb that intensifies exclusivity or limitation, often used for strong emotional or logical emphasis.

📌 Example Usage

"오직 너만을 위해 살아왔어."

"I’ve lived only for you."

 

"오직 한 사람만 생각났어."

"Only one person came to mind."

🎨 Expressions

단지 ("just, merely") – Slightly less emotional, often used for clarification.

다만 ("only, but") – Adds a soft contrast or limitation, more formal.

📌 Example Usage

"단지 그 말을 듣고 싶었어."

"I just wanted to hear those words."

 

"다만 시간이 조금 더 필요해."

"I just need a little more time."

19. 힘겨운 날

"힘겨운 날" means "a hard day" or "a difficult time." It refers to emotionally or physically exhausting periods in life.

📌 Example Usage

"힘겨운 날에 네가 있어 참 다행이야."

"I’m so grateful you’re here on my hard days."

 

"그날은 정말 힘겨운 날이었다."

"That day was truly difficult for me."

🌀 Similar Expressions

고된 하루 ("a tough day") – Focuses on physical or routine exhaustion.

지친 날 ("a weary day") – Emphasizes emotional or mental fatigue.

📌 Example Usage

"일 때문에 고된 하루였어."

"It was a tough day because of work."

 

"지친 날엔 혼자 있고 싶어."

"On weary days, I just want to be alone."

20. 너마저 떠나다

This phrase means "even you leave" or "you, too, leave me." It carries a deep emotional weight, expressing despair when even the last person one depends on departs.

📌 Example Usage

"힘겨운 날에 너마저 떠나면 난 무너질 것 같아."

"If even you leave me on my hardest day, I think I’ll collapse."

 

"너마저 떠나다니 믿을 수 없어."

"I can’t believe even you left me."

🌀 Similar Expressions

너까지 떠나다 ("you too, leave") – Similar meaning, slightly more casual.

남은 사람마저 사라지다 ("even the last person disappears") – Emphasizes total abandonment.

📌 Example Usage

"너까지 떠나면 정말 끝이야."

"If you leave too, that’s really the end."

 

"남은 사람마저 사라진 이 공간이 너무 쓸쓸하다."

"This place feels so empty now that even the last person is gone."

21. 비틀거리다

"비틀거리다" means "to stagger" or "to stumble." It usually describes physical imbalance, but in emotional or metaphorical use, it indicates instability or hardship.

📌 Example Usage

"비틀거리며 겨우 일어섰다."

"I barely stood up, staggering."

 

"너 없는 삶은 비틀거리기만 해."

"My life without you just stumbles along."

🌀 Similar Expressions

휘청거리다 ("to sway unsteadily") – Very close in meaning, often interchangeable.

넘어질 듯하다 ("seems like falling") – Emphasizes imminent collapse.

📌 Example Usage

"술에 취해 휘청거렸다."

"He staggered from the alcohol."

 

"그는 금방이라도 넘어질 듯 보였다."

"He looked like he might fall at any moment."

22. 안기다

"안기다" is the passive form of "안다" (to hug), and means "to be embraced" or "to fall into someone’s arms." It conveys comfort, surrender, or seeking warmth.

📌 Example Usage

"비틀거리던 나는 결국 그의 품에 안겼다."

"I, staggering, finally fell into his arms."

 

"아기는 엄마 품에 안겨 잠이 들었다."

"The baby fell asleep in its mother’s arms."

🌀 Similar Expressions

품에 안기다 ("to be held in someone’s arms") – More specific, poetic variation.

📌 Example Usage

"그의 품에 안기니 모든 걱정이 사라졌다."

"Once I was in his arms, all my worries vanished."

23. 어디에

"어디에" means "where" and is used when questioning the location of someone or something. It expresses a sense of loss or searching in a lyrical or emotional context.

📌 Example Usage

"내가 안길 곳은 어디에 있을까?"

"Where is the place I can fall into?"

 

"그대는 지금 어디에 있나요?"

"Where are you now, my love?"

🌀 Similar Expressions

어디에 있지 ("Where could it be") – Slightly speculative, conversational.

어디로 갔을까 ("Where did it go") – Expresses wonder or confusion about something gone.

📌 Example Usage

"행복은 어디에 있지?"

"Where could happiness be?"

 

"그는 어디로 갔을까?"

"Where could he have gone?"

24. 시간이 멀어지다

This phrase means "time grows distant" or "as time passes." It often expresses the emotional or physical distance that comes with the passage of time, especially after parting or loss.

📌 Example Usage

"시간이 멀어질수록 그리움은 커진다."

"The more time passes, the more I miss you."

 

"이제는 그날이 점점 시간이 멀어지는 추억이 되었어."

"Now, that day has become a memory fading into the past."

🌀 Similar Expressions

시간이 흐르다 ("time flows") – Neutral expression for the passage of time.

세월이 지나가다 ("the years pass by") – Emphasizes the long span and emotional weight.

📌 Example Usage

"시간이 흐르면 괜찮아질 거야."

"It’ll be okay as time goes on."

 

"세월이 지나도 그리움은 그대로야."

"Even as the years pass, I still miss you."

25. 집으로 향하다

"집으로 향하다" means "to head home." It indicates a literal return to one’s house or a figurative return to a place of comfort and belonging.

📌 Example Usage

"길고 긴 하루를 마치고 집으로 향했다."

"After a long day, I headed home."

 

"시간은 멀어지고 난 집으로 향해 가는데…"

"Time drifts away, and I head toward home…"

🌀 Similar Expressions

귀가하다 ("to return home") – Formal, often used in reports or schedules.

돌아가다 ("to go back") – Broader term, includes a return to any place.

📌 Example Usage

"퇴근 후 곧장 귀가했다."

"I returned home immediately after work."

 

"어린 시절의 마을로 돌아가고 싶어."

"I want to go back to my childhood town."

26. 약속하다

"약속하다" means "to promise." It can refer to a spoken commitment between casual or solemn people, often emotional in a lyrical context.

📌 Example Usage

"우리는 다시 만날 것을 약속했다."

"We promised to meet again."

 

"영원히 곁에 있겠다고 약속했잖아."

"You promised you’d stay by my side forever."

🌀 Similar Expressions

맹세하다 ("to vow") – Stronger and more formal than a promise.

다짐하다 ("to firmly commit") – Used when one sets a personal resolution.

📌 Example Usage

"그는 평생을 함께하겠다고 맹세했다."

"He vowed to be together for life."

 

"혼자서도 잘 살겠다고 다짐했다."

"I made up my mind to live well on my own."

27. 올 줄을 모르다

This phrase means "didn’t know (someone) would come" or "had no idea (they) would show up." It reflects surprise or lingering hope that wasn’t fulfilled.

📌 Example Usage

"약속했던 그대만은 올 줄을 몰랐어."

"I didn’t know you, the one who made a promise, wouldn’t come."

"그가 이렇게 갑자기 올 줄을 몰랐어."

"I didn’t expect him to show up like this."

🎨 Expressions

올 거라고 생각 못 했다 ("didn’t think they’d come") – Conversational and direct.

기다렸지만 오지 않았다 ("waited, but they didn’t come") – Focuses on the disappointment.

📌 Example Usage

"그 사람이 올 거라고는 생각 못 했지."

"I never thought that person would come."

 

"기다렸지만 결국 그는 오지 않았다."

"I waited, but in the end, he never came."

28. 애써 웃음 짓다

This phrase means "to force a smile" or "to smile with effort." It suggests someone is trying to smile despite emotional pain or sadness.

📌 Example Usage

"애써 웃음 지으며 돌아오는 길은 너무 낯설었다."

"The road back, while forcing a smile, felt so unfamiliar."

 

"그녀는 속상했지만 애써 웃음을 지었다."

"She was upset but forced a smile."

🌀 Similar Expressions

억지로 웃다 ("to smile unwillingly") – Stronger nuance of being unwilling or emotionally disconnected.

슬픈 미소를 짓다 ("to wear a sad smile") – A poetic way to express sadness behind a smile.

📌 Example Usage

"그는 억지로 웃으며 대화를 이어갔다."

"He kept the conversation going with a forced smile."

 

"그녀는 슬픈 미소를 지으며 고개를 돌렸다."

"She turned her head with a sad smile."

29. 돌아오는 길

"돌아오는 길" means "the way back" or "on the way back." It refers to returning from somewhere, physically or emotionally.

📌 Example Usage

"애써 웃으며 돌아오는 길은 낯설기만 했다."

"The way back, while forcing a smile, felt unfamiliar."

 

"돌아오는 길에 문득 눈물이 났다."

"On the way back, tears suddenly came."

🌀 Similar Expressions

귀로 ("return path") – A formal or written-style alternative.

되돌아오는 길 ("the road back again") – Emphasizes the repetition or emotional weight of return.

📌 Example Usage

"귀로에 들른 카페에서 쉬었다."

"I stopped by a café on the way back."

 

"그곳은 우리가 처음 만났던 되돌아오는 길이었다."

"That was the road back where we first met."

30. 낯설다

"낯설다" means "to feel unfamiliar" or "to be strange." It's often used when something once familiar now feels distant or foreign.

📌 Example Usage

"오랜만에 돌아온 집이 왠지 낯설었다."

"The house I returned to after a long time somehow felt unfamiliar."

 

"그 사람의 표정이 낯설게 느껴졌다."

"His expression felt unfamiliar to me."

🌀 Similar Expressions

익숙하지 않다 ("not familiar") – More objective or descriptive tone.

어색하다 ("awkward") – Suggests social discomfort or lack of ease.

📌 Example Usage

"아직은 그 일에 익숙하지 않아."

"I'm not used to that task yet."

 

"처음 만난 자리라 조금 어색했어."

"It was our first meeting, so it felt awkward."

31. 멀기만 하다

"멀기만 하다" means "feels only distant" or "seems nothing but far away." It emphasizes emotional or physical distance without any sense of closeness or approach.

📌 Example Usage

"돌아오는 길은 왜 이렇게 멀기만 할까."

"Why does the way back feel so endlessly far?"

 

"그 사람과의 거리는 멀기만 했다."

"The distance between me and that person felt endless."

🌀 Similar Expressions

닿을 수 없다 ("cannot reach") – Implies inaccessibility or emotional unreachability.

📌 Example Usage

"아무리 손을 뻗어도 닿을 수 없었다."

"No matter how far I reached, I couldn’t touch it."

 

🎶 HONG ISAAC - “MY LOVE BY MY SIDE” Overview

“My Love By My Side” is a heart-stirring ballad performed by singer-songwriter Hong Isaac (홍이삭), featured as part of the OST for the 2025 Korean drama “폭싹 속았수다 (When Life Gives You Tangerines)”. Known for his delicate vocals and emotional delivery, Hong Isaac breathes quiet strength and longing into this soulful track, adding depth to the drama’s poignant storyline.

The song paints a tender portrait of love that persists even in silence, as memories fade, and even when distance grows. With restrained instrumentation and a melody that lingers, “My Love By My Side” mirrors the essence of unspoken affection and enduring presence that often marks real love. As the drama unfolds its Jeju Island backdrop and human connection themes, this song serves as a quiet emotional anchor.

 

🎶 HONG ISAAC - “MY LOVE BY MY SIDE”: Lyrics Summary

This song speaks from the quiet center of someone who has loved deeply and is still holding on, even after love has left in form but not in memory. It captures the weight of unspoken yearning—when love feels close yet unreachable, present in every ordinary moment yet lost behind a smile.

The lyrics don’t plead or regret; instead, they reflect on how love lingers in spaces where it once lived—between soft laughter, passing time, and silent companionship. There's a graceful acceptance, a bittersweet maturity that acknowledges the pain and the beauty of holding someone dear from afar.

 

🎶 Key Points for Enjoying "MY LOVE BY MY SIDE"

- Subtle but Deep Emotion: Unlike dramatic ballads, this track whispers its sorrow and love, offering comfort through its soft tones rather than grand gestures.

- Hong Isaac’s Signature Delivery: His breathy voice and nuanced vocalization capture delicate emotions that might go unnoticed.

- Drama Integration: As part of the “When Life Gives You Tangerines” OST, the song becomes even more powerful when contextualized with the storyline—especially moments of loss, endurance, and quiet understanding.

- Lyrical Echoes: Repeated lines and imagery in the lyrics evoke memory loops—showing how love, even when past, repeats itself in the mind like a familiar melody.

 

🎶 HONG ISAAC - “MY LOVE BY MY SIDE”: Additional Information

- Release Date: March 2025

- Album: 폭싹 속았수다 (When Life Gives You Tangerines) OST from the Netflix Series – Chapter 3

- Genre: Balad

- Lyrics: Oh Tae-ho

- Composer: Oh Tae-ho

 

🎶 Original “MY LOVE BY MY SIDE”: Additional Information

The original version of “My Love By My Side (내 사랑 내 곁에)” was performed by legendary singer Kim Hyun-sik (김현식) and released posthumously in 1991, shortly after his death. This song is considered one of the most iconic Korean ballads ever.

With raw, expressive vocals and poetic lyrics, the original track speaks of love’s shadow—how it follows, protects, and never truly disappears. Its themes of eternal love and gentle sorrow have made it a timeless anthem across generations.

Hong Isaac’s reinterpretation pays respectful homage while transforming it with his voice, adapting it to a new narrative while preserving the soul of the original.

 

🌍 If you’d like to read the full lyrics, please visit official music platforms such as Melon, Genie Music, Apple Music, or Spotify!

 

❗All rights to the lyrics belong to Netflix, Kakao Entertainment, and the original creators.

 

❗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.