Lonely Voyage 하윤주 고독한 항해

Happened to hear this song Lonely Voyage, performed by Ha Yun-ju, a traditional South Korean guk ak (literally country music) singer, who lends her Han style to a contemporary love lost genre, with striking results. Han is a unique Korean style reflecting deep sorrow, regret, or resentment. The song is several years old from the drama Married World OST. Original artist is Kim Yoon-a. Ha, the singer at the link below, sang this at a competition. Ha's performance is clearly superior to the original.



Lonely Voyage lyrics and melody- Gaemi

The cold wind goes right through me
My broken heart hurts all the more
Now the withered flower petals fall
I've fallen into a bottomless mire
Smothered by total darkness

My tears fall on dead leaves
By any chance will you look back on me?
A vain wish perhaps, the wind grows stronger
I stand alone on a hill where the storm gathers
My heart torn apart, so much so I can't bear it
I'm swallowed up by absolute darkness

Ah, I remain alone on this solitary voyage
Let me go into this complete darkness.

This is my own interpretation of the lyrics. I tried to change the awkward google translation from its verbatim translation to US vernacular. I hope people don't find it depressing, the song and her performance is really a work of art reflecting the Han style. imo

하윤주 가사 고독한 항해

Why Japan doesn't trust President Yoon Seok-yeol of South Korea

There is a certain irony in raising the issue of trust on Japan's part with respect to South Korea. This is viewed in South Korea from the perspective of being among the last countries in the world to be formally colonized in the modern era. Japan imposed it's imperial rule over Korea by force, formally annexing Korea in 1910, regardless of their revisionist contentions to the contrary. Substantial Japanese military interventions and other uses of force in South Korea began in earnest in 1894. This post is based, in large part, on Hosaka Yuji's June 25 youtube presentation on the issue of Japanese lack of trust in South Korea's new conservative President Yoon Seok-yeol.*

*[일본직격] 일본이 윤석열을 의심하기 시작했다
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOp2ng3DNQE

It is easiest to grasp the issue when the two-faced opportunistic quality of Yoon's behavior is understood. This point is made near the end of Hosaka Yuji's presentation when he discusses the Japanese right's perspective as explained by Professor Nishioka Sutomu. Nishioka Sutomu notes that although Yoon and his principal functionaries come from the legal world in South Korea, they have demonstrated a proclivity to engage in unlawful politically motivated prosecutions. Nishioka cites the cases of former president Park Geun-hye and former justice minister Cho Guk as examples of opportunistic use of the law by Yoon to achieve his own political objectives.

(Source- 이재명은 합니다 youtube 6.27.22 내 말이 틀렸어?) Right here, the culprit who carried out the impeachment, Yoon Seok-seol. Yoon Seok-yeol in photo op with former former president Park Geun-hye.


It is relatively easy to understand why the Japanese right looks unfavorably at the impeachment and prosecution of Park Geun-hye. She stood by the 1965 agreement normalizing Japan-South Korean relations, negotiated by her pro-Japanese father, former dictator Park Chung-hee. Park Geun-hye also agreed to a settlement with Japan of the so called comfort women dispute for a relatively small sum of about 9 million dollars. Additionally, her administration blocked progress and final judgement in litigation in South Korea brought against Japanese corporations for their use of Korean slave labor during the wartime period. Yoon was a principal player on the legal team that prosecuted Park Geun-hye after her impeachment. Yoon later directed the prosecution of Cho Guk and his wife. In the instance of the slave labor cases, it's arguable that the Japanese government was the party seeking to interfere in Korea's domestic judicial process.

(Source- 열린공감TV youtube 7.21.20) Former Justice Minister Cho Guk was expected to lead the reform of the administration of justice in South Korea, instead he was forced out of office by indictments against family members brought under the direction of Yoon Seok-yeol, then Prosecutor General of South Korea. Cho Guk’s wife is currently serving a four year prison term and he is undergoing criminal prosecution currently.


The Japanese legal observer Sutomu noted that former Justice Minister Cho Guk was politically targeted by Yoon and his "division" in the public prosecutors office because he was the flag bearer for the democratic party's effort to reform the administration of justice in South Korea. In other words, Yoon sought to protect the arbitrary political power of his office as Prosecutor General at that time with a politically motivated and unjust prosecution. So the gist of the Japanese LDP right's view of Yoon is that he is opportunistic and will likely conduct South Korean affairs in an "unlawful" manner, in other words, inconsistent with the Japanese legal positions on the various disputes now pending between South Korea and Japan.

Some signs of Yoon's unreliability and opportunism are evident in his announcemment of his presidential candidacy at the Patriot Yoon Bong-kil Memorial on June 29, 2021. Yoon Bong-kil is regarded as a terrorist in Japan. He brought a bomb to a park in Shanghai on Aprii 29, 1932, to kill Japanese officials at an event to celebrate the Emperor's birthday. A Japanese government official was killed along with an Imperial Army general who died from his wounds. Other Japanese dignitaries were seriously wounded. Patriot Yoon Bong-kil was arrested and later executed by the Japanese. In his candidacy annoucement, Yoon Seok-yeol tried to bridge the independence movement v. pro-Japanese rift in South Korean domestic politics by condemning the politics of the prior Moon administration as "Bamboo Spear Song" demagogy damaging to South Korean Japanese relations.* It appears that Japan didn't get the subtlety of Yoon's hypocrisy. As the prospective conservative candidate for president he had to placate the pro-Japanese collaborator legacy elites who traditionally have strongly influenced the conservative parties in South Korea since 1948. At the same time he used the venue to appeal to popular South Korean anti-Japanese nationalism. This sort of posturing by Yoon led to characterizations by otherwise knowledgeable observers that Yoon was a "centrist" and a "populist," when there is really nothing further from the truth, Yoon is far right.

*죽창가 Bamboo Spear Song
https://civilizationdiscontents.blogspot.com/2021/08/bamboo-spear-song.html

(Source- OhMyNewsTV youtube 6.25)
Then presidential candidate Yoon poses with a picture of independence movement patriot Ahn Jung-geun. Professor Hosaka Yuji (left) an expert in Japanese-Korean relations produces the program 일본직격 (Direct Hit Japan).

During his campaigning, Yoon posed with a picture of another Korean independence movement patriot Ahn Jung-geun, at his memorial site at Hyochang Park, August 15, 2021, Liberation Day (from Japan). Patriot Ahn is known for assassinating the former Governor General of South Korea, and first Prime Minister of Japan, Ito Hirobumi, in Harbin, China, October 26, 1909. He was arrested and later hanged by Japan for his act, perceived as terrorism in Japan. The humiliating Treaty of Eulsa had been forced on South Korea by Japan in 1905, making the Chosun dynasty a Japanese protectorate.

(Source- OhMyNewsTV youtube 6.25)

Next, on September 11, 2021, Yoon met with Lee Yong-su, a "comfort woman" survivor at the Comfort Woman Memorial Museum. Yoon promised to Lee that he would obtain an apology from the Japanese government for what they had done to Korean women as sex slaves for the Japanese Imperial Army during WWII. This pledge by Yoon on the campaign trail is completely contrary to the Japanese revisionist view of their WWII history in which the comfort women are described as prostitutes who volunteered to provide sexual services to Japanese soldiers for pay.

Naturally, there are the other disputes between Japan and South Korea, including Japan's territorial claims on the Dokdo islets which are controlled by South Korea. There are also disputes over UNESCO designations of Japanese historical sites, such as Gunhamdo (Battleship Island), Japan, where mines were worked by Korean slave laborers "conscripted" during WWII. There are the relaively recent so called "maritime patrol" incidents,* and the trade disputes which evolved as retaliation by Japan against South Korea for raising the other issues mentioned, primarily the slave labor court judgement finding Japanese corporations liable for damages to the victims.

*South Korea Protests Repeated Naval Encounters with Japanese P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, https://civilizationdiscontents.blogspot.com/2019/01/south-korea-protests-third-naval.html

Yoon has demonstrated a pliable receptivity to US requests to improve relations with Japan. Unfortunately, Japan places all the blame on South Korea for their ongoing disputes, and claims it is the responsibility of the South Korean administration to apologize in respect to outstanding differences, admit that South Korea is wrong, and correct it ways. In a prior program, Hosaka Yuji characterized Japan's curt responses to South Korean overtures for direct discussions and a summit as "Yakusa like," reflecting a rude domineering attitude with no intention of engaging in negotiation or compromise, and demonstrating little respect for South Korea's sovereignty.

천상의꽃 Heavenly Flower

Lyrice 천진화 melody 강주현

인연 따라 왔다
By karma we arrive
인연 따라 가는 인생
By karma we leave life
나무아미타불 나무아미타불
Save us, merciful Buddha
목탁소리 도량을 휘 돌아나갈제
Moktak sounds float round the temple
보고파라 보고 파라
I miss you, I miss you
그림자처럼 머물다가신 님이시여
Like a shadow, you stayed and left, my beloved

빈손으로 왔다 빈손으로 가는 인생
Life came with empty hands and leaves empty handed
나무아미타불 나무아미타불
Save us, merciful Buddha, Save us, merciful Buddha
고요한 풍경소리 휘 돌아나갈제
The soft sound of the wind chimes goes round
그리워라 그리워라
Longing, longing
은은히 피어나는 천상의 바람
The indistinct pealing of a heavenly breeze

온들간들 세상사 무심하여라
Heedless to coming and goings of worldly affairs
마지막 미소 선물로 남기시고
Only your last smile remains as a gift
인연의 끈 놓으셨네
The bond of fate let loose,
보고파라 보고파 보고파라
I miss you, I miss you
그리워라 그리워라
Longing, longing
평화로운 모습으로 가신님
With a peaceful countenance, my beloved goes,
힘겨운 짐일랑 내려놓으시고
Lay down your heavy burden
이제는 편히 편히 가소서
Now, easily, easily go
이제는 편히 편히 쉬소서
Now, comfortably, comfortably rest
서방정토 극락세계 아미타 부처님
Western paradise, land of happiness, Amitahba Buddha-nim
해탈의길 열어 주소서
Please open the path to Nirvana
해탈의길 열어 주소서
Please open the path to Nirvana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebX2TCvPlM

무생화(보현스님) Lifeless Flower - Bohyun Seunim

- 무생화(보현스님) 명사십리 해당화야 꽃 진다고 서러 마라
At Myeongsa beach, rugusa rose flowers fall, don't be sad
명년 3월 봄이 오면 너는 다시 피련만
In March, coming year, when spring comes, you will bloom again,
우리인생 한번가면 다시 오기 어려워라
Once our life goes, coming again is difficult,
빈손으로 나왔다가 빈손들고 가는 인생
Life emerged empty handed, with empty hands it leaves
어디에서 왔으며 어디로 가는가
From somewhere we came, but where do we go?
한조각 뜬구름이 모였다 흩어지는 것 Fragments of clouds gather and then disperse
풀잎에 이슬이라 공수래 공수거
On blades of grass, morning dew comes and goes, leaving nothing
물위에 거품이라 일장춘몽 꿈이로다
Bubbles on water, a spring fantasy scene we dream

어디에서 왔으며 어디로 가는가 From somewhere we appear, but where do we go?
한 조각 뜬구름이 모였다 흩어지는 것
Fragments of clouds gather and then disperse
풀잎에 이슬이라 공수래 공수거
On blades of grass morning dew, comes and goes, leaving nothing
물 위에 거품이라 일장춘몽 꿈이로다.
Bubbles on water, a spring fantasy we dream
물 위에 거품이라 일장춘몽 꿈이로다.
Bubbles on water, a spring fantasy we dream


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QGtOQsm1kQ

Han O Bek Nyun 한오백년 500 years sorrow

Sorrows are many in this world, a heartless lover
lets affection go and just leaves, so the tears flow
Naturally, it is like that,
Five hundred years sorrow in life they say- why are you troubled?
By a field of fine sand on the beach, the seven stars gather
I pray and plead for my beloved to appear.
Naturally, it is like that,
Five hundred years sorrow in life they say- why are you troubled?

In the flower of youth, love trampled and devastated
tears flowing, where could one go
Naturally, it is like that,
Five hundred years sorrow in life they say- why are you troubled?
Sorrows are many in this cold world,
without compassion, I don't think I can live.
Naturally, it is like that,
Five hundred years sorrow in life they say, why are you troubled?


This is my interpretation of some verses chosen by contemporary singers for their performances from the traditional Korean "minyo" or folk song. The original version depicts the abandoned lover, who laments her fate and describes the different ways she recalls her lost love. The original is substantially longer. My interpretation is entirely subjective. There is no consensus on the title's exact meaning in English, which is in the refrain, and subject to some dispute. The lyrics are archaic, or ambiguous in several parts. I hadn't seen any good translations. I think that perhaps due to the song being an oral tradition. Nevertheless, the song's popular appeal in South Korea causes many traditional and popular singers to perform Han O Bek Nyun.

그대 손 놓아요 Let go my love's hand (I'll leave you)

이선희 "그대 손 놓아요" (Lee Sun-hee from the Red Sleeve OST)

어지러이 물든 그대란 세상 속 Within that dizzy world of you,
달이 저문 밤 하늘 같죠 It seems as the moon in a darkening night sky
스치는 바람에 꽃잎들조차 In the passsing wind, flower petals
하나둘씩 흩날리네요 Flutter by just one or two at a time
사랑 그 흔한 맘으로 In that simple heart, love
참아왔던 외로움의 시간들 Endured lonely times


고이 안아주던 그대 품 속에서 In my lover's tender embrace
터져오는 눈물을 꾹 참죠 Rising tears firmly restrain
내 세상을 온통 물들여버린 My world entirely clouded
그대 손 놓아요 Let go my love's hand


사랑 그 흔한 말들로 With these simple words, love
견뎌왔던 외로움의 시간들 Withstood lonely times


고이 안아주던 그대 품 속에서 In the tender embrace of my lover
터져오는 눈물을 꾹 참죠 Rising tears firmly restrain
내 세상을 온통 물들여버린 My world entirely clouded
그대 손 놓아요 Let go my love's hand


그대 곁에 행복한 날은 저물어가고 Happy days by my lover's side fading
홀로 남겨진 시간들에 지쳐 가요 Exhausted by those times left alone
그대 그대 그대가 그리워요 Missing you, you, you...


고이 안겨있던 그대 품 떠난 뒤 After I leave my lover's tender embrace
커져가는 내 맘을 누르죠 Repress my growing emotion
내 세상을 온통 물들여 버린 My world entirely clouded
그대 손 놓아요 Let go your hand.
그대 놓을게요 I'll leave you.

If I Leave

나 가거든.. 명성황후 Empress Meongseong OST
Lyrics Kang Eun-kyeong, Composition Lee Kyeong-shim, Original artist: Sumi Jo

쓸쓸한 달빛 아래
Below the still moonlight
내 그림자 하나 생기거든
My shadow emerges!
그땐 말해볼까요 이 마음
Shall it tell of that time?
들어나 주라고
Listen to this heart
문득 새벽을 알리는
Aware of sudden daybreak
그 바람 하나가 지나거든
Should that momentary desire pass
그저 한숨쉬듯 물어볼까요
As if taking a breathe, shall I inquire?
나는 왜 살고 있는지
Why am I living?

나 슬퍼도 살아야 하네
Even though sad, I must live,
나 슬퍼서 살아야 하네
Even though sad, I must live
이 삶이 다 하고 나야 알텐데
This life, I must give it all to know
내가 이 세상을 다녀간 그 이율
the reason I spent time in this world,
나 가고 기억하는 이
Upon my leave, remember this-
나 슬픔까지도 사랑했다 말해주길
Even though there was sadnesss, I'll say I loved
흩어진 노을처럼
like the red sky of the setting sun,
내 아픈 기억도 바래지면
If my hurtful memories also fade
그땐 웃어질까요 이 마음
Then, shall I laugh? This heart
그리운 옛일로
longing for the past
저기 홀로선 별 하나
That sole star over there
나의 외로움을 아는건지
Knows my loneliness
차마 날 두고는 떠나지 못해
Please, don't leave me here alone
밤새 그 자리에만
Overnight, only in this place.

나 슬퍼도 살아야 하네
Even though sad, I must go on living,
나 슬퍼서 살아야 하네
Even though sad, I must go on living,
이 삶이 다 하고 나야 알텐데
This life, I must give it all to know
내가 이 세상을 다녀간 그 이율
the reason I spent time in this world
나 가고 기억하는 이
Upon my leave, remember this-
내 슬픔까지도 사랑하길 우우
Even though there is sadness, I will love...oh...oh

부디 먼 훗날
Please, in the days long after
나 가고 슬퍼하는 이
this my sad passing..
나 슬픔속에도 행복했다 믿게
Even though I was sad at heart, believe I was happy.

Hangul lyrics Source: Musixmatch

My own translation, a work in progress. Other lyrics translations of this famous song depicting Empress Meongsang's reflections upon her tragic death by assassination (by the Japanese) appeared to be google AI or something like it. I could be wrong, this is my interpretation. The mournful tune is a metaphor for Korea's tragic modern history.

Different Path, Same Dream

(Source- Different Dream, episode 22, viki.com) The variation on the famous aphorism purportedly represents the meeting of minds between Kim Ku and Kim Won-bong. The original four character Chinese idiom is 동상이몽 (同床異夢) (same bed different dreams). It has been changed to say, "different paths, same dream."


From my prior post on the drama and it's relation to current events, June 18, 2019:

...the drama series Different Dream was produced in South Korea to celebrate the centennial of the March First Movement (the Korean independence movement).

"Uiyeoldan (Heroic Corps) was the most threatening organization to Japan in Korea's independence movement history. Along with its leader Kim Won-bong, many other activists' lives have been reflected in the story." *

*Drama portrays life of freedom fighter ( 이 몽 Different Dream 異夢)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2019/04/688_266957.html

Interestingly, an MBC promotion of the spy action drama about the underground anti-Japanese Heroic Group explains there is a hidden meaning in the title: <이몽> 제목 속에 숨겨진 의미! From two different paths one dream. '이도일몽(異道一夢) , 두 개의 길, 하나의 꿈' The actor Yoo Ji Tae plays Kim Won-bong, the leader of Uiyeoldan (Heroic Corps).*

*출처: https://blog.mbc.co.kr/3015 [MBC 공식 블로그]

In the drama, episodes 22, near the end, and the beginning of episode 23, Kim Ku is said to have come to Keongseong, Korea, in late 1931, for the purpose of laying the propaganda backdrop for an attempted assassination by Lee Bong-chang on Japanese Emperor Hirohito in Tokyo in January 1932. A meeting of the leader of the Patriotic Corps, Kim Ku, with the leader of the Heroic Corps, Kim Won-bong is dramatized, with the delivery of the 異道一夢 four character calligraphy.

The original idiom is not uncommon in Korean vernacular and well understood. So the "hidden meaning" of the title alluded to in the press promotion and drama, is changed to a more positive meaning in an attempt to quell controversy or conflict by a shift in perspective to focus on a shared national goal.

As intended in the historical drama, the adaptation of the old expression 동상이몽 (同床異夢) was meant to mediate the ideological rift within the Korean independence movement, then, and hence, the current North- South division. Yet, the original idiom still applies to North and South Korean relations. In fact, the two competing expressions represent competing historical threads, one of which is generally unrecognized in Japan and the US for obvious reasons.

The original idiom has also been applied recently to the sputtering top down negotiations between Kim Jong Un and Trump.