As Time Goes By: Korean Ballad’s Quiet Power of Han

[Image Source] AI illustration by DALL·E

📢 To protect copyright, all lyrics have been rephrased while preserving the original context. I appreciate your understanding.

1. Emotional Snapshot

The world slows down, and the years pass like petals drifting on a quiet stream. This is not a love that ended abruptly, but one that gently faded—leaving behind both warmth and emptiness.
It’s a song that doesn’t shout its pain; instead, it lingers in the quiet space where memories and reality meet. In Korean emotional tradition, this is han—a dignified sorrow, endured without dramatic outburst.
Narration example:
“시간이 흐르면, 모든 감정이 부드럽게 사라질까.”

🎶 Stage Performance – Red Velvet Wendy

[Source] YouTube, KBS 레전드 케이팝

🎶 YouTube Audio Track – Park Bo-ram

[Source] YouTube, 박보람–주제

🎶 Official Audio Track – Choi Ho-seop

[Source] YouTube, RIAK OFFICIAL

2. Micro-Expressions from the Lyrics

These expressions are recreated from the song’s emotional core, not quoted directly. Each offers a grammar or vocabulary point for learners.

• 웃음을 보여도 → Even with a smile
예문: “웃음을 보여도 속마음은 숨기지 못하네요.”

Example: “Even with a smile, you can’t hide your true feelings.”
Grammar: -아도/어도 (even if)

• 허탈한 표정 → Drained expression
예문: “경기 결과를 듣고 허탈한 표정이 되었어요.”

Example: “After hearing the game result, I had a look of disappointment.”
Grammar: Attributive -한 for adjectives

• 표정을 감출 수 없다 → Can’t hide the face
예문: “표정을 감출 수 없어서, 기쁨이 표정에 드러났어요.”

Example: “I couldn’t hide my expression, so my joy showed on my face.”
Grammar: -ㄹ 수 없다 (cannot)

• 힘없이 돌아서다 → Turn away without strength
예문: “말도 못하고 힘없이 돌아섰어요.”

Example: “Without saying a word, I turned away helplessly.”
Grammar: Adverb -없이 (without)

• 세월이 가면 → When time passes
예문: “세월이 가면 모든 것이 추억이 됩니다.”

Example: “As time goes by, everything becomes a memory.”
Grammar: Conditional -면 (if/when)

• 영원할 순 없다 → Can’t last forever
예문: “아무리 좋은 순간도 영원할 순 없어요.”

Example: “No matter how good the moment is, it can’t last forever.”
Grammar: Contraction of 수는 → 순

3. Cultural Code & Subtext

– Quiet Resignation: In Western ballads, heartbreak is often expressed with direct confessions. In Korean tradition, restraint conveys strength. This song uses nature and time as metaphors for emotional healing.

– The Symbol of Passing Seasons: Flowers blooming again or wind passing by suggest that life continues, even when feelings fade.

– Emotional Endurance: The acceptance that nothing is eternal reflects a Korean value—cherishing beauty while it lasts, without clinging to permanence.

– The Dignity of Silence: Rather than demanding answers or expressing anger, the speaker lets time do the work of forgetting.

❓ FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1. What is the background of this song?
As Time Goes By was a family collaboration — Choi Myung-seop wrote the lyrics, Choi Gwi-seop composed the music, and it was sung by Choi Ho-seop.

Q2. When was it released and on which album?
It was released on March 30, 1988, as part of Choi Ho-seop’s debut album The Wind Blows / As Time Goes By / The Gray Season.

Q3. How was the public reception at the time?
It became a massive hit upon release and has remained a beloved Korean ballad, praised for its deep emotional tone and relatable lyrics.

Q4. What are Choi Ho-seop’s other representative songs?
In addition to As Time Goes By, notable tracks include “The Wind Blows” and “The Gray Season”, both known for their emotive style.

4. Speak Like the Song

Here are natural, song-inspired conversation lines you can use:

“세월이 지나면 괜찮아질 거예요.”
(When the years pass, it will be okay.)

“그때는 웃을 수 있을까요?”
(Will I be able to smile then?)

“추억은 그대로 두고 싶어요.”
(I want to leave the memories as they are.)

“마음은 잊어도, 향기는 남아요.”
(Even if the heart forgets, the scent remains.)

“영원하지 않아도 괜찮아요.”
(It’s okay even if it’s not forever.)

5. Expression Drill – Quick Quiz

Q1. “-네요” is used when:
a) Asking a direct question
b) Making a command
c) Noticing or feeling something as you speak
정답: c)

Q2. Which expression describes quiet emotional exhaustion?
a) 가슴이 터질 듯하다
b) 허탈하다
정답: b)

Q3. Translate to Korean: “Even as time flows, I will remember.”
정답 예시: 시간이 흘러도 기억할 거예요.

6. Additional Notes on the Song & Artist

– Song Title: 세월이 가면 (As Time Goes By)

– Original Singer: Choi Ho-seop (1988)

– Genre: Korean Ballad

– Cultural Significance: Considered a late-1980s classic, it shaped the emotional tone of Korean ballads for decades. This is often used in dramas and nostalgic TV moments.

– Notable Covers: Park Bo-ram, Red Velvet’s Wendy (live performance)

– Korean Learning Tip: This song is ideal for practicing polite declarative endings (-아요/-어요) and metaphor-based vocabulary tied to nature and time.