When I first listened to K-pop songs, I had zero ideas of what they were saying, I just loved how it sounded. But then I started asking myself. “What are they even saying? What do their lyrics really mean?” So yea, I started learning Korean little by little.
I started with Hangul, Korean alphabet. WhenI saw it at first, I thought it was too hard to learn because it looked nothing like English. But what can I say, my determination goes a long way.
So I downloaded some apps, they made it look like I was playing a really fun game, that just kept me going and going. It made me feel like I was learning how to read ABCD from scratch. And I was so happy the first time I read a word by myself.
I turned to variety shows by K-pop idols (My favs, BTS and Stray Kids) and even though I needed subtitles at that moment, I slowly picked some words up. Learning from my idols were the best, it was like a free education. I always tuned in whenever they did live-videos.
Watching k-dramas, I learnt words like Aigoo (oh my gosh). I use that a lot. And whenever I’m surprised with whatever someone tells me, I’ll be like Jinjja? Instead of really. And they’ll pass me that weird look like I just said something crazy, hehe. Then Saranghae which means I love you, this was the easiest.
But the one I really picked up so quickly was shibal, lol. It’s always fun whenever I use it. When someone says something that pisses me off, I’d go ‘shibal’ and the expression on their face is always so priceless. And thereon, Korean started feeling familiar on my tongue.
I’d watch a video, memorize and then write it down, only to find out it was completely wrong. It wasn’t easy, I got stuck sometimes but that motivated me to move forward. Hangul is pretty interesting.
I even went as far as designing my favorite notebooks in Hangul. My friends said I was wasting time in learning Korean while I’m not actually going to go there. But it didn’t feel like it was a waste to me. I’m not really good at expressing myself but whenever I feel angry, I’d lament whatever’s bothering me in Korean to the BTS poster in my room, silly right? I know. But they always listen without complaint.
Learning Hangul gave me joy, it was like opening my mind to a new world, I am currently on a 104 day streak on learning my favorite language. Korean started coming out of my mouth in my daily life, and I loved it. I am not yet fluent, I still make mistakes but I am moving.
I really am, I always find myself in my room rapping in my favorite K-pop songs, and even though sometimes I sing out of line, I always find the tune right back in.
There was a time my dad saw my Korean journal, and he called me, googled something on his phone and asked me to read it. It was in Hangul, and I actually read it. I was so proud of myself, you wouldn’t get it.
Learning Korean is one of the best decisions I made.
My idols gave me motivations, each of their songs felt like it was made for me, I can be delulu sometimes, I know. But my sister always say, ‘Delulu is the Solulu’
I’m going to keep doing what I love.
Saranghae, muah!.
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