Want to Keep Ahead of the K-Pop Craze?

Okay, so, maybe I'm exaggerating.  This video probably isn't going to catch on in America like Psy's Gangnam Style did.  BUT, I do want to point out that musicians in Korea (like the rest of the world, really) are on the cutting edge and pushing the envelope.  Today, I want to bring you Miss A's "I Don't Need a Man."  In Korean culture, women are expected to live with their parents until they are about 30, spending all of their money on designer-label clothing and accessories, then get married to a man who has likewise been living with his parents, but saving his money in order to afford an apartment for him and his future wife.  The woman will then (most likely) quit her job and start having children, while the man works to provide for their designer-label habits.  It's an intense cycle, but so accepted that I created quite a stir when I told my Korean counterparts that I hadn't lived with my parents since I was 18.  That being said, I invite you to hear about this idea from the insiders, and their radical alternative option:

[ROMANIZATION]

[TRANSLATION]

This is for all the independent ladies  Let’s go naneun namja eobsi jal sara  geureoni jasini eobseu myeon  nae gyeote ojireul ma  naneun hamburo nal an para  waenya myeon nan  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (What?)  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (jinjja)  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (jeongmal)  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man  naneun namja eobsi jal jal sara nae doneuro bangse da nae  meoggo sipeun geo sa meoggo otdo sa ibgo  chung bun hajin anhjiman manjoghal jul ara  geuraeseo nan nareul saranghae (hey) bumo nimui yongdon nae don cheoreom  sseugo sipji anha naiga manha  son beolliji anhneun ge dang yeonhan geo anya  geureseo nan naega tteot tteotae (hey) Boy don’t say  naega chaeng gyeo julge naega akkyeo julge No No  Boy don’t play  jinji hage ol ge animyeon naneun namja eobsi jal sara  geureoni jasini eobseu myeon  nae gyeote ojireul ma  naneun hamburo nal an para  waenya myeon nan  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (What?)  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (jinjja)  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (jeongmal)  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man  naneun namja eobsi jal jal sara jalnan cheneun andwae ttan deseo neun  tonghalji mollado neo mankeum nado  jalnajin anhat jiman jasin gameun neomchyeo  geuraeseo nan nareul saranghae (hey) nae himeuro salge ttan ae cheoreom  bumonim jal manna namja jal manna  pyeon hage saneun geo gwansimi eobseo  geuraeseo nan naega tteot tteotae (hey) Boy don’t say  naega neoui mirae nareul midgo gidae No No  Boy don’t play  nareul jonjung hal ge animyeon naneun namja eobsi jal sara  geureoni jasini eobseu myeon  nae gyeote ojireul ma  naneun hamburo nal an para  waenya myeon nan  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (What?)  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (jinjja)  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (jeongmal)  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man  naneun namja eobsi jal jal sara maeil achim il jjig ireon aseo  haru jongil bappaseo  bab han kki jedaero mot meogeo  hajiman naega johaseo han iriya doniya  jag jiman da nae ttamiya  namja chinguga sa jun banji aniya  nae cha nae ot naega beoreoseo san geoya  jeoggeum neohgo bumonim yongdon  deurigo naseo san geoya  namja midgo nolda namja tteona myeon  eotteokal geoya  ireon naega bureowo?  bureou myeon jin geoya naneun namja eobsi jal sara  geureoni jasini eobseu myeon  nae gyeote ojireul ma  naneun hamburo nal an para  waenya myeon nan  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (What?)  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (jinjja)  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (jeongmal)  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man  naneun namja eobsi jal jal sara

This is for all the independent ladies Let’s go I can be good without a man So don’t come by me  if you are not sure I don’t sell myself to anyone Because  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (what?) I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (really?) I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (truly) I don’t need a man I don’t need a man I can be good without a man I paid all the rent All the food and all the clothing with my money It’s not enough but I’m satisfied That’s why I love myself (hey) I don’t wanna spend my parents’ money As if it’s mine and I’m old enough I shouldn’t ask for it to them That’s why I feel honorable (hey) Boy don’t say I’ll take care of you I’ll care for you No No Boy don’t play If you’re not serious I can be good without a man So don’t come by me  if you are not sure I don’t sell myself to anyone Because  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (what?) I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (really?) I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (truly) I don’t need a man I don’t need a man I can be good without a man Don’t put on airs It might work Somewhere else but I’m full of confidence As much as you’re tough I’m not good enough That’s why I love myself (hey) I’m gonna live for myself I don’t care about living a good life Like other kids do with rich parents and a rich man Living a comfy life That’s why I feel honorable (hey) Boy don’t say I’m your future belive and rely on me No No Boy don’t play If you’re not gonna respect me I can be good without a man So don’t come by me  if you are not sure I don’t sell myself to anyone Because  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (what?) I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (really?) I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (truly) I don’t need a man I don’t need a man I can be good without a man I wake up every morning Have a busy day And don’t have time  to have one good meal But I started it because I liked it  It’s not a good pay but it’s all my sweat It’s not a ring my boyfriend gave to me My car, my clothe, all I paid for them I bought them after installment savings  and giving money to my parents What if the man leaves you when you trust him? Do you envy me? Then you lost I can be good without a man So don’t come by me  if you are not sure I don’t sell myself to anyone Because  I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (what?) I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (really?) I don’t need a man I don’t need a man (truly) I don’t need a man I don’t need a man I can be good without a man

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Composition: J.Y. Park “The Asiansoul”

Lyrics: J.Y. Park “The Asiansoul”

Arrangement: 홍지상, J.Y. Park “The Asiansoul”

Korean: music.daum

Translation: miss A YouTube Channel

Romanization: KyungMi at kromanized

credit if you use!

So, what do you think?  Will they make a difference?  Should they even be trying to make a difference?  Is it right for Korean young people to be beginning to abandon Korean traditional culture in favor of a more Westernized one?  Miss A is not by far one of the most popular K-Pop bands, I feel confident in saying, as I teach middle school, and I'd never heard of them before my friend posted this song to Facebook, so I'm not sure that all this debate really matters but so much.  But, personally, I'm all for this move of theirs.

Until next time, my politics-plagued friends.

Love,

Anne