Arirang Lyrics - Korean, English, Romanization

There are many versions of the Arirang. Here are the lyrics to the commonly known one:

Korean
아리랑, 아리랑, 아라리요...
아리랑 고개로 넘어간다.
나를 버리고 가시는 님은
십리도 못가서 발병난다.

Romanization
Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo...
Arirang gogaero neomeoganda.
Nareul beorigo gasineun nimeun
Simnido motgaseo balbbyeongnanda.

English
Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo...
Crossing over Arirang Pass.
The one who abandoned me
Shall not walk even 4 kilometers before their feet hurt.

Hear me sing Arirang at 0:35 in KWOW #112 (above).

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North Korea's "Godzilla"

As discussed in KWOW episode 106 (above), former leader Kim Jong-Il once kidnapped the famous director Shin Sang-Ok. When Shin was told to direct a propaganda film, he said no and tried to escape North Korea. He was put in jail for the following five years and was fed grass and cornmeal. When released, director Shin was given some creative freedom and ended up making North Korea's cult classic monster film "Pulgasari" (불가사리). Which was similar to the original "Godzilla," a favorite flick of Kim Jong-Il's.

Watch "Pulgasari" below!

Still shots from "Pulgasari":

Before his kidnapping, director Shin made "A Flower from Hell" (1958) and other lesser censored films. Considering how uncensored media today is, Shin's classics may not be considered highly erotic through the eyes of the modern individual.

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Exotic Korean Drum Dances

This week on KWOW, Professor Oh explains the drum dancing featured in 2NE1's "I'm the Best" and "Gu Family Book."

Feel the beat of the vibrant 5-drum dance (ogomu/오고무). The female players spin, jump, kneel and bend backwards as they hit the drums. Time to break out in some colorful sweat!

A shiny, abstract version of the 3-drum dance (samgomu/삼고무) appears in 2NE1's "I'm the Best" at 2:47.

Many, many, many drummers! Up, down and all around!

Stay tuned for our special 100th episode of KWOW next Wednesday! Granny Kim is cooking up something spicy.

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