Have you ever heard a song that feels like a warm, nostalgic hug? That’s exactly what “소녀 (A Little Girl)” by Oh Hyuk delivers. Originally sung by legendary Korean ballad singer Lee Moon-sae in 1985, this beautiful song was reborn in 2015 when Oh Hyuk covered it for the beloved K-drama “Reply 1988” soundtrack.
Oh Hyuk, the frontman of the popular indie band HYUKOH, is famous for his unique husky voice and soulful vocal style. His version of “소녀” topped music charts across Korea and received praise from the original artist himself. For Korean learners, this song is a wonderful study resource because of its clear pronunciation, poetic spring imagery, and beautiful examples of the retrospective grammar ending -던. The slow, emotional melody also makes it easy to follow along and practice your listening skills!
Listen
Lyrics Preview
| 한국어 | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 내 곁에만 머물러요 | nae gyeo-te-man meo-mul-leo-yo | Please stay only by my side |
| 떠나면 안돼요 | tteo-na-myeon an-dwae-yo | You can’t leave |
| 노을 진 창가에 앉아 | no-eul jin chang-ga-e an-ja | Sitting by the sunset-lit window |
Want to see the full lyrics? Check them out on Bugs!
Key Expressions
Here are the must-know expressions from this song!
머물다 meo-mul-da
To stay, to remain. This verb describes staying in one place, either physically or emotionally. It has a softer, more poetic feeling than 있다.
여기 잠시 머물러도 될까요?
May I stay here for a moment?
곁 gyeot
One’s side (being near someone). This word expresses emotional closeness and is often used in romantic or caring contexts.
항상 네 곁에 있을게.
I’ll always be by your side.
노을 no-eul
Sunset glow, evening glow. A beautiful word describing the colorful sky during sunset, often used in poetic expressions.
오늘 노을이 정말 예쁘다.
Today’s sunset is really beautiful.
그리움 geu-ri-um
Longing, yearning, missing someone. This noun comes from the verb 그리다 (to miss/long for) and captures deep emotional longing.
그리움이 점점 커져요.
My longing keeps growing.
바람 ba-ram
Wind; also can mean wish or desire. In this song, it refers to the cold wind that emphasizes loneliness and the changing seasons.
봄바람이 따뜻하게 불어요.
The spring breeze blows warmly.
Grammar Points
-던 (Retrospective modifier: used to, would)
The ending -던 attaches to verb stems to describe actions or states that were repeated in the past, or that you are recalling from memory. It creates a nostalgic, reflective feeling, perfect for songs about memories and longing. Compare this to -은/는 which simply describes past completed actions without the emotional, retrospective nuance.
| 한국어 | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 자주 가던 카페가 문을 닫았어요. | ja-ju ga-deon ka-pe-ga mu-neul da-da-sseo-yo | The cafe I used to go to often has closed. |
| 어릴 때 듣던 노래예요. | eo-ril ttae deut-deon no-rae-ye-yo | It’s a song I used to listen to when I was young. |
| 우리가 걷던 길을 다시 걸었어요. | u-ri-ga geot-deon gi-reul da-si geo-reo-sseo-yo | I walked again on the path we used to walk. |
-면 안 되다 (Must not, cannot)
This pattern expresses prohibition or that something is not allowed or should not happen. It combines the conditional -면 (if) with 안 되다 (to not be okay). In the song, it conveys the desperate plea for someone not to leave.
| 한국어 | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 여기서 사진 찍으면 안 돼요. | yeo-gi-seo sa-jin jji-geu-myeon an dwae-yo | You cannot take photos here. |
| 약속을 잊으면 안 돼요. | yak-so-geul i-jeu-myeon an dwae-yo | You must not forget the promise. |
| 늦게 자면 안 돼요. | neut-ge ja-myeon an dwae-yo | You shouldn’t sleep late. |
Culture Note
The original “소녀” was released in 1985 by Lee Moon-sae, one of Korea’s most beloved ballad singers. When Oh Hyuk covered this song for the drama “Reply 1988,” it introduced a classic to a new generation. “Reply 1988” is set in a Seoul neighborhood during the late 1980s and explores themes of family, friendship, and first love. The drama sparked a wave of nostalgia among Korean viewers and became a cultural phenomenon. Many young Koreans discovered their parents’ favorite songs through this drama, creating a beautiful bridge between generations.
Fun fact! In 2015, Oh Hyuk achieved an impressive feat by having three different number-one singles in one year: “위잉위잉” in January, “와리가리” in May, and “소녀” in December. The original singer Lee Moon-sae praised Oh Hyuk’s version, saying he “expressed the emotions with great restraint” – high praise from a legendary artist!