Have you ever felt like you’re running on empty, but you just can’t stop? Okdal (옥상달빛), also known as “Rooftop Moonlight,” captures this universal feeling perfectly in their gentle cover of “달리기” (Running). This beloved Korean duo, consisting of Kim Yun-ju and Park Se-jin, has been warming hearts since 2010 with their healing music that speaks to the everyday struggles of modern life.
This song is a fantastic choice for intermediate Korean learners for several reasons. The lyrics use everyday vocabulary and natural conversational patterns that you’ll encounter in real life. Plus, it features two essential grammar structures: -아/어도 (even if/though) and -ㄹ 수 없다 (cannot/unable to). The slow, clear delivery makes it easy to follow along, and the repetitive chorus helps reinforce key phrases. Let’s dive in!
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Lyrics Preview
| 한국어 | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 지겨운가요 힘든가요 | ji-gyeo-un-ga-yo him-deun-ga-yo | Are you tired of it? Is it hard? |
| 숨이 턱까지 찼나요 | su-mi teok-kka-ji chan-na-yo | Is your breath up to your chin? |
| 할 수 없죠 | hal su eop-jyo | There’s nothing we can do |
| 어차피 시작해 버린 것을 | eo-cha-pi si-ja-kae beo-rin geo-seul | Since we’ve already started anyway |
| 쏟아지는 햇살 속에 | sso-da-ji-neun haet-ssal so-ge | Under the pouring sunlight |
| 입이 바싹 말라와도 | i-bi ba-ssak mal-la-wa-do | Even if our mouths go completely dry |
| 창피하게 멈춰설 순 없으니 | chang-pi-ha-ge meom-chwo-seol sun eop-seu-ni | Because we can’t stop in shame |
Want to see the full lyrics? Check them out on Bugs!
Key Expressions
Here are the must-know expressions from this song!
지겹다 ji-gyeop-da
To be sick and tired of something; to be bored or fed up. This word describes the feeling when something has gone on for too long.
매일 같은 음식 먹으니까 지겨워요.
I’m sick of eating the same food every day.
숨이 턱까지 차다 su-mi teok-kka-ji cha-da
Literally “breath fills up to the chin.” This vivid expression means to be completely out of breath or exhausted, like when you’ve been running hard.
계단을 뛰어 올라갔더니 숨이 턱까지 찼어요.
I ran up the stairs and was completely out of breath.
어차피 eo-cha-pi
Anyway; in any case; regardless. This common adverb is used when the outcome won’t change no matter what.
어차피 비가 올 거니까 우산 가져가세요.
It’s going to rain anyway, so take an umbrella.
바싹 ba-ssak
An adverb meaning completely dry, or very close. It emphasizes the intensity of drying out or proximity.
날씨가 건조해서 피부가 바싹 말랐어요.
The weather is dry, so my skin became completely parched.
틀림없이 teul-lim-eop-si
Without a doubt; certainly; undoubtedly. Used to express strong certainty about something.
열심히 연습하면 틀림없이 성공할 거예요.
If you practice hard, you will certainly succeed.
Grammar Points
-아/어도 (Even if/Even though)
This grammar pattern expresses that something happens or remains true regardless of the condition mentioned. It’s similar to “even if” or “even though” in English. You attach -아도 to verb stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ, and -어도 to other verb stems. In the song, we hear “입이 바싹 말라와도” (even if my mouth goes completely dry), showing determination despite difficult circumstances.
| 한국어 | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 비가 와도 운동하러 갈 거예요. | bi-ga wa-do un-dong-ha-reo gal geo-ye-yo | Even if it rains, I’ll go exercise. |
| 피곤해도 숙제를 끝내야 해요. | pi-gon-hae-do suk-je-reul kkeun-nae-ya hae-yo | Even though I’m tired, I have to finish my homework. |
| 아무리 힘들어도 포기하지 마세요. | a-mu-ri him-deu-reo-do po-gi-ha-ji ma-se-yo | No matter how hard it is, don’t give up. |
-ㄹ 수 없다 (Cannot/Unable to)
This pattern expresses inability or impossibility. It combines with verb stems to mean “cannot” or “unable to do something.” When the verb stem ends in a consonant, use -을 수 없다. When it ends in a vowel, use -ㄹ 수 없다. In the song, “멈춰설 순 없으니” (because we can’t stop) uses this pattern, where 순 is a shortened form of 수는.
| 한국어 | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| 오늘은 만날 수 없어요. | o-neu-reun man-nal su eop-seo-yo | I can’t meet today. |
| 이 문제는 혼자 풀 수 없어요. | i mun-je-neun hon-ja pul su eop-seo-yo | I can’t solve this problem alone. |
| 과거로 돌아갈 수 없습니다. | gwa-geo-ro do-ra-gal su eop-seum-ni-da | We cannot go back to the past. |
Culture Note
Okdal (옥상달빛) has become known as an icon of “healing music” in Korea. Their name combines “rooftop” (옥상) and “moonlight” (달빛), evoking a peaceful image of finding solace under the night sky. Since their debut in 2010, they’ve been praised for expressing the emotions of modern youth with honesty and warmth. Their music represents the important role of “healing culture” (힐링 문화) in Korean society, where songs that offer comfort to exhausted workers and students hold a special place in people’s hearts.
This particular version of “달리기” was released in 2015 as part of their [RE:TAG] project, where they reinterpret songs they’ve always loved. The original was created by legendary Korean musicians Yoon Sang and the late Shin Hae-chul in 1996, and was also famously covered by the girl group S.E.S. Okdal’s gentle rendition brings new warmth to lyrics about perseverance, reminding listeners that every difficult journey has an end, and rest awaits on the other side.
Fun fact! The original lyrics of “달리기” have an interesting history. Lyricist Park Chang-hak once addressed an urban legend suggesting the song had dark undertones about life’s end. He explained that while the song does touch on life’s journey and its inevitable conclusion, it was never intended to be pessimistic. Rather, it celebrates the promise that after all our running, we earn our rest. This dual interpretation shows how Korean lyrics often carry layers of meaning that reward deeper exploration!
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