AKMU’s 2019 song, “How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You’re the One I Love,” is experiencing a revival after Han Kang, South Korea’s first Nobel Prize-winning novelist, reportedly cried while listening to it in a taxi while he was writing the novel “I’m Not Saying Goodbye”.
On October 10, coinciding with the Nobel Prize announcement, the song jumped from 39th to 34th on the daily chart, rising to 27th by October 11, according to Melon.
“I Do Not Bid Farewell” explores the tragedy of the Jeju 4.3 incident through the perspectives of three women. After releasing the novel in 2021, Han Kang appeared on her publisher’s YouTube channel to discuss the songs that inspired her writing. She noted that listening to “How Can I Love Heartbreak, You’re the One I Love” after finishing the first draft moved her to tears.
Han Kang recalled specific lyrics that resonated with her, “How could I, for you, our love as deep as the ocean, wait for it to dry up will be our goodbye.” She reflected, “It is impossible for the ocean to dry up. But that image came to mind and I remember shedding tears in the taxi like someone who has a story to tell.”
Singer Park Hye-won, known as HYNN, has attracted attention for taking her name from Han Kang’s novel “The Elegy of Whiteness.” She was particularly moved by a phrase from the book: “Even if I become defiled, I will pass on only that which is pure.”
HYNN expressed his admiration for Han Kang on social media, “I believe the author is a respected writer who deeply understands the times and touches people’s hearts. As a little singer influenced by her work, I will continue to create music by learning from her pure perspective and sincerity.”
BTS’s RM also gained attention for discussing his feelings after reading Han Kang’s novel “Human Acts.” In a past V Live broadcast, he shared, “I read it on a flight to Europe and in a hotel. Even in a good situation, reading that book was overwhelming. The writing was vivid and impressive.”
Fans of actress Seo Hyun-jin also celebrated the Nobel Prize news by sharing her recommendation for “I Do Not Bid Farewell” on social media. In his recommendation, he wrote, “It’s very sensitive and delicate, as if paper were cutting my skin. The book was truly wonderful.”
Source: Daum
