To Heaven – Jo Sung-mo(조성모)
🎶 Introduction
While idol groups dominated the charts in the late 1990s, Jo Sung-mo (조성모) quietly swept the nation with his emotional ballads. His 1998 debut song “To Heaven” became an instant classic, marking the start of one of the most successful solo careers in Korean music history.
🌟 Artist & Song Background
Jo Sung-mo debuted in 1998 with a mysterious image—he didn’t show his face at first, letting the music speak for itself.
To Heaven was his debut title track and is remembered for its melancholic melody, poetic lyrics, and cinematic music video. The MV starred actor Lee Byung-hun, which also drew massive attention at the time.
📖 M/V & Lyrics
| 괜찮은 거니 어떻게 지내는 거야 나 없다고 또 울고 그러진 않니 매일 꿈속에 찾아와 재잘대던 너 요즘은 왜 보이질 않는 거니 혹시 무슨 일이라도 생겼니 내게 올 수 없을만큼 더 멀리갔니 니가 없이도 나 잘지내보여 괜히 너 심술나서 장난친 거지 비라도 내리면 구름 뒤에 숨어서 니가 울고 있는 건 아닌지 걱정만 하는 내게 제발 이러지마 볼 수 없다고 쉽게 널 잊을 수 있는 내가 아닌 걸 잘 알잖아 혹시 니가 없어 힘이 들까봐 니가 아닌 다른 사랑 만날 수 있게 너의 자리를 비워둔 것이라면 그 자린 절망 밖엔 채울 수 없어 미안해 하지마 멀리 떠나갔어도 예전처럼 니 모습 그대로 내 안에 가득한데 그리 오래걸리지 않을 거야 이별이 없는 그곳에 우리 다시 만날 그날이 그때까지 조금만 날 기다려줘 | Are you alright? How have you been doing? You’re not crying again just because I’m not there, are you? You used to visit me every night in my dreams, chattering away— why don’t I see you anymore these days? Did something happen to you? Have you gone so far away that you can’t come to me anymore? I might look like I’m doing fine even without you, but you’re just being mischievous out of jealousy, right? When the rain falls, I worry— are you hiding behind the clouds and crying? Please don’t do this to me, you know I’m not someone who can easily forget you just because I can’t see you. If you left because you were worried I’d be too weak without you— if you left my place empty so that someone else could fill it, then know that only despair could fill that space. Don’t be sorry. Even if you’ve gone far away, your image, just as you were before, still fills my heart completely. It won’t take that long— until the day we meet again in that place where there is no goodbye. So until then, please wait for me just a little longer. |
The lyrics depict longing and sorrow after losing a loved one, which deeply resonated with listeners.
🌍 Why It Matters
- To Heaven became a national ballad sensation, topping charts for weeks and winning numerous awards.
- It helped launch the late-90s ballad boom in Korea, inspiring countless ballad singers.
- Jo Sung-mo’s clear, powerful voice became a benchmark for Korean ballad vocals.
🎤 Fun Facts
- Jo Sung-mo was nicknamed “the prince of ballads” after this song’s success.
- His “face-less singer” strategy made him one of the most intriguing debuts of the era.
- The To Heaven MV is often cited as one of the first story-driven cinematic music videos in K-pop history.
To Heaven isn’t just a song—it’s an emotion that defined an era.
Jo Sung-mo’s heartfelt voice and timeless melody still move listeners decades later.
👉 What’s your favorite Korean ballad from the 90s?
Share it in the comments below!
