난 알아요(I Know) – 서태지와 아이들(Seo Taiji and Boys)
🌟 Introduction
In 1992, Seo Taiji and Boys (서태지와 아이들) debuted with “난 알아요 (I Know)”, a groundbreaking track that changed Korean pop music forever.
Mixing rap, dance beats, and youthful lyrics, the song broke away from traditional ballads and trot that dominated the industry.
It is widely regarded as the birth of modern K-pop.
👥 Artist & Song Background
- Seo Taiji (서태지, 정현철) — leader, songwriter, producer
- Yang Hyun-suk (양현석) — rapper, dancer
- Lee Juno (이주노) — rapper, dancer
When they performed “I Know” on national television, their hip-hop fashion, rapping, and choreography shocked the older generation — but captivated the youth.
📖 M/V & Lyrics
| 난 알아요 이 밤이 흐르고 흐르면 누군가가 나를 떠나 버려야 한다는 그 사실을 그 이유를 이제는 나도 알 수가 알 수가 있어요 사랑을 한다는 말을 못 했어 어쨌거나 지금은 너무 늦어 버렸어 그때 나는 무얼 하고 있었나 그 미소는 너무 아름다웠어 난 정말 그대 그대만을 좋아했어 나에게 이런 슬픔 안겨 주는 그대여 제발 이별만은 말하지 말아요 나에겐 오직 그대만이 전부였잖아 오 그대여 가지 마세요 나를 정말 떠나가나요 오 그대여 가지 마세요 나는 지금 울잖아요 (Please Stop) 난 알아요 이 밤이 흐르면 Yo 그대 떠나는 모습을 뒤로 하고 마지막 키스에 슬픈 마음 정말 떠나는가 사랑을 하고 싶어 너의 모든 향기 내 몸속에 젖어 있는 너의 많은 숨결 그 미소 그 눈물 그 알 수 없는 마음에 마음 그리곤 또 마음에 마음 그 어렵다는 편지는 쓰지 않아도 돼 너의 진실한 모습을 바라보고 있어요 아직도 마음속엔 내가 있나요 나는 그대의 영원한 난 정말 그대 그대만을 좋아했어 나에게 이런 슬픔 안겨 주는 그대여 오 그대여 가지 마세요 나를 정말 떠나가나요 오 그대여 가지 마세요 나는 지금 울잖아요 오 그대여 가지 마세요 나를 정말 떠나가나요 오 그대여 가지 마세요 나는 지금 울잖아요 | I know—when this night flows and flows, someone will have to leave me behind. That truth, that reason, now I can finally understand. I couldn’t say the words, “I love you.” Anyway, now it’s far too late. What was I doing back then? That smile of yours was so beautiful. I really, truly loved only you. You, who brought me this sorrow. Please, don’t speak of parting. For me, you were everything. Oh, my love, please don’t go. Are you really leaving me? Oh, my love, please don’t go. Can’t you see I’m crying now? (Please stop) I know—as the night passes, yo, I’ll be left behind, watching you leave. With a final kiss, a sorrowful heart… Are you really going away? I want to love you, your every fragrance, your many breaths soaking into me. That smile, those tears, that unknowable heart within a heart, and again, a heart within a heart. You don’t need to write that difficult farewell letter— I’m looking right at your truest self. Am I still inside your heart? I am your forever… I really, truly loved only you. You, who brought me this sorrow. Oh, my love, please don’t go. Are you really leaving me? Oh, my love, please don’t go. Can’t you see I’m crying now? Oh, my love, please don’t go. Are you really leaving me? Oh, my love, please don’t go. Can’t you see I’m crying now? |
The lyrics combine teenage love and angst, paired with Western-inspired rap delivery.
🌍 Why It Matters
- First rap + dance K-pop hit on national TV.
- Marked the beginning of youth-targeted pop music in Korea.
- Inspired the idol system: companies like SM Entertainment built H.O.T and S.E.S following Seo Taiji’s formula.
🎤 Fun Facts
- When “I Know” was first aired on MBC’s talent show, the judges gave them a low score — but the audience response turned them into stars.
- The song stayed at #1 on Korean charts for 17 weeks, an unprecedented record at the time.
- Seo Taiji wrote, composed, and produced the track himself, at just 20 years old.
“I Know” was more than just a hit — it was the spark that lit the K-pop revolution.
From here, the golden era of 90s K-pop began.
👉 Do you think “I Know” is the true start of K-pop, or just the prelude to the idol generation?
Share your thoughts in the comments!
