How to Write a Korean Song

Last Updated: March 2, 2023

If you love Korean-style songs and are interested in composing, you might want to try to write a Korean song. You don't need to be Korean; you just need interest and commitment. This article is a basic guide on how to create Korean songs, so read on!

Steps

1
Learn the language. Get rid of any thoughts such as "Ah, man! Why does it has to be the language first?!". In order to make a Korean or any Asian type song, you must know the language. For language help, you can get a Korean language tutor or you can teach Korean yourself by using a book. There are many different ways to learn a language and my ways aren't the only ways.^{[1]
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2
Listen to a lot of Korean pop music. Listen for many song artists like BTS, Blackpink, Red Velvet, Super Junior , Kangta, Yoo Young Jin, SHINee, F.T Island, MBLAQ, f(x),Girls' Generation, Stray Kids, BoA, TVXQ, Big Bang, Exo, Epik High, Uhm Jung Hwa, SG Wannabe, Fly To The Sky, Shinhwa, Baek Ji Young, ATEEZ, and Yoon Mi Rae. They are great song writers, and you can get many ideas from their songs. Remember, there are many song types like rock, punk, hip-hop, rap, classical, soft rock, traditional, you name it!^{[2]
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3
Consider adding some English words to it when you are writing a foreign song. Like this for an example: I don't forget you wow gi ril gge yo. Or in Japanese: Kitai no my heart
4
Make it fun and easy to remember. When you're making a Korean song, it has to be fun and easy to remember. Like that song you may have used to sing when you where a young child: "Hot cross buns, hot cross buns. One a penny two a penny hot cross buns!" Make your first song simple and smooth.^{[3]
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Community Q&A

Question

How can I make up a tune for my lyrics if I wrote them in English and translated them after?

Community Answer

I think the best thing to do is just start off with Korean, as making two different tunes is very difficult, but you can just use the same tune, with a little editing.
Question

Is it possible to write a Korean song without learning the language?

Community Answer

Well, no as you would need to know the language to write the lyrics. Of course you could have someone translate it for you, but the syllables will not work out right once translated. The lyrics & tune will not go together. It is actually quite difficult to translate song lyrics, so they still work with the song's music and mean the same thing.
Question

What kind of dance do I have to learn to compose a KPOP song?

Community Answer

You don't need to learn dancing. But if you look at well known Korean bands/groups they have their own style of songs and dance - they have different composers and choreographers. For example BTS (BigHit ent.) is really focusing to their dance and performance and storyline of their MVs. EXO (SM ent.) has their specific melody. Also it may depend on the entertainment. For example, it may seem that WINNER and iKON (both YG ent.) have similar songs, but BIGBANG (YG ent.) do not, because they compose their songs often. Same is with choreos. If you want dance you can learn some of existing Kpop choreography and maybe you'll learn the style and then you'll be able to make your own.