RM’s mono stands among the greatest Korean albums ever made. Its lyrics are not only beautifully poetic, but also serve as a balm in times of adversity, illness, or anxiety. It’s rare to find another artist who can touch people so deeply and positively with their work.

In “Seoul,” RM takes us on a thought-provoking journey, offering perspectives that resonate with city dwellers everywhere. He explores themes of isolation and hopelessness while also expressing the longing to belong. Much of the song is tinged with pessimism, speaking to Seoulites—and, by extension, all urbanites—struggling to fit in, just as he does. 

Yet, by the coda, RM admits he’s grown inured even to the city’s harshest elements: the pollution, the strange smells, and the loneliness that persists amid the crowds. It’s as if he is searching for comfort wherever he can find it in city life. His conflicted feelings about living in Seoul mirror my own, and I suspect many people in other big cities would say the same.

RM’s symbolic language is complex yet remarkably effective, especially in the third verse, a tour de force of wordplay and metaphor. He weaves together words like ‘한 (han, unbearable sorrow),’ ‘한강 (Hangang, Han River),’ ‘그네 (geune, swing),’ and ‘다 큰 애 (da keun ae, young adult),’ crafting lines that brim with meaning and emotional weight. His ingenuity with language is simply marvellous. He even utilized the smell of the city in evoking emotion. Though we live in a world dominated by visual stimuli, RM understands that scent can trigger equally powerful responses. 

Lyrics:

Verse 1:

Aroused by the chilly dawn,

Eyes open quietly—

City’s humming harmony

Is now matched to my biorhythm.

My youth fades from memory;

Now it’s all buildings and cars.

This city has become home:

Seoul, Seoul.

Curious you sound like “soul,”

Yet I can’t find your spirit.

What keeps me bound here?

We don’t even share a past.

I’m tired of your dusty, drab streets—

No, maybe I’m just scared;

Now I’m woven into your fabric.

Chorus:

If one can love and hate the same thing

I love you Seoul

If one can love and hate the same thing

I hate you Seoul

Verse 2:

Watching the city shift from a bus seat,

Buildings all alike, but each distinct.

The air mixes happiness and sadness.

Parks meant for comfort feel somber,

People lost in city apathy.

Han River flows with heartache.

Swings no longer reach the sky—

We’re too old, and I’m too late to try.

Friends talk of leaving; I nod, but stay.

I hate to admit it:

I’m numb to even the pollution.

I even love the queasy smell of Cheonggyecheon,

The lonely quiet of Seonyudo,

And taxi drivers’ sighs that

Seoul is only kind to the rich.

Chorus:

If one can love and hate the same thing

I love you Seoul

If one can love and hate the same thing

I hate you Seoul

Bridge:

I’m leavin’ you

I’m livin’ you

I’m leavin’ you

I’m livin’ you

Seoul

Chorus:

If one can love and hate the same thing

I love you Seoul

If one can love and hate the same thing

I hate you Seoul

Outro:

Seoul

I love you, Seoul

I hate you, Seoul

I love you, Seoul

I hate you, Seoul