Seo Tae-ji’s new song creates a stir over interpretation

“People say when you read the lyrics backwards, you feel the pain of the era of Sogyeokdong. What does it mean?” (A question from Naver’s Knowledge iN, a portal’ question and answer platform)

The interpretation of the lyrics of “Sogyeokdong,” a song recently released by Seo Tae-ji is abuzz online. “Sogyeokdong is where singer Seo Tae-ji grew up and the Army Intelligence Unit (currently, the Defense Security Command),” online users said. “The song contains the story of young pro-democracy protestors in the 1980s who were captured by the Army Intelligence Unit and dead under suspicious circumstances.” They claimed that when it is read from backwards, the lyrics interpreted in that way.

The lyrics of Sogyeokdong seem to bring people down the memory lane, starting with, “I walk alone the narrow stairs in the ally where you and I used to walk,” and ending with “I’m just doing my best.” However, when you read the lyrics from the last sentence from backwards, it gets gloomy. The music video clip of the song released on Monday shows a boy in a military drill uniform, a girl with a pinwheel, and radio news announcing a greening project that should have recruited young people. Seo Taeji Company said, “We didn’t have any political intention. We welcome the free interpretation of the song.”