So Far Away
Mike Park Lyrics


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Korea is so far away
And this is my special friend
We'd meet secretly in the park
And wonder why?
We couldn't share ourselves

Korea is so far away
My culture would not bring it out
My family insists on
The old ways in doubt

Korea is so far away
Korea is so
It's so far away

And I want to share
This round eyed devil with you




And she's not
So different from you

Overall Meaning

Mike Park's song "Korea Is So Far Away" is a deeply introspective reflection on his experiences growing up as a Korean American in the United States. Throughout the lyrics, Park grapples with feelings of disconnection and isolation, both from his cultural heritage and from the people around him. He describes his "special friend," whom he meets secretly in the park, as someone with whom he cannot fully connect or share himself, in part because of the distance between the two cultures.


Park specifically references the geographical distance between Korea and the United States, but he also hints at deeper cultural and emotional divides that make it difficult for him to connect both with his Korean heritage and with the people around him. He describes his family as clinging to "the old ways in doubt," suggesting that even within the Korean American community, there is a tension between assimilation to American culture and holding onto traditional Korean customs.


Overall, "Korea Is So Far Away" is a poignant reflection on the challenges of reconciling different aspects of one's identity and finding a sense of belonging in a society that can often feel isolating and alienating.


Line by Line Meaning

Korea is so far away
Distance separates me from my Korean heritage


And this is my special friend
I have a close friend who is not from the same culture as me


We'd meet secretly in the park
We had to hide our friendship from others who may not approve


And wonder why?
We questioned why our cultural differences should matter in our friendship


We couldn't share ourselves
We felt like we had to hide who we truly are from our families and society


My culture would not bring it out
My upbringing discouraged me from exploring my Korean identity


My family insists on
My family enforced traditional ways of living


The old ways in doubt
I question the value of maintaining traditional cultural practices in modern times


Korea is so
Korea feels like a distant place I may never truly understand


It's so far away
Korea feels out of reach


And I want to share
I want to introduce my friend to my culture and vice versa


This round eyed devil with you
The term 'round eyed devil' refers to my non-Korean friend, who is not truly a devil but different in appearance and culture


And she's not
Despite our differences, my friend is similar to those in my own culture




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: MICHAEL PARK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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