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“Same song, different sorrow.
Do Won Kyung’s voice is a cry,
Park Chang Geun’s version is a quiet prayer.”
Released in 1996, “If I Love Again (다시 사랑한다면)” by Do Won Kyung remains one of Korea’s most emotionally intense breakup ballads. Written and composed by Yoo Young-sun, this song explores a love that was too passionate, too painful, and ultimately, too broken to survive.
But in 2022, Park Chang Geun, a finalist in Kookmin Gayo (TV Chosun’s National Singer), breathed new life into the song with a completely different interpretation. His version doesn’t scream — it sighs. And that difference reveals just how powerful a song can be when delivered from another emotional place.
🎵 Song Information
Title: If I Love Again (다시 사랑한다면)
Original Artist: Do Won Kyung (도원경)
Notable Cover: Park Chang Geun (박창근)
Released: 1996
Written & Composed by: Yoo Young-sun
Genre: Korean Ballad
Album: Do Won Kyung 2nd Album
📝 Lyric Themes & Key Lines
🌵 1. A Love That Hurt Too Much
“Our love was intense, sorrowful, and dangerous —
Like a cactus, the closer we came, the more we hurt.”
From the very first line, we understand: this is not a simple breakup song. It’s about love that self-destructs because it’s too deep. A relationship where affection becomes pain, and closeness leads to damage.
🪐 2. A Farewell Meant for the Next Life
“If we’re born again, if we fall in love again —
Let’s not do it the way we did.”
This is a farewell shaped like a promise for another life.
It carries regret, wisdom, and a quiet plea: next time, let’s love more gently, with fewer expectations and softer hopes.
🤍 3. From Pain to Blessing
“I wish for you —
That your next love will not be like ours.
Please, be happier than I ever was.”
Perhaps the most heartbreaking line.
Even while still hurting, the speaker offers unconditional hope for the other person’s happiness — a pure, selfless love that transcends heartbreak.
🌫 4. The Saddest Thought: You Without Me
“What hurts even more than goodbye
Is imagining you happy one day… without me.”
Here, love collides with ego and grief.
The thought of someone thriving without us can sting more than the breakup itself — not from jealousy, but from a deep, quiet ache of displacement.
🎤 Park Chang Geun’s Cover – Same Song, Different Soul
In 2022, Park Chang Geun delivered a stripped-down, tender version of this ballad. Unlike Do Won Kyung’s power vocal delivery, Park whispers the words, making it feel personal and confessional — like reading someone’s diary.
🎧 Park Chang Geun's Vocal Style
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Subtle vocal tone | No dramatic high notes — just controlled, warm sincerity |
| Speech-like phrasing | Feels like he’s talking rather than singing — adding intimacy |
| Quiet emotional depth | Doesn't force emotion — lets it flow naturally, making it feel real |
🎶 Original vs. Cover – Two Faces of the Same Goodbye
| Element | Do Won Kyung (Original) | Park Chang Geun (Cover) |
|---|---|---|
| Vocal style | Husky, powerful, explosive | Gentle, calm, emotionally restrained |
| Emotion type | Anguish and pleading | Acceptance and emotional maturity |
| Impact moment | High notes delivering raw pain | Low-toned phrases delivering deep empathy |
| Feeling | Crying out loud to the heavens | Writing a silent letter you never send |
💬 Personal Reflection – Which One Feels More Like You?
Some listeners connect more with Do Won Kyung’s heartbreak — the feeling of falling apart after love is lost. Others resonate with Park Chang Geun’s version — the feeling of letting go quietly, while still loving deeply.
This is why great songs live on:
They grow and transform with every new voice, and every new listener.
🎧 Best Times to Listen
Late at night, when memories start to echo
When you’re wishing someone well, even if they’ve left
When writing a letter you’ll never send
When your heart needs a soft place to land
✅ Final Thoughts – One Song, Two Goodbyes
“If I Love Again” isn’t just about parting ways —
It’s about what it takes to walk away with grace,
And what it means to love someone so much…
you’re willing to let them go.
One version screams out in pain.
The other smiles through tears.Which one are you today?
Have you ever let someone go with a blessing, even while breaking inside?
Share your story in the comments below.