청령포에 떨어진 별 A Star Fallen to Cheongnyeongpo - Life is All About Trot (2026) : Lyrics & English Translation

 

King Danjong became the sixth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty in 1452 at age twelve. Lacking senior royal protectors, his weak authority created a critical power vacuum. Exploiting this vulnerability, his ambitious uncle, Grand Prince Suyang, launched the Gyeyujeongnan coup in 1453, eliminating key loyalist ministers to seize political control and ultimately usurp the throne as King Sejo.

Relegated to a retired king, Danjong faced harsher consequences after a failed restoration attempt by the Sayuksin ministers. Sejo demoted him to Prince Nosan and exiled him to Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, an inescapable natural prison surrounded by deep waters and steep cliffs. Following yet another uncovered restoration plot, the isolated young king was executed at the tragic age of seventeen.

[청령포에 떨어진 별]
[A Star Fallen to Cheongnyeongpo Lyrics & English Translation]

천둥처럼 울리는 북소리

cheondungcheoreom ullineun bukssori

The sound of drums echoing like thunder

조선의 밤이 열리고

joseonui bami yeolligo

The night of Joseon opens

어린 왕의 운명이

eorin wangui unmyeongi

The destiny of the young king

하늘 아래 깨어난다

haneul arae kkaeonnanda

Awakens beneath the sky

열두 살 어린 왕좌 위에

yeoldu sal eorin wangjwa wie

Upon the twelve-year-old young throne

세상의 무게가 내려앉고

sesangui mugega naeryeonanko

The weight of the world settles down

붉은 궁궐 긴 그림자 속

bulgeun gunggwol gin georimja sok

Within the long shadows of the red palace

소년의 봄은 사라진다

sonyeonui bomeun sarajinda

The boy's spring vanishes

믿었던 얼굴들은 멀어지고

mideotdeon eolguldeureun meoreojigo

The faces he trusted grow distant

권력의 칼날이 춤을 추면

gwonryeogui kalnari chumeul chumyeon

As the blade of power dances

조선의 하늘 아래서

joseonui haneul araeseo

Beneath the sky of Joseon

왕은 홀로 서 있었다

wangeun hollo seo isseotda

The king stood all alone

바람은 알고 있었을까

barameun algo isseosseulkka

Did the wind know?

왕의 숨죽인 눈물을

wangui sumjukin nunmureul

The holding-back tears of the king

역사는 침묵했지만

yeoksaneun chimmukhaetjiman

Though history remained silent

달빛만 그의 곁에 있었다

dalbichman geui gyeote isseotda

Only the moonlight stayed by his side

아! 할아버지 그리고

a harabeoji geurigo

Ah! Grandfather, and

아버지 어머님이시여!

abeoji eomeonimisieo

Father and Mother!

어린 저를 두고 어찌 그리

eorin jeoreul dugo eotji geuri

Leaving my young self behind, how could you

먼 길을 떠나셨습니까

meon gireul tteonasyeotseumnikka

Depart on such a long journey?

이제 어디로 가야 합니까

ije eodiro gaya hamnika

Where should I go now?

어디로 가야 합니까

eodiro gaya hamnika

Where should I go?

갈 길을 알려 주십시오

gal gireul allyeo jusipsio

Please tell me the path to take

그 길을 밝혀 주십시오

geu gireul balkhyeo jusipsio

Please illuminate that path

강물 따라 흘러가는

gangmul ttara heolleoganeun

Flowing along the river water

잊혀진 왕의 이름

itnyeojin wangui ireum

The forgotten name of the king

세월은 흘러 먼 훗날

seworeun heulleo meon hutnal

Time passes, and in the distant future

하늘은 기억하리

haneureun gieokhari

The heaven shall remember

누가 그의 죄를 말하랴

nuga geui joereul malharya

Who could speak of his sin?

왕이었으나 왕이 아니었던

wangieotseuna wangi anieotdeon

He who was a king but was not a king

조선의 어린 운명과

joseonui eorin unmyeonggwa

The young destiny of Joseon, and

눈물로 쓰인 역사를

nunmeullo ssein yeoksareul

The history written in tears

아! 사랑했던 숙부님

a saranghaetdeon sukbunim

Ah! My beloved uncle

제가 앉은 그 자리가

jega anjeun geu jariga

The very seat where I sat

그렇게도 탐이 나셨습니까

geureokedo tami nasyeotseumnikka

Did you covet it that much?

왜 그러셨습니까

wae geureosyeotseumnikka

Why did you do that?

아! 숙부님이시여

a sukbunimisieo

Ah! My uncle

이제 천 년의 별이 되어

ije cheon nyeonui byeori doeeo

Now, becoming a star of a thousand years

슬픈 조선의 밤하늘에

seulpeun joseonui bamhaneure

In the sorrowful night sky of Joseon

이름 없는 별이 되렵니다

ireum eotneun byeori doeryeomnida

I shall become a nameless star

영월의 강물 위로

yeongworui gangmul wiro

Above the river of Yeongwol

별 하나 떨어진다

byeol hana tteoreojinda

A single star falls

영월의 강물 위로

yeongworui gangmul wiro

Above the river of Yeongwol

별 하나 떨어진다

byeol hana tteoreojinda

A single star falls