You’ll Love These 10 Korean-Language Covers of Your Favorite Beloved Songs
While it's not just the language that makes K-pop songs so special, we are absolutely in love with the sound of Korean—especially when it comes to music.
If you're also obsessed, let us introduce you to the magic that is Korean-language covers of non-Korean pop songs. There's a real labor of love in not just performing songs in a new language, but also the translation itself, that makes the songs extra special, and we've gathered 10 of our all-time faves below so you can see what the fuss is all about.
1. OVERSSION – Harry Styles' 'As It Was'
"As It Was" was one of the songs of 2022, and this incredible cover by OVERSSION manages to maintain all of the smoothness and style of the original, even in an entirely new language. We just wish there was a performance video to go along with it!
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2. Park Geun Woo ft. AnantaVinnie – Luis Fonsi's 'Despacito'
Park Geun Woo and AnantaVinnie's take on "Despacito" proves that you don't have to sing in Spanish to ooze with Latin flair. The track is as danceable and catchy as ever. Alexa, play this version of "Despacito."
3. Su Lee – Billie Eilish's 'Everything I Wanted'
Su Lee is one of our relatable faves, and even though this cover of Billie Eilish's "Everything I Wanted" is mostly in English, it deserves a spot on our list because of the stunning original verse in Korean, which feels so natural we'd think it was meant to be there all along.
Also read about: How Su Lee Learned to Embrace Imperfection With New Single 'Messy Sexy'
4. KIMNANO – The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber's 'Stay'
We're so impressed by KIMNANO's take on "Stay," not just because of the awesome flow of the translation, but also because he slips into the roles of both The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber without skipping a beat. It's just as infectious as the original, and we seriously dare you to listen just once.
5. Chawon ft. iLLA – Ariana Grande's 'Dangerous Woman'
Nailing an Ariana Grande vocal is no simple feat, and the fact that Chawon and iLLa manage it so effortlessly on this cover of "Dangerous Woman"—in another language, no less—has our jaws on the floor.
6. Rita Kim – joji's 'Glimpse of Us'
We couldn't open TikTok in 2022 without hearing joji's "Glimpse of Us" at least once, and Rita Kim breathes fresh life into the track with her incredible voice and a bold new take on the subject. Her version is sung from the girlfriend's perspective, not just translating the lyrics but creating her own side of the story and enriching the narrative.
7. Joe Pang – GAYLE's 'abcdefu'
Joe Pang has to be one of our favorite cover artists on YouTube at the moment, and just a few seconds of his cover of GAYLE's "abcdefu" will show you why. We love the way his unique vocal quality brings out the track's playful, feisty nature in an entirely new way—and if you love this one, you have to check out the rest of his channel.
Also read about: GAYLE Breaks Down the Tracks From a study of the human experience volume two
8. BLVN – Ed Sheeran's 'Perfect'
If you didn't think Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" could be any more flawless, it's time to listen to BLVN's stunning acoustic cover. Both the instrumental and vocal performances are fantastic, with BLVN's classic voice being the star, creating a version of the song that would make Ed proud.
9. LUNA – Doja Cat's 'Say So'
LUNA is a bona fide K-pop sensation, so her take on Doja Cat's "Say So" gets the proper treatment with a polished music video and fabulous choreography. It doesn't just get us dancing along, but also makes us hungry for more just like it.
10. dahye – BTS's 'Butter'
BTS are the biggest name in K-pop, but with their global hit, "Butter," being in English, it just demanded to be remade in Korean, and dahye's version couldn't be more perfect. We're prepared to never take this one off repeat.
For more on great K-pop, click HERE to check out all of our favorite rookie groups of 2022.