The 33rd Newsletter

Hi there

This is your A.thentic Jong Hee

And this is my 33rd newsletter to you.

How have you been? How’s the weather where you are? Is it warm, or is it still chilly?

It feels a bit different to be writing this newsletter in the middle of the month without any big events like an album release. But maybe that gives me a rare chance to be more open and honest with you. 

This time, I’d like to share some of my thoughts and feelings without introducing any special Korean food or special events. Maybe it will feel a bit boring to some—but actually, this is the very reason I started this newsletter in the first place. I never meant for it to be a travel guide about Korea. I wanted to share the things I’ve been thinking, the emotional background behind my music, and the little imaginary stories that inspire my songs. I think this kind of writing will help my core followers better understand me—and my music.

As always, let’s start with the weather.
The monsoon season is approaching here in Korea. It usually starts around mid-June, continuing until late June or early July. It begins down south in Jeju Island, moves up to Busan, and then slowly heads toward Seoul. Busan had rain yesterday and the day before, but today it cleared up. 

Still, the forecast says more rain is coming this weekend. The temperature here is around 24–25°C, while in Seoul, it has already hit 30–33°C.
Just last night, as you might have seen from the video I posted on Instagram Reels, there was a heavy downpour in my town. 

The sudden nighttime rain felt strangely refreshing to my heart. It was late Friday night.—I actually went outside twice that night.

Around 10 PM, I noticed the rain and went out, but the rain was already stopping, which disappointed me because the forecast had promised heavy rain. I came back home with a sigh and went back to work. Then, after midnight, I heard the sound of strong rain hitting the window. I quickly grabbed a small umbrella and went outside again. 

The rain was pouring hard, and of course, the streets were empty—except for a few people waiting at the bus stop. In no time, my pants and shoes were soaked, but I was smiling. 

It’s not that I always love rain. I actually prefer sunny days during the daytime. But at night, rain sometimes feels romantic. Coffee tastes better on rainy days—but these days I try to avoid drinking coffee late at night for fear of another sleepless night.

Anyway, after a couple of hours, the heavy rain eased into a drizzle. The next day, Saturday, it rained all day long. I stayed home and didn’t know how much it rained until I saw the news. Apparently, Busan recorded its highest single-day rainfall in 120 years. I had no idea it was that much. I almost went out to a café for coffee but held back—now I kind of regret not going.

It was last Friday’s open market (6/13)

The biggest event in Korea recently was the presidential election on June 3rd. And the candidate we supported, Lee Jae-myung, was elected as the new president. It was truly a joyful moment. The previous president—who I personally disliked the most—had tried to destroy Korean democracy by declaring martial law. But ordinary citizens stood their ground and stopped the soldiers from entering the National Assembly building with their bare hands.

We, the people who support democracy, fought peacefully but fiercely in the freezing winter—dancing and singing K-pop in the streets until the president was impeached and legally punished. Eventually, Lee Jae-myung from the Democratic Party was elected as the new president. I’ve seen many foreign articles praising Korea’s resilience and recovery of democracy.

Some of you may think these political stories feel too political for a music newsletter—but to me, they’re not. I just get angry when corrupt and unjust people gain power, so I go out into the streets with others. That’s all.

I have personally admired President Lee Jae-myung for a long time. His life has been far from ordinary.
He grew up in extreme poverty, in a shantytown, and after barely finishing elementary school, he had to start working at a factory because his family couldn’t afford middle school. One day, he suffered a severe industrial accident that left him permanently disabled. 

But even while working, he studied on his own, passed the qualification exams for middle and high school, and got accepted into university. He turned down Seoul National University—the most prestigious school in Korea—because another university offered him a full scholarship. Later, he passed the bar exam and became a lawyer specializing in labor and human rights.

I was shocked to learn that there are still people in modern Korea who were too poor to attend middle or high school. His family was that poor.

Before I moved to the U.S., and again after I returned to Korea, I lived near Seoul for a while, where he was the mayor. That’s when I first heard of him. He impressed the citizens so much with his groundbreaking policies—like free fruit and school uniforms for children, and financial aid for young job seekers. These ideas were all things he himself had been deprived of as a child.

Why am I sharing this story with you—my readers who mostly live outside Korea?
Because it sets the background of the times and the society I live in—something that shapes my thoughts and feelings, and thus my music.

Right now, Korean politics is in a state of sharp confrontation—but fortunately, as seen in this election result (unlike in the U.S.), the progressive party won, and over half the citizens support them.

But if the conservatives had won again? You probably see the kind of disaster that could have been when you look at Trump’s behavior in America.

On Instagram, I often see foreigners comment that Korea looks like “a dream country.” Is it? Honestly, I don't think there’s any heaven on this Earth. But Korea is dynamic. 

When conservatives try to destroy democracy, we know how to fix it—peacefully, but firmly—because we’ve done it before. Our spirit is awake.

Just like when our previous president tried to become a dictator—but we resisted peacefully and succeeded in impeaching him. It wasn’t easy. After martial law was declared on December 3rd last year, many Korean citizens suffered insomnia because we couldn’t rest, even for a moment. 

But after Lee Jae-myung took office, many people said they finally slept soundly, like babies. Now the process of punishing the corrupt former president continues—it’s not easy, but it’s moving forward. People here say they’ve canceled their Netflix subscriptions because watching the political news these days is more thrilling. I wish you could understand how satisfying this feels.

A country's political situation is something foreigners should seriously consider when traveling or moving there. I’ve decided not to visit the U.S. again while Trump remains in power. Look at the cruel things he did to immigrants—separating children from their parents at the border, deporting the parents while the children cried and begged. How can you tear apart families like that? It’s evil—pure and simple.

Though the Democratic Party has taken power now, and it’s clear that the majority of Korean people support the progressive camp, there are still things that concern me deeply.

First, people in their 60s and 70s still overwhelmingly support the conservatives — especially those over 70, whose loyalty is almost blind.
And here’s another troubling point: many men in their 20s are also leaning conservative. This worries us the most.

As I’ve said many times, young Korean women in their 20s and 30s led the recent Light Stick Demonstrations. They are progressive and forward-thinking. Even those younger — teenagers in their early or mid-teens — participated in or at least supported the protests.

But if you look at the latest presidential election results, most men in their 20s supported the conservative party.
Can you imagine how depressing it would feel if most young men in their 20s in the U.S. supported Trump? It’s the same feeling I have toward this reality in Korea. Honestly, I don’t like young Korean men very much because of this — of course, there are still many progressive young men too.

I do understand why they feel this way — they believe they’ve been pushed out of Korea’s ruthless culture of competition. And I also believe that if society and its structures improve over time, they might come back to the progressive side.

Which brings me to another concern: Korea’s extreme competitive atmosphere.
Income inequality is widening, and the obsession with outdoing others is deeply ingrained. If you, as a foreigner, were to try to settle down and start a new life in Korea — how would that feel? Honestly, most Koreans — especially the younger generation — would simply not care. They don’t have the mental space to embrace others, especially foreigners.

So life here would likely feel extremely lonely.
Some of my followers have asked me what it’s like to live in Korea. I always answer the same: personally, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Just yesterday, there was a news report that Korea now ranks second in the world — just after Switzerland — for the highest cost of living. Higher than New York. Higher than Tokyo. Food, rent, clothes, daily necessities — everything.
Wouldn’t life here be exhausting?

We Koreans have simply gotten used to it. And this new government is finally trying to fix things.

But for a foreigner to settle down here? That would be incredibly difficult. Most Koreans are not used to mixing with foreigners in daily life. It’s nearly impossible to feel a true sense of belonging here unless you speak perfect Korean — not just the language, but the emotions, the culture, the subtle nuances. That’s the only way to truly blend in.

Otherwise, like many others, you’ll have to stick with a small foreigner community.
I’ve seen many such groups here — but Koreans generally don’t care. You’re simply "outside their interest."

So, is Korea really a "dream country" to live in? No country is.

If you want to enjoy Korea, just come here for travel. Enjoy it as a visitor.

By the way, in my previous newsletter I briefly talked about my mental state — how I’ve been struggling with feelings of depression. Honestly, not much has improved. But even so, I work out, drink coffee, watch TV, eat good food — and sometimes, I laugh.

A wise person once said:
"When you’re depressed, don’t force it away. Let it stay beside you, live with it."

I don’t think my condition will get better anytime soon. And it’s not because I’ve failed to make it big in music. You’ve heard about famous musicians or actors who fall into depression despite their success, sometimes turning to substances, right?

I feel like I’m going through something similar.

To be honest, I was never fond of social media. I only started using it to promote my music. But the more I use it — especially Instagram — the lonelier I feel.

Some tell me, "Pray to God, and He will help you." But I am an atheist.
Of course, I respect all religions and those who believe.
But I don’t believe that God will help me.

Still, please don’t worry. Even in this depression, I will keep making music. I will still write like I am writing now.

I’ve been meaning to write Chapter 8, Part 2 of ‘The Love Story of Hyun and Jisoo,’ but I haven’t had the emotional space for it.
The ideas are there in my head... I just need a little more time. I need this emotional pause.
When I write that story, I get deeply immersed, and I can only handle it when my heart is ready.

Besides, I’ve been working on my new single album this month, so I’ve been short on time.

And this is why my Instagram follower count may slowly drop.
I won’t keep posting regularly as I did before. I won’t try hard to increase my follower numbers anymore. I’ve realized they’re just an illusion.

It’d be best if the music I make outside social media speaks for itself, so that people search for me on their own and follow me because they truly want to. We’ll see how things unfold.
But I believe this will be better for my mental health.

Anyway, you — my newsletter readers — are already here, reading and understanding me in a deeper way.
So I’m not worried. I’m not trying to communicate deeply with people on Instagram anymore.

Instead, I want you — my readers — to write back. Even just a short message.
If you do, I’ll remember you. I’ll try to connect with you.
Write in your own language. It doesn’t have to be English. Google Translate is easy to use.

Reach out first. Then I will write more newsletters. I’ll share more stories that can fill your mind and heart.
Otherwise... I honestly won’t have the energy to keep doing this.

There are still things I didn’t get to share today — like in Part 1 of my last newsletter, about why Hyun’s mother is trying to introduce him to a "good woman." Some readers may not understand the cultural background behind that.

I hope I get to explain that properly next time. But to put it simply: arranged dating and matchmaking are still very common in Korea. Even in recent K-dramas, you see these scenes — couples who fight or despair because one of them went on a matchmaking date arranged by family. It’s still part of life here.

If you want to know more, let me know. I’ll explain in detail next time.

Finally — let me briefly talk about my single "While You Were Sleeping," which I released on May 31.
You might wonder why, despite the album cover, you hear sounds of forests and birds in the music. It’s because I was imagining that kind of story when I made this track.

Single : “While you were sleeping”

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/album/1WeemFSKdHTcI1TRqxAks2

Apple Music : https://music.apple.com/us/album/while-you-were-sleeping-single/1817989627

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0EGrX56lnM

(Click and Listen to the full song)

I hope knowing this will help you enjoy the song even more.

I hope to meet you here again, soon.
Until then — stay well, and take care.

Thank you for reading 

Warm Regards 

A.thentic Jong Hee 

P.S. Today(Monday)was a nice day. I walked around my town on a sunny day.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

I wonder… is it still possible for an old, tiny, almost forgotten legend to come true, even in this modern city where we now live? Tonight, I wanted to try feeling that possibility.

While You Were Sleeping

By A.thentic Jong Hee

The busy city slowly grew darker, and now the night has fully arrived. You must be asleep by now, right? I hope you're resting in the sweetest, most peaceful sleep.

And what about me? What have I been doing while you were sleeping? I'd like to tell you a little about that now. Maybe you’ll be surprised. Maybe these are not the kind of things you boast about openly, so I've hesitated until now. But they are treasures to me, all because of you—so I feel no shame in sharing them.
Did you know? Even when you are asleep, our hearts remain connected, just as they are when you’re awake. I can truly feel it.

So, what did I see, what thoughts filled my mind while you were sleeping? Aren’t you curious?

While you were sleeping… I thought of you. I thought of you even more than when you’re right in front of me.

Why? I’m not so sure. It just seems that when the quiet night falls, when the beautiful night sky spreads above, and the cool wind from the fields brushes past my ears, I naturally think of you—the one who makes me happiest.

As you know, while you were sleeping… I was making music, playing the piano, jotting down the notes. Looking out at the city as darkness settled deep. Imagining you, sleeping so sweetly. Doing my quiet work, the hours slipping away, until the deep night arrives before I know it. And then I think of you again. I can’t stop the smile that comes to my lips.

While you were sleeping… I walked the path through the forest. The night was long enough for that. The moonlight was bright, so the path wasn’t dark. When I walk quietly along the nighttime trail, every sound of the forest reaches my ears. The birds, the insects, the gentle stream beside the woods… they all made clear and pure sounds.

While you were sleeping… I sat by the window and thought of you. In front of my eyes stretched the quiet city lights growing deeper into the night, and the rare cars passing by. But none of that mattered to me. At those times, I think only of you. That’s why I go out for a walk across the open field.

While you were sleeping… I walked across the deep night toward you. I had to cross the wide, dark fields, but I wasn’t afraid. Step by step under the moonlight, I recalled all the words we had shared, and the journey became such a joyful walk.

If I went just a little farther, I could see the window where you were sleeping. But I didn’t wake you. You know that feeling, when a little child is sleeping so sweetly—you want to wake them just to play, to see those sparkling eyes again? I’ve felt that when my little nieces and nephews visited, when my mother held them in her arms as they slept. I’d so often wanted to wake them to see their bright, beautiful eyes. Sometimes I really did wake them and got scolded by my mother. I’d kiss their soft cheeks and tiny lips over and over, feeling the sweet, milky scent of a baby filling my senses.

I wanted to wake you just like that... to see your lovely eyes and lips, to continue the sweet conversations we left unfinished in the day.

But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I knew I shouldn’t disturb your peaceful sleep. So I simply watched your silhouette through the window and turned away, satisfied with that.
While you were sleeping… I probably began my quiet walk across the wide field again, heading back to my home.

Last night, while we were on the phone, you suddenly asked me sleepily, “You’re at home... right?” I said yes, that I’d only opened the window—but the truth is, I was already outside. The birds singing in the distant forest were so clear that I worried you might notice where I really was. But I couldn’t tell you. I didn’t want to give up the joy of these quiet walks, thinking of you, not just yet.. While you were safely dreaming at home.

Tomorrow night, while you are sleeping, I’ll probably be walking across the field again. And maybe a bird, or the moon itself, will ask me, “Why are you… wandering the night like this, smiling.. so much?” And I’ll probably answer like this:
“I can’t help it… because.. I’ve fallen in love..”

<The End>