According to the magazine “Jauns&Privāts”, a new South Korean action series featuring a female secret service assassin incorporates Raimonds Pauls’ song “Māriņa” with lyrics by Leons Briedis.
The 30-Year Journey to South Korean Television
According to “Jauns&Privāts” and “la.lv”, the song first gained widespread recognition in South Korea back in 1997. Renowned local singer Sim Subong performed the track using self-written Korean lyrics under the title “Ba-ekmansongi Jangmi”. Over the decades, the melody evolved into a staple of Asian karaoke culture, frequently appearing in local songbooks in Russian-language versions as well.
The “A Bona Fide Killer” Karaoke Scene
According to “Jauns&Privāts” and “la.lv”, the song experienced a major television revival during the spring season in the action series “A Bona Fide Killer” (also known in reporting as “Precētā slepkava”). In the closing minutes of the 10th episode, the lead actress Gonga Hjodžina performs “Million Roses” during a karaoke sequence. Within the scene, a fictional listener questions the character’s choice of such a melancholic track. The most striking moment occurs immediately afterward when a distinct audio fragment plays briefly in clear Latvian: “meitenei, meitenei, meitenei mūžiņu, aizmirsa, aizmirsa, aizmirsa iedot vien.”
Did you know? Raimonds Pauls’ composition has become such a fixture in local media that reports from “Jauns&Privāts” note it functions as an integral part of South Korean popular culture today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the original title of the song in Latvia?
According to “Jauns&Privāts” and “la.lv”, the original Latvian work is titled “Māriņa” with lyrics penned by Leons Briedis and music by Raimonds Pauls.
How did the song become famous in South Korea?
As reported by “Jauns&Privāts”, singer Sim Subong popularized the melody in South Korea in 1997 with her own Korean lyrics titled “Ba-ekmansongi Jangmi.”
In which television series did the Latvian fragment air?
According to “la.lv”, the brief Latvian vocal fragment appeared during the 10th episode of the South Korean action series “A Bona Fide Killer” (“Precētā slepkava”).
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