I am a Disney Adult, and I am not ashamed to say it (ignoring, for now, some of their recent decisions). I even have a Disney playlist with my favorite songs. Now you may have seen those videos of a song sung in different languages, right? Have you heard them in Korean, too?
This article is about songs that I personally feel are just as good, or even better, than the English version. This is not a tier list. It is in the order of era: Golden Age, Disney Renaissance, and Modern. Let me know if you agree or if you’d like to add your own favorite Korean version song!
“My Lullaby”- The Lion King 2
So I know I said I’m writing this in order of era, but I wanted to introduce the song that was the reason I wanted to create this article. Because if you don’t listen to any of the other songs on this list, I highly recommend this one.
“My Lullaby” from “The Lion King 2” sung by Hui-Jeong Yun. I loved the English version already (my second favorite villain song), but when I heard the Korean version, I immediately thought “SHE DID THAT!!!” I have to say this is probably one of the only songs on this list that I feel is better than the original.
Golden Era
“A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes”- Cinderella
The original, sung by Ilene Woods, has such a sweet voice. Seo Hye-Jung is the singer for the Korean version of this song. They are both great, but to me, they are for different reasons. Woods is for relaxing while doing a cozy activity like puzzles or crocheting, and Seo is like a lullaby. One is calming and the other is soothing. I know this may sound confusing, but it makes sense to me and that’s all that matters.
“All In The Golden Afternoon”- Alice In Wonderland
There are two songs from Alice In Wonderland that I thought were really good in Korean. “In a World of My Own” and “All In A Golden Afternoon”. I’m focusing on the latter, but I do recommend also listening to the former. I couldn’t find the group that sang this, but they did an amazing job. Again, both versions are good, I just prefer the Korean one a tad bit more.
“Siamese Cat Song”- The Lady and The Tramp
I know what you’re thinking, “Not this racist song!” But hear me out….in Korean. Mun Hui-gyeong sang for both of the cats, and they made it sound MUCH better than the original. Give it a listen. If not, I totally understand why you wouldn’t.
Renaissance Era
“Belle (Little Town)”- Beauty And The Beast
This movie also had two songs that I enjoyed in Korean: “Gaston” and “Little Town”. Again, I’ll be focusing on the latter, but give the former a listen as well. I like the Korean version of “Belle (Little Town)”, but not better than the original. I still put it on the list because it is a very close second, and it is fun to listen to with all the characters.
“One Jump Ahead”- Aladdin
I LOVE the English version of this song and the Korean version, sung by Nam Gyeong-Ju, is just as good. He captured the charismatic personality of Aladdin. An honorable mention from this movie is “Arabian Nights”. If you can, also give that one a listen.
“Hellfire” and ”Out There”- Hunchback of Notre Dame
I know I said I am a Disney adult, but there are some Disney movies that I have not really watched in their entirety, and Notre Dame is one of them (don’t worry, I’ll get right on that).
However, I did hear “Hellfire” and liked the original. It was good, but in doing research for this article, I heard the Korean version, sung by Lee Seong-hun, and his voice, to me, sounds much better. It is more “Broadway” and I like this kind of voice for this movie.
Also, the song “Out There” is great as well in both English and Korean, but again, I love the Korean version because both voices of Frollo and Quasimodo, sung by Nam Gyeong-Ju, go well together.
“I Won’t Say I’m In Love”- Hercules
Ok, before you click away because you think it might be ridiculous that this song is better in Korean, hear me out first. My biggest gripe for this song in English is that Meg’s voice just does not mesh with the muses. You have the gospel background voices, and the main singer is….not. It always sounds off to me. The Korean version is not gospel, of course, but the main singer, Meg, sung by Lee Yun-Seon, goes very well with the muses. Don’t come for me, just listen first.
“Be Prepared”- The Lion King
“Be Prepared” is my favorite villain song (followed second by “My Lullaby”) from my favorite Disney movie. Because of this, I thought that I would not like any other version as much. But, alas, here we are, and it is on the list.
Now, not better than the original version, but definitely just as great, but different. My mother says the Korean version is way better, and maybe I’m just reluctant to admit it. Lee Seong-hun played around with Scar’s voice, where the original sounds more cunning/conniving, Lee makes Scar sound more mischievous. Just hear it and compare, and you’ll know what I mean.
Modern Era
“Into the Open Air”- Brave
If the Lion King movies are my favorite, Brave would be a close second. I even dressed up like Merida when I went to Disney World. It has really nice songs, one of them being “Into the Open Air”. Both the original and Korean versions are equally great, but I did want to introduce the Korean version. Song Sang-eun has such a sweet and rich voice, I just could not NOT put it on this list.
“Lesson Number One”- Mulan II
I wanted to add this song to the list because it is so cute. Hearing the children’s voices along with Lee So-Jung, who sings Mulan, is just a cute and vibrant song. Nothing more to say, here it is.
“When Will My Life Begin” (Reprise)- Tangled
I have to admit, Mandy Moore sang this song with more emotion. She was acting while singing. However, Park Sae-Byeol, on the other hand, is softer and delicate. Although the regular song is great, I’m specifically talking about the reprise. Why? Because I like it better and to showcase Park’s voice.
“Into the Unknown” and “Do You Wanna Build A Snowman?”- Frozen I&II
I listened to both songs in Korean, and I couldn’t choose which one to focus on, so I’m doing both again. “Do You Wanna Build A Snowman” is done very well, and I feel like they cast the right people (Si-Young Yoon, Ji-Min Lee, Ji-Yoon Park) to show the stages of Anna growing up. Yoon Si-Young, Lee Ji-Min, and Park Ji-Yoon. “Into the Unknown” is great in Korean. I listened to Park Hye-Na’s version so many times. It’s just so good.
“How Far I’ll Go” and “We Know The Way”- Moana
Another twofer because, at this point, I’m tired of choosing. “How Far I’ll Go” is sung beautifully by none other than So-Hyang. Her voice is just a treat to hear. And “We Know The Way” is sung by Lee Cheol-Kyu. His voice blended extremely well with the wayfinders.
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and “What Else Can I Do”
Well, I mean, at this part, you shouldn’t be surprised it’s two. Everyone in “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” did a phenomenal job, including the villagers. I enjoyed the Korean version a lot, and the singers did a great job of bringing out the personality of each character. In “What Else Can I Do”, sung by Kim Bo-Na and Ham Yon-Ji, they sang it in a fun way. Not that the original wasn’t fun, it’s just that Kim and Ham were more playful to me.
And so that’s it. Let me know if you agree with all or some of it. Which did you disagree with, and what songs would you like to add?
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MEDIA: Disney, YouTube