About the Song
Released in 1996, “Candy” by H.O.T became one of the most iconic songs in K-POP history. Behind its cheerful melody lies a bittersweet story — the emotional conflict of someone who tries to end a relationship but can’t suppress their love. The song captures a mix of joy and heartbreak, a combination that defined 90s K-POP’s emotional depth.
Cultural Impact
The group’s stage outfits sparked a major fashion trend among teens across Korea. H.O.T’s colorful padded jackets, fuzzy hats, gloves, and heart-shaped accessories became must-have items at the time. Stores sold out of “Candy-style” fashion pieces nationwide.
Signature Dance Moves:
– Moon Hee-jun’s Power Racer Dance
– Jang Woo-hyuk’s Hammer Dance & ABC Dance (performed by all members)
– Kangta’s Injection Dance
– Tony Ahn’s Candy Dance (chorus)
These choreographies remain cultural symbols of the first-generation idol era.
A Legacy Across Generations
The song’s charm transcended generations. In 2022, NCT DREAM released a remake of “Candy,” reintroducing it to younger audiences. The track performed well on streaming charts, and many listeners were surprised to learn the original was by H.O.T. Decades later, “Candy” continues to connect nostalgia with new-age K-POP.
[Full Lyrics]
🇰🇷
사실은 오늘 너와의 만남을 정리하고 싶어
널 만날 거야, 이런 날 이해해
어렵게 맘 정한 거라 네게 말할 거지만
사실 오늘 아침에 그냥 나 생각한 거야
🔤
Sasil-eun oneul neowa-ui mannam-eul jeong-rihago sipeo
Neol mannal geoya, ireon nal ihaehae
Eoryeopge mam jeonghan geora nege malhal geojiman
Sasil oneul achim-e geunyang na saenggakhan geoya
🇺🇸
Today I thought I’d end things with you,
I’ll meet you—please understand how I feel today.
Though I’ll tell you I’ve made up my mind with difficulty,
this morning, I just thought of myself.
🇰🇷
햇살에 일어나 보니 너무나 눈부셔
모든 게 다 변한 거야, 널 향한 마음도
그렇지만 널 사랑 않는 게 아냐
이제는 나를 변화시킬 테니까
🔤
Haetsal-e il-eona boni neomu-na nunbusyeo
Modeun ge da byeonhan geoya, neol hyanghan maeumdo
Geureochiman neol sarang anneun ge anya
Ijeneun nareul byeonhasikil tenikka
🇺🇸
When I woke in the sunlight, it was too bright,
everything had changed—even my heart for you.
But it doesn’t mean I don’t love you;
it just means I’m trying to change myself.
🇰🇷
너 몰래몰래, 몰래 다른 여자들과 비교, 비교했지
자꾸만 깨어지는 환상 속에 혼자서 울고 있는
초라하게 갇혀 버린 나를 보았어
🔤
Neo mollae-mollae, mollae dareun yeojadeulgwa bigyo, bigyohaetji
Jakkuman kkaeeojineun hwansang soge honjaseo ulgo inneun
Choraha-ge gatyeo beorin nareul boasseo
🇺🇸
Secretly, I compared you to other girls,
trapped in broken illusions, crying alone,
I saw myself—pathetic and confined.
🇰🇷
널 떠날 거야 음, 널 떠날 거야, 음
하지만 아직까지 사랑하는걸
그래, 그렇지만 내 맘속에 너를 잊어갈 거야
🔤
Neol tteonal geoya, eum, neol tteonal geoya, eum
Hajiman ajikkkaji saranghaneungeol
Geurae, geureochiman nae mamsoge neoreul ijeogal geoya
🇺🇸
I’ll leave you—yes, I’ll leave you,
but still, I love you.
I’ll slowly let you fade from my heart.
🇰🇷
머리 위로 비친 내 하늘 바라다보며
널 향한 마음을 이제는 굳혔지만
웬일인지 네게 더 다가갈수록
우린 같은 하늘 아래 서 있었지
🔤
Meori wiro bichin nae haneul baradabomyeo
Neol hyanghan maeumeul ijeneun gutyeotjiman
Wenil-inji nege deo dagagalssurok
Urin gateun haneul arae seo isseotji
🇺🇸
Looking at the sky above my head,
I thought I had fixed my heart,
but the closer I got to you,
I realized we were still under the same sky.
🇰🇷
“단지 널 사랑해” 이렇게 말했지
이제껏 준비했던 많은 말을 뒤로한 채
언제나 니 옆에 있을게
이렇게 약속을 하겠어 저 하늘을 바라다보며
🔤
Danji neol saranghae ireoke malhaetji
Ije-kkeot junbihaetdeon maneun mareul dwirohan chae
Eonjena ni yeop-e isseulge
Ireoke yaksogeul hagesso jeo haneureul baradabomyeo
🇺🇸
“I just love you,” I said,
forgetting all the words I’d prepared.
I’ll always be by your side,
promising beneath the open sky.
🇰🇷
내게 하늘이 열려 있어
그래그래, 너는 내 앞에 서 있고
그래, 다른 연인들은 키스를 해
하지만 항상 나는 너의 뒤에 있어야만 해
🔤
Naege haneuri yeollyeo isseo
Geurae-geurae, neoneun nae ape seo itgo
Geurae, dareun yeonindeureun kiseureul hae
Hajiman hangsang naneun neoui dwie isseoyaman hae
🇺🇸
The sky opens before me,
you stand right in front of me,
others kiss their lovers,
but I always have to stand behind you.
🇰🇷
이제 그만해 음, 나도 남잔데 음
내 마음 너도 알고 있는 걸 알아
그래, 이제 나도 지쳐서 하늘만 바라볼 수밖에
🔤
Ije geumanhae, eum, nado namjande, eum
Nae maeum neodo algo inneun geol ara
Geurae, ijeneun nado jichyeoseo haneulman barabol subakke
🇺🇸
Stop it now, I’m still a man.
I know you feel my heart too.
I’m tired now—there’s nothing left but to stare at the sky.
🇰🇷
한 번 더, 한 번 더 말했지
이제껏 준비했던 많은 말을 뒤로한 채
언제나 니 옆에 있을게
다신 너 혼자 아냐, 너의 곁엔 내가 있잖아
(Hit me)
🔤
Han beon deo, han beon deo malhaetji
Ije-kkeot junbihaetdeon maneun mareul dwirohan chae
Eonjena ni yeop-e isseulge
Dasin neo honja anya, neoui gyeoten naega itjana
Hit me
🇺🇸
Once more, I said it again,
forgetting all I had prepared to say.
I’ll always be beside you—
you’re never alone; I’m right here with you.
(Hit me)
Song Interpretation
While the melody is lively and playful, the lyrics tell a story of emotional conflict. The narrator decides to end things but realizes they can’t let go, expressing love instead of goodbye. It’s a rare blend of innocence, sincerity, and melancholy that made “Candy” one of the most enduring classics in K-POP.
Tags
#HOT #Candy #KPOP #90sKpop #KpopHistory #NCTDREAM #KpopLyrics #KoreanPopCulture #KpopClassic #MillenniumKpop
Editor’s Note: This post is part of a project introducing classic K-POP songs to global audiences with original lyrics and cultural context.
