Music

Singing Winter: Year-End with K-Carols

Create Your Own Winter Playlist

이재혁2025. 12. 03

Every season has its own scents, but winter carries a fragrance that quickens the heart—fresh snow, the warmth of a fireplace, and above all, the excitement of approaching Christmas.

As the year draws to a close, our anticipation naturally rises. This is why Christmas has become a global celebration beyond its religious meaning. Just as European Christmas markets now appear on streets across Korea, the season’s aroma engages our senses and lifts our spirits.

Christmas carols have become more than festive music—they are the winter soundtrack. Once deeply religious, carols have evolved to reflect seasons and emotions. Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You, often heard in English classes during school days, is a perfect example. That single song instantly evokes the year-end atmosphere. Other pop carols—Wham!’s Last Christmas, Ariana Grande’s Santa Tell Me, Sia’s Snowman—warm hearts every winter.

K-Carols in Korea have also grown rapidly. SG Wannabe’s Yongjun and Brown Eyed Girls’ Gain’s Must Have Love (2006) became a winter chart phenomenon, marking the beginning of Korean carols. IU’s Merry & Happy continued the trend. Seasonal hits such as EXO’s First Snow, TWICE’s Merry & Happy, NCT DREAM’s JOY, Red Velvet & aespa’s Beautiful Christmas have increasingly shaped the winter music landscape. K-pop carols are no longer just seasonal songs—they fill the year-end scenery with sound and emotion.

Interestingly, a song doesn’t need to be explicitly Christmas-themed to become a carol. Lovelyz’s Bell, LABOUM’s Winter Story, ONEWE’s Outro: A Boy’s Candle (Dresden) appear in playlists every winter, enriching personal seasonal experiences.

Amid the unique excitement of winter and year-end, music is always present. Whether classics or hidden gems, pop or K-pop, every song that sings winter with us enriches our hearts and brings new emotions each season. Ultimately, the greatest gift of carols may not be a fixed song, but the experience of creating your own winter story.

글 : 이재혁 에디터

admin@use9.kr

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