@article{ART003276031},
author={Yoo, Ki-oug},
title={Symbolism and Cultural Meaning of Plants in Korean Song Lyrics: An Eco-Humanities Interpretation across Popular Songs, Textbooks and Hymns},
journal={International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구},
issn={2951-2808},
year={2025},
volume={8},
number={8},
pages={25-45}
TY - JOUR
AU - Yoo, Ki-oug
TI - Symbolism and Cultural Meaning of Plants in Korean Song Lyrics: An Eco-Humanities Interpretation across Popular Songs, Textbooks and Hymns
JO - International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구
PY - 2025
VL - 8
IS - 8
PB - K-culture Convergence Research Society
SP - 25
EP - 45
SN - 2951-2808
AB - Objectives This study explores the symbolism and cultural meanings of plants in Korean song lyrics across popular songs, school music textbooks, and hymns. It examines how plant imagery reflects emotion, memory, and cultural values, and interprets these expressions through an eco-humanities perspective linking nature and the humanities.
Methods A total of 3,044 songs were analyzed: 1,742 popular songs, 355 elementary, 199 middle, and 103 high school songs from textbooks, and 645 hymns. Plant names found in song titles and lyrics were identified and classified by frequency and symbolic context. Comparative and qualitative analyses were conducted to determine differences among genres.
Conclusions Plant names appeared in 290 songs (9.5%), representing 136 species. The rose was the most frequent, followed by azalea, reed, lawn, willow, forsythia, and camellia.
Popular songs used plants to express love and longing, textbooks reflected seasonal and educational themes, and hymns conveyed purity and faith.
Overall, plants in Korean lyrics act as symbolic and emotional links between humans and nature, reflecting cultural and historical emotions. The study underscores the eco-humanities perspective, revealing how natural imagery deepens the cultural resonance of Korean music.
KW - song lyrics;plant symbolism;cultural meaning;eco-humanities;interdisciplinary study;Korean music;rose;azalea
DO -
UR -
ER -
Yoo, Ki-oug. (2025). Symbolism and Cultural Meaning of Plants in Korean Song Lyrics: An Eco-Humanities Interpretation across Popular Songs, Textbooks and Hymns. International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구, 8(8), 25-45.
Yoo, Ki-oug. 2025, "Symbolism and Cultural Meaning of Plants in Korean Song Lyrics: An Eco-Humanities Interpretation across Popular Songs, Textbooks and Hymns", International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구, vol.8, no.8 pp.25-45.
Yoo, Ki-oug "Symbolism and Cultural Meaning of Plants in Korean Song Lyrics: An Eco-Humanities Interpretation across Popular Songs, Textbooks and Hymns" International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구 8.8 pp.25-45 (2025) : 25.
Yoo, Ki-oug. Symbolism and Cultural Meaning of Plants in Korean Song Lyrics: An Eco-Humanities Interpretation across Popular Songs, Textbooks and Hymns. 2025; 8(8), 25-45.
Yoo, Ki-oug. "Symbolism and Cultural Meaning of Plants in Korean Song Lyrics: An Eco-Humanities Interpretation across Popular Songs, Textbooks and Hymns" International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구 8, no.8 (2025) : 25-45.
Yoo, Ki-oug. Symbolism and Cultural Meaning of Plants in Korean Song Lyrics: An Eco-Humanities Interpretation across Popular Songs, Textbooks and Hymns. International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구, 8(8), 25-45.
Yoo, Ki-oug. Symbolism and Cultural Meaning of Plants in Korean Song Lyrics: An Eco-Humanities Interpretation across Popular Songs, Textbooks and Hymns. International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구. 2025; 8(8) 25-45.
Yoo, Ki-oug. Symbolism and Cultural Meaning of Plants in Korean Song Lyrics: An Eco-Humanities Interpretation across Popular Songs, Textbooks and Hymns. 2025; 8(8), 25-45.
Yoo, Ki-oug. "Symbolism and Cultural Meaning of Plants in Korean Song Lyrics: An Eco-Humanities Interpretation across Popular Songs, Textbooks and Hymns" International Journal of K-Culture/K-Culture융합연구 8, no.8 (2025) : 25-45.
