Revised Version of the Video - Counting the Stars at Night (Poem By Yun Dong-ju, Sung By Go Woorim)

The full text of Yun Dong-ju’s poem, "Counting the Stars at Night," is as follows.

[Counting the Stars at Night – Yun Dong-ju]

In the sky where the seasons pass,
autumn lingers in fullness.
With no worries at all,
I could count each and every star
shining in this autumn night.

The stars that carve themselves
one by one into my heart—
I can no longer count them all,
for dawn comes too soon,
for another night still awaits,
for my youth has not yet faded.

One star for memories,
one star for love,
one star for loneliness,
one star for longing,
one star for poetry,
one star for Mother, Mother...

Mother,
I whisper a beautiful word
to each star I name.
The names of childhood friends
who once shared my school desk,
and those foreign girls—Pae, Kyung, Ok,
whose names shone like jewels.
The girls who have already become young mothers,
the names of my poor neighbors,
of doves, puppies, rabbits, mules, deer,
of poets—Francis Jammes, Rainer Maria Rilke—
I call them all by name.

Yet they are too far away,
as distant as the stars in the sky.
Mother,
and you, too, are far away,
somewhere in the northern lands of Manchuria.

Something within me aches with longing.
Under this vast sky bathed in starlight,
I wrote my name upon the earth
only to cover it with soil once more.

Perhaps the insects crying through the night
lament a name they find too shameful to bear.

But when winter passes
and spring finally comes to my star,
like green grass sprouting over forgotten graves,
proudly,
life will grow lush
upon this hill where my name now lies buried.

*
Go Woorim’s interpretation of this poem through song
feels like a heartfelt confession of love to Kim Yuna.

"Counting the Stars at Night" is a song filled with longing and quiet reflection,
beautifully performed by Korean baritone Go Woorim, a talented member of the crossover group Forestella.

Go Woorim is widely loved by both the public and critics for his rich baritone voice and exceptional vocal talent.

With a solid foundation in classical music, he also embraces a wide range of genres including pop, musical theater, and crossover, showcasing his versatile musical spectrum.

As a member of Forestella, he has captivated audiences with his delicate emotional expression‎ and powerful stage presence, drawing countless fans into his musical world.

In 2022, Go Woorim married Korea’s legendary figure skating champion, Kim Yuna, often called the “Queen of Figure Skating.”

The couple first met during Kim Yuna’s ice show, and their meeting brought a special kind of inspiration to many, as they both reached the top in their respective fields of art and sports.

Having each created their finest moments on their own stages—whether through music or skating—they now continue to write their beautiful story together on the new stage of life.

"Counting the Stars at Night" is based on a poem by Yun Dong-ju, one of Korea’s most beloved poets.

The poem captures quiet longing and gentle nostalgia.

On an autumn night, beneath a sky full of stars,
the poet counts each star, inscribing within them his memories of love, loneliness, poetry, and his mother.

As the night deepens, he calls out the old names,
but like the stars that have faded into the distant sky,
those names remain forever out of reach.

Yet, even amidst the sorrow of parting,
the poem carries a message of hope.

Just as winter gives way to spring,
the buried names too will someday be covered with fresh green grass.

"Counting the Stars at Night" is a beautiful meditation on youth, longing, and the passage of time.

Go Woorim’s interpretation of this poem through song
feels like a heartfelt confession of love to Kim Yuna.

Their love, like the stars in the night sky,
will shine forever, offering hope and inspiration to many.