Park Hye-kyung Opens Up: “There Were Things I Didn’t Want to Do, But My Fans Never Gave Up on Me”

Singer Park Hye-kyung is bringing strength to those exhausted by the weight of reality through her music. Returning with the new song “Dreams Don’t Melt,” she candidly shares her gratitude for the dreams, music, and fans that have supported her for a long time.

“Dreams Don’t Melt” is a modern rock track with a sophisticated British alternative vibe. It is an anthem for dreams, conveying a strong will that inner dreams do not vanish despite trials and the passing of time. By blending her clear tone with her signature husky voice to enhance the song’s sincerity, she sang with the hope that it would become a heart-pounding cheer for everyone going through hard times to run toward tomorrow again.

Park Hye-kyung revealed that she put her current, unadorned emotions into the track, stating, “I wanted to sing with my voice as it is now, not the voice from the past.”

“I had started liking electric guitars and drum sounds that feel like a heartbeat, so I wanted to sing it as soon as I heard it. I felt it would be great to add my own opinions on the melody and lyrics, so I participated in the work and am releasing a song after a long time.”

Q: This song is mostly praised for having a solid narrative within a clear tone. Were there any specific sections you worked hard on to effectively deliver the message, or any ‘vocal details’ that only you could express?

“I thought a lot about things like ‘Let’s not be trapped by the Park Hye-kyung of the past,’ ‘Let’s sing comfortably,’ ‘Let’s not decorate it,’ and ‘Let’s not put too much pressure on it.’ I focused on the idea of singing with my current voice, not my old one.”

Q: The implied meaning of the title is quite heavy. How has the ‘unmelting dream’ that remains unchanged over time supported Park Hye-kyung’s life, and what dream are you dreaming of right now?

“While eating ice cream by chance, the thought occurred to me: ‘Ice cream melts, but dreams don’t melt.’ When I was young, dreams were the power that moved me. I think I felt that no matter the hardship or adversity, it wasn’t too difficult because I had a dream. The fact that I can dream again at my current age is an emotional life in itself, and I expressed the fact that those dreams, whether small or large, exist within me as ‘not melting.'”

“I didn’t realize it during the preparation process, but after releasing the new song, I felt, ‘This song was truly for me.’ There was an episode where I realized, ‘I’m more immersed in focusing on what I love than I thought.'”

Q: Looking at your SNS and activities, a girl-like sensibility is still felt. What are the elements in your daily life that give you ‘small but certain happiness’ (so-hwak-haeng)?

“Regarding ‘so-hwak-haeng,’ I try not to obsess or focus too much on just happiness. I believe that both the times I’m happy and the times I’m not are all part of my life. Perhaps it’s because I’ve gotten older. I started thinking that if I focus too much on ‘What should I do to be happy?’ or ‘What is a small but certain happiness?’, even the days I’m not happy—which are still some of my precious days—might feel like they aren’t. Thinking this way actually made my days more precious and happy.”

Q: While preparing for this song, were there any colleagues, acquaintances, or support messages from the public that gave you the most strength?

“I gained a lot of strength by reading comments from the public on my song ‘Rain,’ which is still loved by many. Support like ‘The tone is one of a kind,’ ‘It’s a treat for the ears,’ ‘She’s a true singer who might appear once in a hundred years,’ and ‘I knew she sang well, but she’s also pretty and lovely’ gave me so much strength.”

Q: Outside of music, you’ve been active in various fields, such as being a florist. I’m curious how those artistic experiences inspired the sensibility of this new song.

“I believe that everything—the things I didn’t want to do, the things I wanted to do, and everything I did because I wanted to or because I had no choice—is all part of my life and makes me who I am. I think all those experiences influenced the preparation of this new song.”

“I want to do a lot of concerts and busking. I find it fun to occasionally sing songs by junior artists. I’m thinking about sharing that with the public instead of doing it alone. Since it’s been so long since I’ve been active, I’m planning to keep going steadily without resting.”

Q: Lastly, could you share a message for the fans who have stayed by your side and sent their support for a long time?

“There was a phrase in a video made and uploaded by a fan: ‘Fans did not give up on Park Hye-kyung.’ I was deeply moved and touched. Thank you for not giving up on me and for waiting for me.”