PpoPpoPpo Song

Perhaps the catchiest Korean children’s song: PpoPpoPpo or Bbo-Bbo-Bbo (“Kiss, kiss, kiss..”)

아빠가 출근할 때 뽀뽀뽀
엄마가 안아줘도 뽀뽀뽀
만나면 반갑다고 뽀뽀뽀
헤어질 땐 또 만나요 뽀뽀뽀
우리는 귀염둥이 뽀뽀뽀 친구
뽀뽀뽀 뽀뽀뽀 뽀뽀뽀 친구

It’s onomatopoeic — it’s the kissing sound that children make in Korean, though adults use it too. The other word for ‘kiss’ in Korean is a transliteration of the English: 키스 (ki-suh). Does that mean there was no kissing on the peninsula before the Western concept arrived? Sort of like the missionary position, I guess…

The reason I’ve suddenly become interested in kids songs is because I came across a CD that contains 30 Korean children songs, and the only song I was immediately familiar with was Bbo-bbo-bbo.

“When Dad goes to work, kiss, kiss, kiss. When Mom gives a hug, kiss, kiss, kiss. When you meet and you’re glad you do, kiss, kiss, kiss….”