Published : Aug. 30, 2011 - 18:33
Seoul’s subway system is often praised by expats for its ease of use and convenience.
American expat Michael Aronson has taken his appreciation for Seoul Metro one step further with a rap video ode that has garnered almost 250,000 views on YouTube.
Michael Aronson appears in his serenade to the subway “Transfer Mixdown.” (Michael Aronson)
“Actually the idea came from my brother. He visited Korea last year in August and at that time I had only released a few music videos. We were on the subway and he was like ‘you should make a video out of this song,’” said Aronson, referring to the distinctive melody played before every subway stop.
“I did not know exactly how to adapt it, what to do with it, at that time but I held on to the idea until I got the rhythm early in the spring and then I started to develop it.”
In the video, set on the subway and at different stations around Seoul, Aronson describes the payment system and the different lines on the “near-perfect” subway system.
Aronson took about six weeks to make the video, which he produced almost entirely by himself.
“The music is all me, I mean except for the sampled song. The mixing is all me, the editing is all me. This time I had a lot of help, people holding the camera and stuff,” he said.
Aronson has made Korea-related music videos in the past, but said he has been blown away by the reaction to his latest video.
“I thought people would like it but it has almost been unanimously praised. I was a bit overwhelmed,” he said, adding that he had been interviewed by numerous media outlets.
And although he hasn’t heard directly from the Seoul government or Seoul Metro, he has noticed tacit signs of approval from sections of officialdom through social networking sites.
“I have seen people, government-related, have liked it or followed me on certain things but not specifically the subway people.”
As for his future plans, the five-year on-and-off resident of Korea isn’t sure, but Korea is sure to feature in them.
“I want to stick around,” he said.
To see the video, visit
By John Power (john.power@heraldcorp.com)