Gen Z guide to ultimate after-work playlist

The article recommends seven songs for different after-work moods during the commute home. IU and Jang Yi-jeong’s “Friday” suits anticipation before a date, while H1-KEY’s “Rose Blossom” is suggested for listeners seeking encouragement after a difficult day. Other picks address workplace anger, heartbreak, motivation, a night out and quiet reflection.

“Friday” was released in 2013, and Jang Yi-jeong is now known as EL CAPITXN.

H1-KEY’s “Rose Blossom” was released in 2023, and its Korean title translates directly as “Rose that blossomed between buildings.”

Stella Jang’s “Villain” was released in 2020 and uses a contrast between bubbly piano and lyrics questioning black-and-white ideas of morality.

Lucia, also known by her Korean name Shim Gyu-seon, released “Arari” in 2017 as a modern take on a traditional Korean folk song.

Ahn Ye-eun’s “Beginning” is the second track on her 2021 EP “To the Island.”

Published Nov 5, 2026 5:01 pm KST

7 songs to listen to after a hard day at the office

The view during a bus commute can be seen in this photo taken in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Kim Young-moo

Korea is notorious for its long and grueling work hours, the pressures of "hoesik" — a workplace dinner gathering that usually involves alcohol consumption — and the omnipresent crowds of uncaring people that always seem to go slightly too slow on the way to the subway escalators. While many of these aspects have improved over the years, the way home from work still remains an exhausting experience for many.

For those who wish to spend their time after work productively, switching to the right state of mind during the commute — often with a relatable or cathartic song — is an essential step in retaining the energy to last into the evening hours.

Here are seven song recommendations for different after-work moods.

If you're getting ready for a date ... We recommend: "Friday" by IU (feat. Jang Yi-jeong)

This song is perfect if you have a date coming up during the weekend and can’t wait to meet — especially if the relationship is still in the hesitant, uncertain early stages of lingering gazes and fluttering hearts.

IU and Jang Yi-jeong, now known as EL CAPITXN, take on the roles of two people slowly falling in love in "Friday" (2013), expressing happy surprise at how attractive they find each other to be.

IU's playful delivery captures the subtle excitement that comes with waiting for the clock to strike 6, so you can rush out the door and meet your special someone: "Time, please go faster, I want to rush the clock."

If you've had a hard day ... We recommend: "Rose Blossom" by H1-Key

K-pop group H1-Key’s 2023 song "Rose Blossom" is an empowering, upbeat track for young adults feeling lost in life. It's best to listen to after a long and tiring day in the office that makes you question your own self-worth.

The Korean title, which directly translates to "Rose that blossomed between buildings," also serves as a continued through line representative of dreams and passion in a cold and uncaring world.

True to H1-Key's group name — referencing the slang term "high-key," often used to emphasize the sincerity of a statement — the song features confident and strong vocals that carry a hint of tenderness, reminiscent of sunlight falling on rain-drenched ground.

If you're angry at someone ... We recommend: "Villain" by Stella Jang

Some days, your commute home may be mired in frustration and anger directed at someone from work. Stella Jang's "Villain" (2020) is just the song to listen to keep yourself from wallowing in rage.

Jang is an indie folk singer-songwriter known for mixing soft vocals with deceptively upbeat tracks as she explores topics darker than the melody might suggest.

"Villain" starts off with a soft and bubbly piano as the lyrics pointedly steer into a self-aware critique of assuming morality to be black and white. The contrast creates a memorably ironic listening exprience, reminding you that the enemy you loathe may be someone else's loved one.

If you are healing from a breakup ... We recommend: "Arari" by Lucia

While the evening commute is arguably bad enough, there are also regrettable moments where your personal life may catch up to your career life. "Arari" by Lucia (2017) — also known by her Korean name Shim Gyu-seon — is a song about letting go of heartbreak while maintaining a practiced composure and tear-filled eyes.

Released nearly a decade before the K-pop superstar group BTS launched "ARIRANG" into the public spotlight, Lucia's "Arari" puts a modern spin on the traditional Korean folk song, staying true to the source material and focusing on the tragedy of a breakup.

"Arari" — a reference to a verse within the folk song — fluctuates between the last remaining sparks of love when you bid somebody goodbye and the painfully human response of resentment toward an ex-lover.

If you need motivation ... We recommend: "Beginning" by Ahn Ye-eun

For those with a creative streak or a personal hobby, retaining the energy or motivation to commit to something productive after work is often a great obstacle. Genre-bending singer-songwriter Ahn Ye-eun's "Beginning" is a song that will fill you with the determination and inspiration needed.

Ahn, the indie singer-songwriter of "The Red Knot" fame, is instantly recognizable for her powerful voice, reminiscent of pansori, Korea's traditional narrative music. It brings back memories of when Korea was still "the Land of the Morning Calm."

"Beginning," is the second track on Ahn's 2021 EP "To the Island," which details a journey into the unknown. The song features her unique vocals coupled with an unambiguously positive register as the singer observes the arrival of spring.

Ahn's delivery of the chorus, "Let's go, high-flying birds / let's go trail-blazing dogs," welcomes the listener to join in and look beyond the mundanity of life toward the pursuit of a greater sense of fulfillment.

If you're about to hit the clubs ... We recommend: Best Friend [Remix] by Saweetie (feat. Doja Cat, Jamie & CHANMINA)

Many fall into the misconception that having a job prevents one from partying into the night, opting instead to end their Fridays with clean shoes. This song is for those that disagree and want a quick pick-me-up before they get ready to hit the clubs.

"Best Friend," a 2021 song by American rapper Saweetie and featuring Doja Cat, is still commonly heard in western Seoul's Hongdae nightlife district. Its bold, tongue-in-cheek lyrics describe the bond between two women on a night out, and how attractive they know themselves to be.

The remix, featuring Korean singer Jamie Park and Korean-born Japanese singer CHANMINA, is an impressive trilingual spin on the original, with the two new artists comfortably switching between English, Korean and Japanese.

If you love gathering your thoughts ... We recommend: "So Life Goes On" by Heo Hoy Kyung

For those commuting on the bus, indie folk singer Heo Hoy Kyung's "So Life Goes On" (2022) is an essential song for looking wistfully out of the window and watching the sun gently set over the urban skyline.

"So Life Goes On" revolves around youthful passion turning into a calm and peaceful existence. Heo sings of growing comfortable with the ups and downs presented by life, and her own fear of settling into this routine — speaking thorny words, smiling at the small things and overthinking over what the right way forward is.

An important realization that many people have after beginning their careers is that all of the grandiose life plans of luxury and glory pale in comparison to the beauty in everyday moments. If, at the end of a long day, you suddenly remember how long it has been since you felt tormented by existence, this song is for you.

这篇文章推荐了七首适合下班回家途中不同心情的歌曲。IU 和张艺贞的《Friday》适合约会前的期待，而 H1-KEY 的《Rose Blossom》则推荐给那些在辛苦一天后寻求鼓励的人。其他推荐歌曲则分别对应职场怒火、心碎、动力、夜生活以及安静的思考。

《星期五》于 2013 年发行，张艺正现在被称为 EL CAPITXN。

H1-KEY 的《Rose Blossom》于 2023 年发行，其韩文标题直译为“楼宇间盛开的玫瑰”。

Stella Jang 的《Villain》于 2020 年发行，它以欢快的钢琴声和质疑非黑即白道德观念的歌词形成对比。

Lucia，又名沈圭善，于 2017 年发行了歌曲《Arari》，这是一首韩国传统民歌的现代演绎。

安艺恩的《Beginning》是她 2021 年迷你专辑《To the Island》中的第二首歌曲。

发布于2026年11月5日下午5:01（韩国标准时间）

辛苦工作一天后，适合听的7首歌

这张照片拍摄于周三的首尔，展现了公交车通勤途中的景象。韩国时报摄影师金英武（Kim Young-moo）摄。

韩国以漫长而艰辛的工作时间、令人窒息的“会食”（通常伴有饮酒的职场聚餐）以及无处不在、行动迟缓、漠不关心的人群而闻名。尽管近年来许多方面有所改善，但对许多人来说，下班回家仍然是一段令人疲惫不堪的经历。

对于那些希望在下班后高效利用时间的人来说，在通勤途中调整好心态——通常是通过一首能引起共鸣或具有宣泄作用的歌曲——是保持精力充沛到晚上的重要一步。

以下是七首适合不同下班后心情的歌曲推荐。

如果你正准备约会……我们推荐：IU (feat. Jang Yi-jeong) 的《Friday》

如果你周末有个约会，迫不及待地想见到对方，这首歌就非常适合你——尤其适合那些关系还处于犹豫不决、充满暧昧的初期阶段，彼此凝视、心跳加速的时候。

IU 和张艺贞（现名 EL CAPITXN）在电影《星期五》（2013）中饰演一对慢慢坠入爱河的情侣，并对彼此的吸引力感到惊喜。

IU 俏皮的演绎捕捉到了等待时钟敲响 6 点时那种微妙的兴奋，这样你就可以冲出门去见你的特别的人：“时间，请快点过去，我想催促时钟跳动。”

如果你今天过得很辛苦……我们推荐：H1-Key 的《玫瑰花开》。

韩国流行组合H1-Key 2023年的歌曲《Rose Blossom》是一首充满力量、节奏欢快的歌曲，适合那些在生活中感到迷茫的年轻人。尤其适合在漫长而疲惫的一天工作后聆听，它可以帮助你摆脱自我怀疑。

韩文标题直译为“楼宇间盛开的玫瑰”，也象征着在冷漠无情的世界中，人们怀揣着梦想和激情。

正如 H1-Key 的组合名称——取自俚语“high-key”，常用于强调声明的真诚——所体现的那样，这首歌以自信而强劲的嗓音为特色，其中蕴含着一丝温柔，让人联想起阳光洒在雨后湿润的地面上。

如果你对某人生气……我们推荐：张思黛的《恶棍》。

有些时候，你下班回家的路上可能会充满对同事的沮丧和愤怒。这时，Stella Jang 的《Villain》（2020）这首歌就能让你摆脱这种愤怒的情绪。

张是一位独立民谣创作歌手，她以柔和的嗓音和看似欢快的曲调而闻名，因为她探讨的主题比旋律所暗示的要黑暗得多。

《恶棍》以轻柔欢快的钢琴声开场，歌词则尖锐地批判了非黑即白的道德观念。这种反差营造出一种令人印象深刻的讽刺感，提醒你，你所憎恨的敌人或许是别人的挚爱。

如果你正在疗愈分手之痛……我们推荐：露西亚的《阿拉里》。

晚高峰通勤固然令人烦恼，但有时个人生活也会影响到事业，这着实令人遗憾。露西亚（Lucia，韩文名沈圭善）的歌曲《Arari》（2017）讲述的是在保持冷静、泪眼婆娑的同时，如何放下心碎的故事。

比韩国流行音乐超级巨星组合 BTS 将《ARIRANG》推向公众视野早了近十年，露西亚的《Arari》以现代手法重新诠释了传统的韩国民歌，忠于原作，并着重描写了分手带来的悲剧。

“Arari”——源自民歌中的一句歌词——在与某人告别时残存的爱意和对前任恋人痛苦的怨恨之间摇摆不定。

如果你需要一些动力……我们推荐安艺恩的《开始》。

对于那些富有创造力或有个人爱好的人来说，下班后保持精力和动力去做一些有意义的事情往往是一大挑战。而风格多变的创作型歌手安艺恩的歌曲《开始》则能让你充满所需的决心和灵感。

凭借歌曲《红结》走红的独立创作歌手安，以其极具辨识度的嗓音而闻名，她的歌声让人联想起韩国传统叙事音乐盘索里，仿佛回到了韩国还被称为“晨曦之国”的时代。

《Beginning》是安恩2021年迷你专辑《To the Island》中的第二首曲目，描绘了一段探索未知的旅程。歌曲中，她独特的嗓音与积极乐观的基调相得益彰，歌颂了春天的到来。

安演唱的副歌“走吧，高飞的鸟儿/走吧，开拓的犬儿”，邀请听众加入进来，超越生活的平凡，去追求更大的成就感。

如果你正准备去夜店……我们推荐：Saweetie 的《Best Friend [Remix]》（feat. Doja Cat、Jamie 和 CHANMINA）

很多人误以为有了工作就不能彻夜狂欢，只能选择在周五晚上光着脚丫子结束一天。这首歌献给那些不认同这种观点，想要在去夜店狂欢前快速提提神的人。

美国说唱歌手Saweetie与Doja Cat合作的歌曲《Best Friend》于2021年发行，至今仍在首尔西部的弘大夜生活区广为传唱。这首歌大胆而又略带讽刺的歌词描绘了两个女人在夜店里的友谊，以及她们对自己魅力的自信。

这首混音版由韩国歌手Jamie Park和韩裔日本歌手CHANMINA演唱，是对原曲令人印象深刻的三语改编，两位新歌手都能轻松地在英语、韩语和日语之间切换。

如果你喜欢整理思绪……我们推荐：许会京的《生活仍在继续》。

对于乘坐公交车通勤的人来说，独立民谣歌手许会京的《So Life Goes On》（2022）是一首必不可少的歌曲，适合向窗外望去，欣赏夕阳缓缓落下，映照着都市天际线的景象。

《人生继续》讲述的是青春的激情逐渐消退，最终回归平静安宁的生活。许歌声中唱到，她逐渐习惯了人生中的起伏跌宕，同时也流露出对安于现状的恐惧——口出恶言，对微不足道的小事也视而不见，总是反复思索未来的方向。

许多人在开始职业生涯后都会意识到，所有关于奢华和荣耀的宏伟人生规划，与日常生活中的美好相比，都显得黯然失色。如果你在漫长的一天结束后，突然想起自己有多久没有感受到生活的煎熬，那么这首歌就是为你而作。