Hello, I’m Clementine.
Kang Haneul brings me comfort every day💓
2026 is the Year of the Horse, and in Korea, Lunar New Year fell on February 17, with a holiday period from the 14th to the 18th.
At this perfect moment, Haneul — who was born in the Year of the Horse — shared a New Year’s message through the Korean comprehensive news site “The Fact”. Today, I’d like to take a closer look at his words 💓
This time, the message beautifully carries two meanings:
the zodiac animal of 2026, “horse” (말 / mal), and the “words” (말 / mal) he deeply values.
Recent photo (Instagram, February 18, 2026)↓
- The article includes a message to readers, updates from Haneul, and even a three-line acrostic poem (삼행시 / samhaengsi).
- Original article → [TF 설기획] 남궁민→하지원, 2026 기대되는 말띠★ 삼행시
(Title translation: [TF Lunar New Year Special] Namgoong Min → Ha Ji-won: Stars to Watch in the Year of the Horse ★ Three-Line Poems)
Message from Haneul & His Three-Line Poem
Message from Haneul
He shared warm New Year’s wishes filled with conviction:
그는 “2026년 새해에도 생각하시는 모든 일들이 뜻대로 풀릴 것”이라는 확신 가득한 덕담과 함께 “저도 그렇게 믿을 테니 독자분들도 스스로를 믿고 하루하루를 보내시길 바란다”고 다정한 인사를 건넸다.
“In 2026, may everything you hope for unfold just as you wish.”
He added, “I believe that it will. I hope you will believe in yourselves as well and live each day with confidence,” offering a gentle and heartfelt greeting.
Three-Line Poem (삼행시): “Red Horse”
The theme is Byeong-o (Fire Horse) — the zodiac sign for 2026.
In Korea, the Year of the Red Horse (붉은 말) is said to be filled with passion and powerful energy.
Haneul’s poem moves beautifully from imagery to quiet determination.
What a Poet Haneul ❤
붉: 붉게 얼었던 두 뺨이 녹아내리고
→ The cheeks once reddened and frozen begin to melt.은: 은은하게 쌓인 눈이 나무에서 내려가는 요즘
→ These days, the softly fallen snow slips down from the trees.말： 말하는 대로 흘러갈 26년을 그려보며 늘 말과 생각의 힘을 믿는 한 해가 되기를. 나도. 독자님들도.
→As I picture 2026 flowing in the direction of the words we speak, I hope it will be a year in which we trust the power of words and thoughts. For me as well. And for you, my readers.
📘 Words to Remember Today
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning | From Haneul’s Message |
|---|---|---|---|
| 모든 | modeun | all, every | 모든 일들이 (all things) |
| 뜻대로 | tteut-daero | as one wishes; as intended | 뜻대로 풀릴 것 (things will go as hoped) |
| 풀리다 | pullida | to be solved; to work out; to unravel | 뜻대로 풀릴 것 |
| 가득하다 | gadeukada | to be full of; filled with | 확신 가득한 (filled with conviction) |
| 믿다 | mitda | to believe; to trust | 스스로를 믿고 (believe in yourself) |
| 다정하다 | dajeonghada | warm; kind; affectionate | 다정한 인사를 (a warm greeting) |
| 믿을 테니 | mideul teni | because I believe / I will believe | 저도 그렇게 믿을 테니 |
| 붉다 | bulkda | red | 붉게 얼었던 (reddened and frozen) |
| 얼다 | eolda | to freeze | 얼었던 |
| 뺨 | ppyam | cheek | 두 뺨이 (both cheeks) |
| 녹아내리다 | noga-naerida | to melt and run down | 녹아내리고 |
| 은은하게 | euneunhage | softly; faintly; subtly | 은은하게 쌓인 눈 |
| 쌓이다 | ssaida | to pile up; accumulate | 쌓인 눈 |
| 말하는 대로 | malhaneun daero | as one says; according to one’s words | 말하는 대로 |
| 그려보다 | geuryeoboda | to picture; to imagine vividly | 그려보며 |
| 힘 | him | strength; power | 생각의 힘 |
💡 Vocabulary Deep Dive
모든 (modeun)
Means all or every. Haneul expresses a wish for happiness in all aspects of life.
뜻대로 (tteut-daero)
뜻 (intention, will) + 대로 (as it is).
A powerful phrase suggesting one’s inner vision becoming reality.
풀리다 (pullida)
Originally means “to come untangled.” Here it suggests problems resolving and things going smoothly.
가득하다 (gadeukada)
Describes something filled to the brim — like a cup full of water. It conveys overflowing emotion or certainty.
믿다 (mitda)
“To believe.” Its repetition highlights how important belief is to him.
다정하다 (dajeonghada)
A deeply warm word meaning kind, affectionate, and caring — one of the highest expressions of warmth in Korean. It’s a word that perfectly describes Kang Ha-neul.
믿을 테니 (mideul teni)
믿다 + -(으)ㄹ 테니 → “because I will believe.”
Carries the nuance: I believe, so you can believe too.
녹아내리다 (noga-naerida)
녹다 (to melt) + 내리다 (to fall/flow downward).
Suggests melting and gently flowing downward.
은은하게 (euneunhage)
Soft, subtle, refined beauty perceived through the senses — light, scent, sound, or atmosphere.
그려보다 (geuryeoboda)
그리다 (to draw) + 보다 (to try).
To actively imagine or visualize the future.
말하는 대로 (malhaneun daero)
“As spoken.” Expresses the belief that spoken words shape reality.
✏️ Mini Lesson: Grammar
① ～대로 (as / according to)
| Pattern | Example | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| Noun + 대로 | 뜻대로 | according to one’s intention |
| Verb (present modifier) + 대로 | 말하는 대로 | as one says |
| Verb (past modifier) + 대로 | 약속한 대로 | as promised |
Examples
- 뜻 + 대로 → 뜻대로 (as intended)
- 생각 + 대로 → 생각대로 (as you think)
- 말하다 → 말하는 대로 (as one says)
- 약속하다 → 약속한 대로 (as promised)
Haneul uses both noun-based and verb-based forms.
② ～(으)ㄹ 테니
“because I will…” / “since I intend to…”
Used when your intention or belief becomes the reason for encouraging someone.
| Verb | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 | 갈 테니 | because I will go |
| 먹다 | 먹을 테니 | because I will eat |
| 믿다 | 믿을 테니 | because I believe |
👉 믿다 has a final consonant → 믿을 테니
In conversation, –(으)ㄹ 테니까 is also commonly used.
Advanced note: If Yong-sik (황용식) from When the Camellia Blooms were saying it, his dialect would render it as:
- –을 테니께 (eul tenikke)
- –을 테니껴 (eul tenikkyeo)
So if Yong-sik were expressing Haneul-style encouragement, he might say:
“믿을 테니께.” 😄
💡 Key Nuance
This pattern is not just stating a reason.
It carries warmth and reassurance:
👉 “I will do this, so you can feel at ease and do that.”
In Haneul’s message, the phrase is used as a warm, embracing encouragement to fans, conveying:
“I believe things will go well for you too, so I hope you will believe in yourselves and live each day with confidence.”
It functions as a gentle encouragement wrapped in kindness.
Clementine’s Note 📝
The word 믿다 (to believe) appears repeatedly in Haneul’s message. In Korea, he is often called “믿고 보는 배우” — an actor you can trust to watch — the highest praise meaning that anything he appears in is worth seeing.
Now that same Haneul tells us:
“I believe it will go well, so please believe in yourselves too.”
His poem for the Year of the Red Horse reflects his faith in the power of words. In Korea, there is a saying:
말이 씨가 된다
Words become seeds.
By speaking hope aloud, we invite brighter realities to grow.
As the “horse” named Haneul gallops through 2026,
may the “words” he weaves become seeds for our own journeys forward.
Let’s believe in ourselves and keep moving ahead.
