Level: Upper-Beginner to Intermediate (TOPIK 3–4) | Grammar focus: “-(으)로 기억되다” / “-고 싶다”
Where this line comes from
10 years ago in January 2016, the Korean fashion magazine FashionSeoul published a beauty feature on Korean actor Kang Haneul (강하늘)（age 25 at the time), in partnership with Dior. The piece describes his approach to choosing his own signature scent — something to give him quiet confidence on the red carpet — and it’s in that context that this line appears, introducing the Dior fragrance “Sauvage,” which Haneul was said to wear.
Note: this line is written by the magazine as narration describing Kang Haneul’s mindset, not a direct quote in his own words. Worth keeping in mind if you’re citing it elsewhere.
Literal breakdown and meaning
| Korean | Literal meaning |
|---|---|
| 매력적인 향을 지닌 | having/carrying a captivating scent |
| 좋은 사람으로 | as a good person |
| 기억되고 싶다 | want to be remembered |
Natural translation: “I want to be remembered as a good person with a captivating scent.”
It’s not about being flashy or memorable for appearance — it’s about the impression you leave behind, the way a good scent lingers after someone leaves the room.
Grammar point: “-(으)로 기억되다” (to be remembered as ~)
The pattern noun + (으)로 works like the English “as” — it marks a role or identity someone is seen in. 기억되다 is the passive form of 기억하다 (“to remember”), so together it means “to be remembered as [something].”
- 좋은 사람으로 기억되다 → to be remembered as a good person
- 친절한 배우로 기억되다 → to be remembered as a kind actor
The full pattern to memorize is:
[the identity you want] + (으)로 기억되고 싶다 — “I want to be remembered as ___.”
Try it yourself
- 나는 배려심 있는 친구로 기억되고 싶다.
(“I want to be remembered as a caring friend.”) - 열심히 사는 사람으로 기억되고 싶어요.
(“I want to be remembered as someone who lives life fully.”)
Clementine’s note🍊
In Korean, 향 (scent) isn’t just about how something smells — it’s often used as a metaphor for a person’s character and presence. What Haneul was really talking about in this feature was self-expression: choosing a fragrance as a way of choosing how he wants to be seen💙 That was back in 2016 — ten years ago now. And after all these years… Haneul, you really are loved and remembered, by people all over the world💙
Source: [FS화보] 청춘스타 ‘강하늘’, 그가 소중하게 지켜온 향수 이야기, FashionSeoul, January 22, 2016
https://fashionseoul.com/99872
