I met Patrik for the first time 4 years ago a dark winter night in Malmö, Sweden. He had just gotten back from Seoul. I was about to leave. Patrik and Seoul had a special history. As adopted from Korea to Sweden, he had been struggling his whole life with questions of his own identity. During his time in Korea, he had found parts of his family. He had found that he’d always celebrated his birthday on the wrong date. But he hadn’t found his mother.

 

About a month later, on February 14, Patrik celebrated his birthday on his real birthday for the first time of his life, and as birthday gift I gave him the song “New Birthday.”

 

4 years have passed, and I have learned the city, the language, the culture. Seoul is now one of my hometowns. And Patrik, he has release a book about his story, called Gul utanpå. So this year, I’m giving him the song in a complete new version. With a video. And a letter straight from Seoul, broadcasted on SVT Go’kväll.

 

Patrik, today is your new birthday. Celebrate it with life.