Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Norway

The Story Behind Aegukga

Cheryl Hagen

For nearly a century, “Aegukga” (애국가), the national anthem of the Republic of Korea, has been a part of the people’s lives to cultivate patriotism and loyalty. Aegukga literally means “any song expressing love towards their country” regardless of whether it is official or unofficial. In the beginning, the song was being sung at official government functions and as it became more popular in the later years; people also sang it in schools and at national sporting events such as the Olympic Games and Korean pop idols have even performed it at other formal events.

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There have been several discussions about who could have written the lyrics but no one has ever been officially recognized. The first lyrics were known in 1907 and have grown to what the lyrics are today. In the refrain, the National Flower, mugunghwa, is mentioned; “Three thousand ri of splendid rivers and mountains covered with mugunghwa blossoms.” The lyrics, “Three thousand ri”, equals 1,200 kilometers, the length of the Korean Peninsula and “mugunghwa” means “eternal blossom that never fades.” The affection for the national anthem grew stronger after these words were added to the lyrics.

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English lyrics:
1. Until that day when the waters of the East Sea run dry and Mount Baekdusan is worn away, God protect and preserve our nation; Hurray to Korea.
2. As the pine atop the near mountain stands firm, unchanged through wind and frost, as if wrapped in armor, so shall our resilient spirit.
3. The autumn sky is void and vast, high and cloudless; the bright moon is our heart, undivided and true.
4. With this spirit and this mind, give all loyalty, in suffering or in joy, to the love of country. Refrain: Three thousand ri of splendid rivers and mountains covered with mugunghwa blossoms. Great Korean people, stay true to the Great Korean way!

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There were several versions of the patriotic song used during the late Joseon Dynasty. The earliest versions were featured in the 1896 early editions of “Dongnip Sinmun” (The Independent) but it is unclear which melodies were used with the lyrics. In 1902, “Daehan Jeguk (Korean Empire) Aegukga” was composed and a Western style military band played the song for major state functions. Even though it has been prohibited since 1910 there were many Koreans who came to sing the national anthem for the March 1st Independence Movement in 1919.

While Ahn Eak Tae was working abroad, he decided to compose a song because he thought it wasn’t proper that their national anthem was being sung to the Scottish folk song, “Auld lang syne”. Aegukga is taken from the finale of Symphonic Fantasy Korea that was composed by Ahn in 1935. However, it became more popular abroad and the people still chose to sing it to the folk song even after the liberation in 1945. When the Korean government was established in 1948, the anthem we know today became recognized and officially accepted as the national anthem and became published in student textbooks.

In 2018, music director, Park In-young, gave Aegukga a makeover and added brass and woodwind instruments to the arrangement and she said, “while trying not to change Ahn’s original version, we gave it a more modern spin.”
For some Koreans Aegukga doesn’t have any impact or hold any special meaning while others stand proud when they hear or sing it and remember the love their ancestors held and the sacrifices they made in their struggle for independence.

See full video: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2796982067255159

 *The copyright of the video is owned by KBS(Korean Broadcasting System).

Sources:

- http://ahneaktai.or.kr/?page_id=92

- https://www.mois.go.kr/eng/sub/a03/nationalSymbol_2/screen.do

- http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/

- https://tinyurl.com/y7swm37q

- https://www.kpopmap.com/6-best-korean-national-anthem-sung-by-kpop-idols/

- http://www.arirang.com/News/News_View.asp?nseq=228284