Aegukga

This article is about the national anthem of South Korea. For the national anthem of North Korea, see Aegukka. For the national anthem of Korean Empire, see Korean Empire Aegukga.
애국가
English: Patriotic Song
Aegukga

South Korean emblem

National anthem of
 South Korea

Also known as Song of Love for the Country
Lyrics unidentified, probably Yun Chi-ho, Ahn Changho
Music Ahn Eak-tai, 1935
Adopted 1948

Music sample
"The Patriotic Song"
(instrumental)
Aegukga
Hangul 애국가
Hanja 愛國歌
Revised Romanization Aegukga
McCune–Reischauer Aegukka

"Aegukga" (Hangul: 애국가; hanja: 愛國歌,Korean pronunciation: [ɛːɡukk͈a]; English: "Patriotic Song") is the national anthem of South Korea. It was written around 1896. The exact origins of the song are unknown, but the current official version was established on August 15, 1948.

Meaning

The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture defines "Aegukga" as "the song to wake up the mind to love the country". "Aegukga" in itself is differentiated from a national anthem. While a national anthem is the official symbol of the country, Aegukga refers to any song, official or unofficial, that contains love towards its country. However, the nationally designated "Aegukga" plays the role of symbolizing the country.[1][2] In general, the term Aegukga refers to the national anthem of South Korea.[3] Nevertheless, there are still more than ten types of still existing "Aegukgas" in South Korea.[1]

History

Origin

In the 1890s, the previously established Joseon dynasty began to contact other countries for the first time, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Russia. The meeting with foreign countries gave rise to patriotism, which then created several "Aegugkas". For instance, works in 1896 includes "Aeguka" created by Na Pil-gun, Han Myung-one, and Lee Yong-mu.[1] On November 21, 1896, scholars from the Paejae school sang a version of "Aegukga" in the independence door ceremony. However, this song differs from the song sung by the Military Academy in 1898 and from the songs sung on the birthday of the former emperor.[1]

However, a book from the Korean Empire in 1900 has a record of a national anthem. It was called the "Korean Empire Aegukga", or literally the "Anthem of the Greater Korean Empire". The anthem is commonly believed to be written by Franz Eckert.[1][4] Some people contend that records documenting Franz Eckert's actions show that it was physically impossible for him to write the anthem. It is guessed that the song sung by the Paejae school was the Scottish song "Auld Lang Syne" and that the song sung by the Military Academy is a version of the British song "God Save the Queen".[1]

The song attributed to Eckert was established by the military in 1902. A version of Eckert's song with different lyrics began to be officially implemented in the schools in 1904. All the schools were forced to sing the version of the song. The policy is thought of as a by-product of the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 and the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907.[1]

There are many theories concerning the composer of the currently official version of "Aegukga". It is most commonly believed that the lyrics of the song were written for the cornerstone-laying ceremony of the Independence Gate in Seoul in 1896 by Yun Chi-ho, a Korean politician.[1][5] Other theories name the composer as An Chang-ho, Choi Byung-hun, Kim In-sik, Min Yeong-hwan, or some combination of the aforementioned composers. The "Committee to search for the composer of 'Aegukga'" was established in 1955 by the government on the request of the United States, but the committee concluded that there was not enough evidence to name a composer.[6]

Initially, "Aegukga" was sung to the tune of the Scottish folk song "Auld Lang Syne", introduced to Korea by Western missionaries. The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (1919–1945) in Shanghai, China adopted it as their national anthem. At a ceremony celebrating the founding of South Korea on 15 August 1948, the Scottish tune was finally replaced by the Finale of "Korea Fantasia", which Ahn Eak-tai had composed in 1935. The new "Aegukga" was later adopted by the Presidential Decree of 1948 by the then South Korean President Syngman Rhee (or Lee Seungman).

Copyright

Since the composer Ahn Eak-tai died in 1965, the copyright for the music was to not expire until at least 2036. Two South Korean professional football clubs were sued by a copyrightholders' group for playing this song in December 2003.[7] However, on March 16, 2005, the composer's widow—Lolita Ahn—and her family relinquished all rights to "Aegukga" to the South Korean government.[8] The lyrics are now in the public domain.[9]

Lyrics

Hangul
동해 물과 백두산이 마르고 닳도록
하느님이 보우하사 우리나라 만세

Refrain

무궁화 삼천리 화려 강산
대한 사람 대한으로 길이 보전하세
남산 위에 저 소나무 철갑을 두른 듯
바람서리 불변함은 우리 기상일세
Refrain
가을 하늘 공활한데 높고 구름 없이
밝은 달은 우리 가슴 일편단심일세
Refrain
이 기상과 이 맘으로 충성을 다하여
괴로우나 즐거우나 나라 사랑하세
Refrain
Hangul and hanja
東海 물과 白頭山이 마르고 닳도록
하느님이 保佑하사 우리나라 萬歲

Refrain

無窮花 三千里 華麗 江山
大韓 사람 大韓으로 길이 保全하세
南山 위에 저 소나무 鐵甲을 두른 듯
바람서리 不變함은 우리 氣像일세
Refrain
가을 하늘 空豁한데 높고 구름 없이
밝은 달은 우리 가슴 一片丹心일세
Refrain
이 氣像과 이 맘으로 忠誠을 다하여
괴로우나 즐거우나 나라 사랑하세
Refrain
Revised Romanization
Donghae mulgwa baekdusani mareugo daltorok
Haneunimi bouhasa urinara manse

Refrain

Mugunghwa samcheolli hwaryeo gangsan
Daehan saram daehaneuro giri bojeonhase
Namsan wie jeo sonamu cheolgabeul dureun deut
Baram seori bulbyeonhameun uri gisangilse
Refrain
Gaeul haneul gonghwalhande nopgo gureum eopsi
Balgeun dareun uri gaseum ilpyeondansimilse
Refrain
I gisanggwa i mameuro chungseongeul dahayeo
Goerouna jeulgeouna nara saranghase
Refrain
English translation
Until that day when Mt. Baekdu is worn away and the East Sea's waters run dry,
May the God protect and preserve our country!

Refrain

Hibiscus and three thousand ri full of splendid mountains and rivers;
Koreans, to the Korean way, stay always true!
As the pine atop Namsan Peak stands firm, unchanged through wind and frost,
as if wrapped in armour, so shall our resilient spirit.
Refrain
The Autumn skies are void and vast, high and cloudless;
the bright moon is like our heart, undivided and true.
Refrain
With this spirit and this mind, let us give all loyalty,
in suffering or joy, and love our nation.
Refrain

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "애국가". Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  2. ↑ "애국가[愛國歌]". Doosan Coroporation. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  3. ↑ "애국-가愛國歌". NAVER Corp. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  4. ↑ "대한제국애국가". NAVER Corp. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  5. ↑ "South Korea – Aegukga". NationalAnthems.me. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
  6. ↑ "안익태가 애국가를 처음 만들었다?". NAVER Corp. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  7. ↑ "애국가 틀때도 저작권료 내야돼?". The Hankyoreh. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  8. ↑ "애국가 작곡가 안익태 48주기 추모식". News1 Korea. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Republic of Korea - National Anthem". Internet Archive. Retrieved October 21, 2013.

External links