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Aegukga
Hangul	애국가
Hanja	愛國歌
Revised Romanization	Aegukga
McCune–Reischauer	Aegukka

Aegukga
English: Patriotic Song
애국가
	National anthem of South Korea Former national anthem of North Korea (1947–1948)
Lyrics	Unknown (probably Yun Chi-ho or Ahn Changho), 1896
Music	Ahn Eak-tai, 1936
Adopted	August 1948; 76 years ago

"Aegukga" (Korean: 애국가; Hanja: 愛國歌), often translated as "The Patriotic Song", is the national anthem of South Korea. It was adopted in 1948, the year the country's government was founded. Its music was composed in the 1930s and arranged most recently in 2018; its lyrics date back to the 1890s. The lyrics of "Aegukga" were originally set to the music of the Scottish song "Auld Lang Syne" before Ahn Eak-tai composed a unique melody specifically for it in 1936. Before the founding of South Korea, the song, set to the music of "Auld Lang Syne", was sung, as well when Korea was under Japanese rule by dissidents. The version set to the melody composed by Ahn Eak-tai was adopted as the national anthem of the Korean exile government, which existed during Korea's occupation by Japan from the early 1910s to the mid-1940s.

"Aegukga" has four verses, but on most occasions only the first one, followed by the chorus, is sung when performed publicly at events such as baseball games and football matches.

Etymology

Aegukga literally means "patriotic song". 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 or gukga (lit. 'country song') is an official symbol of the state, aegukga refers to any song, official or unofficial, that contains patriotic fervor towards its country, such as Hungary's "Szózat" or the U.S. "The Stars and Stripes Forever". However, the nationally designated "Aegukga" plays the role of symbolizing the country.^[2]^[3] In general shorthand, the term aegukga refers to the national anthem of South Korea.^[4] Nevertheless, there are still more than ten other extant "Aegukgas" in South Korea.^[2]

History

2018 official orchestral and choral vocal recording

Performed by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and the Seoul Choir

2018 official orchestral recording

Performed by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra

2018 official orchestral recording (1 verse version)

Performed by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra

2020 orchestral and traditional instruments instrumental version (one verse)

U.S. Navy Band instrumental rendition of the 1945–1948 anthem (one verse)

Instrumental rendition of "Auld Lang Syne", which the words were originally set to during the United States Army Military Government in Korea and the People's Committee of North Korea

1942 piano and choral vocal recording (verses one and two)

2011 U.S. military band instrumental rendition (one verse)

Performed at the White House during an official South Korean state visit to the U.S.

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Origins

The music to "Aegukga" was composed in 1936 by An Ik-tae (1906–1965). It was customarily called the "national anthem" until it was officially established as the national anthem of South Korea after the government's foundation on August 15, 1948.^[5]

There are theories that the lyrics were written by Yoon Chi-ho, Ahn Chang-ho, or Min Young-hwan, but none of these have been officially confirmed. It was not officially designated or adopted as the national anthem by the government, but it came to be customarily called the national anthem and eventually became the song symbolizing the Republic of Korea. Composer Ahn Ik-tae first encountered the lyrics of "Aegukga" during the March 1st Movement in 1919. Feeling regretful that "Aegukga" was being sung to the tune of the Scottish folk song "Auld Lang Syne," also known as "The Song of Farewell," he decided that he, as a Korean, should compose its melody himself and composed "Aegukga" in 1935.^[6]

Before the current Aegukga, the first national anthem was created during the Korean Empire era. After the Gabo Reform of 1894 and the establishment of the Independence association in 1896, many anthems to inspire patriotism were written in the private sector, numbering about ten. Although it is unclear which melodies were used, the lyrics began to be published in the Independence Newspaper. During this time, the Korean Empire’s national anthem was officially proclaimed, marking the first time a national anthem was formally established by the state.^[7]

After the proclamation of the Korean Empire, Emperor Gojong felt the need for a national anthem as a state symbol and announced the establishment of a military band by law in December 1900. He invited German musician Franz von Eckert (1852–1916). Eckert, who had served as the bandmaster of the German Navy, was invited to Japan in 1879, where he worked with the Japanese Navy and contributed to the spread of Western music. After 23 years in Japan, he returned to Germany in March 1900 and was recommended by the German Legation in Korea to come to Korea on February 7, 1901, bringing various instruments for a 50-member military band. Following Emperor Gojong's command, he completed the Korean Empire’s national anthem on July 1, 1902, based on traditional Korean musical scales, and it was proclaimed as the national anthem on August 15, 1902. Eckert was awarded the Taeguk Order of Merit, 3rd Class, for his contribution to composing the anthem.^[7]

The sheet music for the Korean Empire's national anthem was proclaimed and sent to over fifty countries worldwide. However, with the annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910, Japan's "Kimigayo" became the official anthem, and the Korean anthem was banned. After Korea's liberation, the national anthem was no longer adopted as the official national anthem because of his participation in Japan's "Kimigayo" composition.^[7]

Although the past Korean Empire's national anthem remained behind the scenes of history due to the circumstances of the times, it holds the status of being the first Western music composed in Korea and the first national anthem.^[7]

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 copyright holders' group for playing this song in December 2003.^[8] However, on March 16, 2005, the composer's widow—Lolita Ahn—and her family relinquished all rights to "Aegukga" to the South Korean government.^[9] "Aegukga" has since become a public domain song.^[10]

Version

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.”^[11]

All sporting events such as pro baseball games start with the song.^[12]

Lyrics

Korean original	Hangul and Hanja	McCune–Reischauer Romanization	Revised Romanization of Korean
1절 동해 물과 백두산이 마르고 닳도록, 하느님이 보우하사 우리나라 만세. 후렴: 무궁화 삼천리 화려 강산, 대한 사람 대한으로 길이 보전하세. 2절: 남산 위에 저 소나무 철갑을 두른 듯 바람서리 불변함은 우리 기상일세. 후렴 3절: 가을 하늘 공활한데 높고 구름 없이 밝은 달은 우리 가슴 일편단심일세. 후렴 4절: 이 기상과 이 맘으로 충성을 다하여 괴로우나 즐거우나 나라 사랑하세. 후렴	1節: 東海물과 白頭山이 마르고 닳도록, 하느님이 保佑하사 우리나라 萬歲. 後斂: 無窮花三千里華麗江山, 大韓 사람 大韓으로 길이 保全하세. 2節: 南山 위에 저 소나무 鐵甲을 두른 듯 바람서리 不變함은 우리 氣像일세. 後斂 3節: 가을 하늘 空豁한데 높고 구름 없이 밝은 달은 우리 가슴 一片丹心일세. 後斂 4節: 이 氣像과 이 맘으로 忠誠을 다하여 괴로우나 즐거우나 나라 사랑하세. 後斂	1-chŏl: Tonghae mulgwa Paektusani marŭgo talt'orok Hanŭnimi pouhasa urinara manse. Huryŏm: Mugungwa samch'ŏlli hwaryŏ kangsan Taehan saram taehanŭro kiri pojŏnhase. 2-chŏl: Namsan wie chŏ sonamu ch'ŏlgabŭl turŭn tŭt Paramsŏri pulbyŏnhamŭn uri kisangilse. Huryŏm 3-chŏl: Kaŭl hanŭl kongwarhande nop'ko kurŭm ŏpsi Palgŭn tarŭn uri kasŭm ilp'yŏndansimilsse. Huryŏm 4-chŏl: I kisanggwa i mamŭro ch'ungsŏngŭl tahayŏ koerouna chŭlgŏuna nara sarangase. Huryŏm	1-jeol: Donghae mulgwa Baekdusani mareugo daltorok Haneunimi bouhasa urinara manse. Huryeom: Mugunghwa samcheolli hwaryeo gangsan Daehan saram daehaneuro giri bojeonhase. 2-jeol: Namsan wie jeo sonamu cheolgabeul dureun deut Baram seori bulbyeonhameun uri gisang-ilse. Huryeom 3-jeol: Ga-eul haneul gonghwalhande nopgo gureum eopsi Balgeun dareun uri gaseum ilpyeondansimilse. Huryeom 4-jeol: I gisanggwa i mameuro chungseong-eul dahayeo Goerouna jeulgeouna nara saranghase. Huryeom

English translation^[13]
1st verse Until the East Sea's^[a] waves are dry and Mt. Baekdu worn away, God watches us, our Korea last forever. Refrain: Rose of Sharon, thousand miles of range and river land; Korean being itself, ever may Korea stand. 2nd verse That armored pine on Mt. Namsan, seems like they are standing on duty; Unchanging winds and frosts would be our resolute. Refrain: Rose of Sharon, thousand miles of range and river land; Korean being itself, ever may Korea stand. 3rd verse Autumn's, arching evening sky is clear without any clouds; Our hearts are the radiant moon, becoming single and honest. Refrain: Rose of Sharon, thousand miles of range and river land; Korean being itself, ever may Korea stand. 4th verse With such a will, such a spirit, be in loyal; Joys, Pains, whatever it does, love your Korea. Refrain: Rose of Sharon, thousand miles of range and river land; Korean being itself, ever may Korea stand.