Aegukga
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| English: Patriotic Song | |
|---|---|
| 애국가 愛國歌 | |
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National anthem of  South Korea | |
| Lyrics | Unknown author, [1][a] 1896 |
| Music | Ahn Eak-tai, 1935 |
| Adopted | August 1948 |
| Audio sample | |
"The Patriotic Song" (instrumental) | |
| Aegukga | |
| Hangul | |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Aegukga |
| McCune–Reischauer | Aegukka |
"Aegukga" (Korean: 애국가/愛國歌, lit. '"Love Country Song"'), often translated as "The Patriotic Song", is the national anthem of South Korea. It was adopted in 1948, the year the country was founded. Its music was composed in the 1930s and 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 a unique melody was composed specifically for it. Before the founding of South Korea, the song's lyrics, set to the music of "Auld Lang Syne", was used as the national anthem of the Korean exile government which existed during Korea's occupation by Imperial Japan from the early 1910s to the mid-1940s. The song has four verses, but on most occasions only the first one is sung when performed publicly at events such as soccer games.
Etymology
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 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
Origins
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.[2] On November 21, 1896, scholars from the Pai Chai 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.[2]
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.[2][5] 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".[2]
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.[2]
There are many theories concerning the writer of the currently official lyrics of "Aegukga". It is most commonly believed that the lyrics were written for the cornerstone-laying ceremony of the Independence Gate in Seoul in 1896 by Yun Chi-ho, a Korean politician.[2][6] Later, Kim Gu during the Korean exile government era, said to his comrades "In the March 1st Movement, we had the Taegeukgi and the Aegukga. Why who wrote it should be an issue?" said Kim. "The lyrics and the anthem's spirit are more important than the nature of the lyricist.", he refuted.[7] Other theories name the lyricist as An Chang-ho, Choi Byung-hun, Kim In-sik, Min Yeong-hwan, or some combination of the aforementioned writers. 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 lyricist.[8]
Initially, "Aegukga" was sung to the tune of the Scottish folk song "Auld Lang Syne", introduced to Korea by western missionaries. The Provisional Korean Government (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 copyright holders' group for playing this song in December 2003.[9] However, on March 16, 2005, the composer's widow—Lolita Ahn—and her family relinquished all rights to "Aegukga" to the South Korean government.[10] "Aegukga" has since become a public domain song.[11]
Criticism
The South Korean national anthem's lyrics have been criticized by some as being too focused on racial nationalism instead of civic republicanism,[12] thus festering patriotism towards a "Korean race" rather than the South Korean state itself,[12] possibly endangering South Korea's national security in the face of a North Korean military threat.[12]
Lyrics
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동해물과 백두산이 마르고 닳도록
남산 위에 저 소나무 철갑을 두른 듯
가을 하늘 공활한데 높고 구름 없이
이 기상과 이 맘으로 충성을 다하여
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東海물과 白頭山이 마르고 닳도록
南山 위에 저 소나무 鐵甲을 두른 듯
가을 하늘 空豁한데 높고 구름 없이
이 氣像과 이 맘으로 忠誠을 다하여
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Donghaemulgwa baekdusani mareugo daltorok
Namsan wie jeo sonamu cheolgabeul dureun deut
Gaeul haneul gonghwalhande nopgo gureum eopsi
I gisanggwa i mameuro chungseongeul dahayeo
|
- English translation
Until that day when Mt. Baekdu is worn away and the East Sea's[b] waters run dry,
May God protect and preserve our country!
- Refrain:
- Hibiscus and three thousand ri full of splendid mountains and rivers;
- Great Koreans, to the Great 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, to love our nation.
- Refrain
See also
Notes
- ^ Probably Yun Chi-ho or Ahn Changho.
- ^ The name South Korea uses to refer to the Sea of Japan.
References
- ^ (CHEONGWADAE), 청와대. "대한민국 청와대". 대한민국 청와대. Archived from the original on 2015-06-10.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h "애국가". Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ^ "애국가[愛國歌]". Doosan Coroporation. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ^ "대한제국애국가". NAVER Corp. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ^ "South Korea – Aegukga". NationalAnthems.me. Archived from the original on 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ 팽귄기자. "대학토론 배틀 – 좋은 투자의 조건 -". demo-press.optian.co.kr.
- ^ "안익태가 애국가를 처음 만들었다?". NAVER Corp. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
- ^ "애국가 틀때도 저작권료 내야돼?". The Hankyoreh. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
- ^ "애국가 작곡가 안익태 48주기 추모식". News1 Korea. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
- ^ "Republic of Korea - National Anthem". Internet Archive. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ a b c Myers, Brian Reynolds (22 September 2011). "North Korea's state-loyalty advantage". Free Online Library. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018.
The national anthem conveys no republican ideals at all, referring only to the ancient race and homeland.
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