National Anthem of South Korea
“Aegukga”
(Korean: 애국가; Hanja: 愛國歌; pronounced [ɛːɡuk͈ːa]; lit. “Patriotic Song”),
often translated as “The Patriotic Song”, is the national anthem of
Republic of Korea. It was adopted in 1948, the year the country 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’s lyrics, set to the music of “Auld
Lang Syne”, was sung, as well as during Korea 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.
First carried
out in 1896, it became famous via way of means of all Koreans via way of means
of 1910. (It became now no longer the country wide anthem presently however, as
an imperial anthem became in use on the time.) At this time, the music became
generally sung to a Scottish peoples music, “Auld Lang Syne”, in addition to on
occasion to different track. In that year, the Japanese invaded Korea, and
banned the music. However, it became nevertheless famous with Koreans overseas
as a craving for country wide independence.
In 1935 composer Ahn Eaktay wrote the track
that`s presently in use for the anthem (he desired the music to have a Korean
melody and now no longer that of a peoples music of a overseas nation). It
became followed via way of means of the authorities in exile and then, while
South Korea became based in 1948, 3 years after the Japanese profession ended,
it became formally followed via way of means of that authorities.
The anthem stocks a name with that of the
anthem of North Korea, in addition to that of the Korean Empire, the track is
likewise quite harking back to that of North Korea`s anthem. There has
additionally been a “united Korean anthem” created via way of means of mixing
the melodies of the 2 nations` anthems seamlessly, utilized by a few to sell
Korean re-unification.
National Anthem
Korean lyrics (Han-geul script)
동해 물과 백두산이 마르고 닳도록
하느님이 보우하사 우리나라 만세
CHORUS:
무궁화 삼천리 화려강산
대한사람 대한으로 길이 보전하세
남산 위에 저 소나무 철갑을 두른 듯
바람서리 불변함은 우리 기상일세
Chorus
가을 하늘 공활한데 높고 구름 없이
밝은 달은 우리 가슴 일편단심일세
Chorus
이 기상과 이 맘으로 충성을 다하여
괴로우나 즐거우나 나라 사랑하세
Chorus
(Romanization)
Donghae mulgwa Baekdusani mareugo daltorok
Haneunimi bo-uhasa uri nara manse
CHORUS:
Mugunghwa samcheolli hwaryeo gangsan
Daehan saram Daehan euro giri bojeonhase
Namsan wie jeosonamu cheolgapeul dureundeut
Baram seori bulbyeon naneun uri gisang ilse
Chorus
Gaeul hanal gonghwal hande nopgogu reumeopsi
Byalgeun dalgeun uri gasim ilpyeon dansim ilse
Chorus
Igi sangnwa imam euro chungseongeul dahayeo
Goero una jeulgeo una nara sarang hase
Chorus
English Translation
Until that day when the waters of the Eastern Sea run dry and Mt. Baekdu
is worn away,
God protect and preserve our nation.
CHORUS:
Three thousand Li of splendid rivers and mountains, filled with Roses of
Sharon;
Great Korean people, stay true to the Great Korean way!
As the pine atop Mt. Namsan stands firm, as if wrapped in armour,
unchanged through wind and frost, so shall our resilient spirit.
Chorus
The Autumn sky is void and vast, high and cloudless;
the bright moon is our heart, undivided and true.
Chorus
With this spirit and this mind, give all loyalty,
in suffering or in joy, to the love of country.
Chorus
