Aegukka


"Aegukka" officially translated as the "Patriotic Song" is the national anthem of North Korea. It was composed in 1945 as a patriotic song celebrating independence from Japanese occupation and was adopted as the state anthem in 1947.

Etymology

"Aegukka" is a Romanized transliteration of "The Patriotic Song"; the song is also known by its incipit Ach'imŭn pinnara or "Let Morning Shine" or alternatively as the "Song of a Devotion to a Country".
The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture defines "Aegukka" as "the song to wake up the mind to love the country". "Aegukka" in itself is differentiated from a national anthem. While a national anthem or gukka is an official symbol of the state, aegukka 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 "Aegukka" plays the role of symbolizing the country. In general shorthand, the term aegukka refers to the national anthem of North Korea.

History

Originally, the Korean exile government in Shanghai, China adopted as their national anthem "Aegukga" to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne". After World War II, South Korea kept the words, put to a new tune, while North Korea adopted this newly written piece in 1947. The words were written by Pak Se Yong and the music was composed by Kim Won Gyun.
In the early 1980s, Kim Jong Il sought to reduce the song's importance to the benefit of "Song of General Kim Il Sung".
The complete version of "Aegukka" consists two verses. On official occasions, when only the first verse is performed, it is customary to repeat the last four bars. However, if both verses are performed, it is the last four bars of the second verse that are repeated instead.
"Song of General Kim Il Sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong Il" have since taken the place of de facto national anthems domestically, and "Aegukka" is reserved for representing North Korea internationally: when foreign dignitaries visit the country or North Korean athletes compete at international sporting competitions. Compared to other nations, the North Korean national anthem is not often performed inside the country and thus many North Koreans do not know the lyrics.
"Aegukka" is almost unique among most North Korean patriotic songs, as it praises neither the Workers' Party of Korea, nor the Kim dynasty, but rather the whole of Korea itself.
"Aegukka" is played at the start of each of Korean Central Television's broadcast days.

Lyrics

Without [Hanja]

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With Hanja

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IPA">Korean phonology">IPA

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