View source for Aegukga

{{Short description|National anthem of South Korea}}
{{About||the national anthem of North Korea|Aegukka|the national anthem of the Korean Empire|Korean Empire Aegukga}}
{{Expand Korean|date=August 2019|topic=cult}}
{{Infobox anthem
| title         = {{lang|ko|애국가}}
| transcription = {{Transliteration|ko|italic=no|Aegukga}}
| english_title = Patriotic Song
| image         = South Korean National Anthem Sheet Music.svg{{!}}border
| image_size    = 
| caption       = 
| prefix        = National
| country       = [[South Korea]]
----
Former national anthem of [[People's Committee of North Korea|North Korea]] (1947–1948)
| author        = ''Unknown'' (probably [[Yun Chi-ho]] or [[Ahn Changho]])
| lyrics_date   = 1896<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.president.go.kr/en/korea/symbols.php|title=대한민국 청와대|first=청와대|last=(CHEONGWADAE)|website=[[Blue House]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610085917/http://m.president.go.kr/en/korea/symbols.php|archive-date=2015-06-10}}</ref>
| composer      = [[Ahn Eak-tai]]
| music_date    = 1936
| adopted       = {{Start date and age|1948|08}}
| predecessor   = 
| sound_title   = [[U.S. Navy Band]] instrumental version (one verse)
}}
{{Infobox Korean name/auto
|hangul=^애국가| hanja=愛國歌 |lk=Song of Loving One's Country
}}
"'''{{Transliteration|ko|italic=no|Aegukga}}'''" ({{Korean|hangul=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 version set to the music of "Auld Lang Syne" was sung, as well as when [[Korea under Japanese rule|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 [[Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea|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 soccer matches.

==Etymology==
{{transliteration|ko|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 {{transliteration|ko|gukga}} ({{Literal translation|country song}}) is an official symbol of the state, {{transliteration|ko|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.<ref name="Encykorea Aegukga">{{cite web|url=http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Index?contents_id=E0035201|title=애국가|publisher=[[Academy of Korean Studies]]|access-date=October 8, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Doopedia Aegukga">{{cite web|url=http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000851180|title=애국가[愛國歌]|publisher=Doosan Corporation|access-date=October 8, 2013}}</ref> In general shorthand, the term ''aegukga'' refers to the [[national anthem]] of [[South Korea]].<ref name="Naver Definition">{{cite web|url=http://krdic.naver.com/detail.nhn?docid=25456600|title=애국-가愛國歌|publisher=NAVER Corp.|access-date=October 8, 2013}}</ref> Nevertheless, there are still more than ten other extant "Aegukgas" in [[South Korea]].<ref name="Encykorea Aegukga" />

==History==
{{Listen
| type         = music
| filename     = National Anthem of Republic of Korea 2018 Chorus.wav
| title        = 2018 official orchestral and choral vocal recording
| description  = Performed by the [[Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra]] and the Seoul Choir
| filename2    = National Anthem of Republic of Korea 2018 Orchestral (4 Verse Version).ogg
| title2       = 2018 official orchestral recording
| description2 = Performed by the [[Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra]]
| filename3    = National Anthem of Republic of Korea 2018 Orchestral (1 Verse Version).ogg
| title3       = 2018 official orchestral recording (1 verse version)
| description3 = Performed by the [[Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra]]
| filename4    = The South Korean national anthem(Traditional instruments).wav
| title4       = 2020 orchestral and traditional instruments instrumental version (one verse)
| filename5    = National anthem of South Korea (1945–1948).wav
| title5       = U.S. Navy Band instrumental rendition of the 1945–1948 anthem (one verse)
| description5 = 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]]
| filename6    = Aegukga, 1942.oga
| title6       = 1942 piano and choral vocal recording (verses one and two)
| filename7    = National anthem of South Korea performed in October 2011 at the White House.oga
| title7       = 2011 U.S. military band instrumental rendition (one verse)
| description7 = Performed at the [[White House]] during an official South Korean state visit to the U.S.}}

===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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theme.archives.go.kr/next/symbolKorea/nationalAnthemHistory.do|title=국가상징 > 애국가 > 애국가의 내력|website=theme.archives.go.kr}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0035202|title=애국가 (愛國歌)|first=경찬|last=민|publisher=[[Academy of Korean Studies]]|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]]}}</ref>

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.<ref name="대한민국역사박물관 | 대한제국 애국가">{{Cite web|url=https://www.much.go.kr/L/Fliowl40MR.do|title=대한민국역사박물관 &#124; 대한제국 애국가}}</ref>

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.<ref name="대한민국역사박물관 | 대한제국 애국가"/>

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.<ref name="대한민국역사박물관 | 대한제국 애국가"/>

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.<ref name="대한민국역사박물관 | 대한제국 애국가"/>

In 2018, music director, [[Park In-young]], recomposed Aegukga, and added brass and woodwind instruments to the arrangement. She said, “while trying not to change Ahn’s original version, we gave it a more modern spin.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2020 |title=The Story Behind Aegukga |url=https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/no-en/brd/m_21237/view.do?seq=63 |website=Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Norway}}</ref>

All sporting events such as pro baseball games start with the song.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 20, 2020 |title=Ordeal of 'Aegukga' |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2023/12/638_294667.html |work=[[The Korea Times]]}}</ref>

===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.<ref name="Aegukga Sue">{{cite web|url=http://www.hani.co.kr/section-005000000/2003/12/005000000200312121918302.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804231731/http://www.hani.co.kr/section-005000000/2003/12/005000000200312121918302.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 4, 2012|title=애국가 틀때도 저작권료 내야돼?|publisher=[[The Hankyoreh]]|access-date=October 11, 2013}}</ref> However, on March 16, 2005, the composer's widow—Lolita Ahn—and her family relinquished all rights to "Aegukga" to the South Korean government.<ref name="Aegukga Current">{{cite web|url=http://news1.kr/articles/1325060|title=애국가 작곡가 안익태 48주기 추모식|date=16 September 2013|publisher=News1 Korea|access-date=October 11, 2013}}</ref> "Aegukga" has since become a [[public domain]] song.<ref name="Aegukga Archive">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/RepublicOfKorea-NationalAnthem|title=Republic of Korea – National Anthem|publisher=Internet Archive|date=2007|access-date=June 24, 2019}}</ref>

==Lyrics==
{|class="wikitable"
![[Korean language|Korean]] original
![[Hangul]] and [[Hanja]]
![[McCune–Reischauer]] romanization
![[Revised Romanization of Korean]]
!English translation<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://15cwd.pa.go.kr/english/children/country/anthem.php |title=Country. Anthems |access-date=2020-05-27 |archive-date=2021-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522074644/http://15cwd.pa.go.kr/english/children/country/anthem.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap; text-align:center"
|<poem style="line-height:1.52em;">{{lang|ko|{{small|'''1절'''}}
동해 물과 백두산이 마르고 닳도록,
하느님이 보우하사 우리나라 만세.

{{small|'''후렴:'''}}
무궁화 삼천리 화려 강산,
대한 사람 대한으로 길이 보전하세.

{{small|'''2절:'''}}
남산 위에 저 소나무 철갑을 두른 듯
바람서리 불변함은 우리 기상일세.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''후렴'''}}}}

{{small|'''3절:'''}}
가을 하늘 공활한데 높고 구름 없이
밝은 달은 우리 가슴 일편단심일세.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''후렴'''}}}}

{{small|'''4절:'''}}
이 기상과 이 맘으로 충성을 다하여
괴로우나 즐거우나 나라 사랑하세.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''후렴'''}}}}}}</poem>
|<poem style="line-height:1.52em;">{{lang|ko|{{small|'''1節:'''}}
東海물과 白頭山이 마르고 닳도록,
하느님이 保佑하사 우리나라 萬歲.

{{small|'''後斂:'''}}
無窮花 三千里 華麗 江山,
大韓 사람 大韓으로 길이 保全하세.

{{small|'''2節:'''}}
南山 위에 저 소나무 鐵甲을 두른 듯
바람서리 不變함은 우리 氣像일세.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''後斂'''}}}}

{{small|'''3節:'''}}
가을 하늘 空豁한데 높고 구름 없이
밝은 달은 우리 가슴 一片丹心일세.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''後斂'''}}}}

{{small|'''4節:'''}}
이 氣像과 이 맘으로 忠誠을 다하여
괴로우나 즐거우나 나라 사랑하세.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''後斂'''}}}}}}</poem>
|<poem>{{transliteration|ko|rr|italic=no|{{small|'''1-chŏl:'''}}
Tonghae mulgwa Paektusani marŭgo talt'orok
Hanŭnimi pouhasa urinara manse.

{{small|'''Huryŏm:'''}}
Mugungwa samch'ŏlli hwaryŏ kangsan
Taehan saram taehanŭro kiri pojŏnhase.

{{small|'''2-chŏl:'''}}
Namsan wie chŏ sonamu ch'ŏlgabŭl turŭn tŭt
Paramsŏri pulbyŏnhamŭn uri kisangilse.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''Huryŏm'''}}}}

{{small|'''3-chŏl:'''}}
Kaŭl hanŭl kongwarhande nop'ko kurŭm ŏpsi
Palgŭn tarŭn uri kasŭm ilp'yŏndansimilsse.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''Huryŏm'''}}}}

{{small|'''4-chŏl:'''}}
I kisanggwa i mamŭro ch'ungsŏngŭl tahayŏ
koerouna chŭlgŏuna nara sarangase.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''Huryŏm'''}}}}}}</poem>
|<poem>{{transliteration|ko|rr|italic=no|{{small|'''1-jeol:'''}}
Donghae mulgwa Baekdusani mareugo daltorok
Haneunimi bouhasa urinara manse.

{{small|'''Huryeom:'''}}
Mugunghwa samcheolli hwaryeo gangsan
Daehan saram daehaneuro giri bojeonhase.

{{small|'''2-jeol:'''}}
Namsan wie jeo sonamu cheolgabeul dureun deut
Baram seori bulbyeonhameun uri gisang-ilse.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''Huryeom'''}}}}

{{small|'''3-jeol:'''}}
Ga-eul haneul gonghwalhande nopgo gureum eopsi
Balgeun dareun uri gaseum ilpyeondansimilse.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''Huryeom'''}}}}

{{small|'''4-jeol:'''}}
I gisanggwa i mameuro chungseong-eul dahayeo
Goerouna jeulgeouna nara saranghase.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''Huryeom'''}}}}}}</poem>
|<poem>{{small|'''1st verse'''}}
Until the East Sea's{{Efn|South Korea, and the Korean language in general, [[Sea of Japan naming dispute|refers to the Sea of Japan as East Sea]].}} waves are dry, [[Baekdu Mountain|Mt. Baekdu]] worn away,
God watch o'er our land forever, our Korea [[Ten thousand years|manse]].

{{small|'''Refrain:'''}} 
Rose of Sharon, thousand [[Korean units of measurement#Length|mile]]s of range and river land;
Guarded by her people, ever may Korea stand.

{{small|'''2nd verse'''}}
Like that [[Namsan (Seoul)|Mt. Namsan]], armoured pine, standing on duty still, 
wind or frost, unchanging ever, be our resolute will.

{{small|'''Refrain'''}}

{{small|'''3rd verse'''}}
In autumn's, arching evening sky, crystal and cloudless blue; 
be the radiant moon our spirit, steadfast, single and true.

{{small|'''Refrain'''}}

{{small|'''4th verse'''}}
With such a will, such a spirit, loyalty, heart and hand, 
Let us love, come grief, come gladness, this our beloved land.

{{small|'''Refrain'''}} 
</poem>
|}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120424213957/http://www.nationalanthems.me/south-korea-aegukga/ Streaming audio, lyrics and info]
* [https://archive.org/details/RepublicOfKorea-NationalAnthem Republic of Korea National Anthem]
* [http://www.nationalanthems.info/kr.mp3 nationalanthems.info]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140214064048/http://www.kbs.co.kr/lovekbs2007/myfriendkbs/down/index.html 아이러브 KBS]
* [http://www.gne.go.kr/index.sko?contentsSid=3716562 맹세문 애국가 다운로드 | 경상남도교육청] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030055757/http://www.gne.go.kr/index.sko?contentsSid=3716562 |date=2021-10-30 }}
* [https://www.mois.go.kr/frt/sub/a06/b08/nationalIcon_3/screen.do 행정안전부> 업무안내> 장차관직속> 의정관> 국가상징 > 국가(애국가)]
* [https://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=IKxczNaIWaQ "Aegugka" sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614021313/https://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=IKxczNaIWaQ |date=2018-06-14 }}
{{National anthems of Korea}}
{{National Anthems of Asia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Asian anthems]]
[[Category:National symbols of South Korea]]
[[Category:South Korean songs]]
[[Category:Songs in Korean]]
[[Category:National anthems]]
[[Category:Compositions in A major]]