- For North Korea's national anthem, see Aegukka.
National Anthem of South Korea "애국가" (Aegukga)
"Aegukga" ("Patriotic Song") is the national anthem of South Korea. It was adopted in 1948, when the Republic was founded. The music was composed by An Iktae in 1935 and its lyrics date back to the late 19th century.[1][2][3]
The anthem became a public domain song in 2005 when the composer's widow and her family relinquished all rights to the anthem to the government.[4]
The name of this anthem is also used for the National Anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, albeit rendered in different romanizations (South Korea uses Revised Romanization; North Korea uses McCune–Reischauer).
History[]
At first, its music was to resemble that of the Scottish song "Auld Lang Syne", until someone decided it was time to compose a new melody.[5] Before the establishment of the Republic of Korea, the song's lyrics—with the music of "Auld Lang Syne"—was used as the national anthem of the Korean exile government during the period of Occupation by Japanese imperialists.
Lyrics[]

An Iktae, composer of "Aegukga".
Korean original[]
Hangul | Hangul and Hanja | Revised Romanization | IPA transcription |
---|---|---|---|
동해 물과 백두산이 마르고 닳도록, |
東海물과 白頭山이 마르고 닳도록, |
Donghae mulgwa Baekdusani mareugo daltorok |
[to̞ŋ.ɦe̞ mul.gwa̠ pe̞k̚.t͈u.sʰa̠ɲ.i ma̠.ɾɯ.go̞ ta̠l.tʰo̞.ɾo̞k̚ ǀ] |
Chinese version[]
東海水兮,白頭山兮,至於流竭磨盡。
萬有主宰保䕶我們,使我國家萬歲!
副歌:
無窮花三千里,華麗江山.
大韓人民為我大韓,永遠保䕶勿怠!
南山山上幽蔚蒼松,宛如披着鐵甲。
風雨雪霜傲然不變,正是我們氣象。
副歌
秋天空際廣濶無垠,氣高而爽無雲。
一輪明月照我胸襟,耿耿一片丹心。
副歌
以此氣象以此丹心,盡其忠竭其誠!
快樂苦悶任何環境,愛國矢志永貞!
副歌[6]
Russian version[]
Пока не высох океан, белеет Пэктусан,
Всевышний бережет тебя, моя Корея-Мансе!
Припев:
Мугунхвы ряд длинный, красу лесов и рек
И предков наших вольный дух храни в стране вовек!
Как та сосна, что на горе пронзает панцирь скал,
В борьбе невзгоды побеждать — таков характер наш.
Припев
Осенний небосвод высок и воздух чист и свеж,
Родная ясная луна, любовь хранит для всех.
Припев
Всем сердцем, преданной душой, страну свою люби,
И в радости, и в горя час ей верность ты храни!
Припев
English version[]
Until the East Sea's waves are dry, Mt. Baekdu worn away,
God watch o'er our land forever, our Korea manse (long live).
Refrain:
Rose of Sharon, thousand miles of range and river land;
Guarded by her people, ever may Korea stand.
Like that Mt. Namsan armoured pine, standing on duty still,
wind or frost, unchanging ever, be our resolute will.
Refrain
In autumn's, arching evening sky, crystal and cloudless blue;
be the radiant moon our spirit, steadfast, single and true.
Refrain
With such a will, such a spirit, loyalty, heart and hand,
Let us love, come grief, come gladness, this our beloved land.
Refrain[7]
References[]
- ↑ 애국가. Academy of Korean Studies.
- ↑ 애국가[愛國歌. Doosan Corporation.
- ↑ 애국가 작곡가 안익태 48주기 추모식 (2013-09-16). News1 Korea.
- ↑ https://archive.org/details/RepublicOfKorea-NationalAnthem
- ↑ http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Index?contents_id=E0035201
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230118233312/https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=2708282
- ↑ http://15cwd.pa.go.kr/english/children/country/anthem.php