Aegukga
English: The Song of Love for the Country/The Patriotic Song | |
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애국가 | |
National anthem of South Korea | |
Lyrics | Unknown |
Music | Ahn Eak-tai, 1935 |
Adopted | 1948 |
Audio sample | |
"The Patriotic Song" (Instrumental) |
Aegukga | |
Hangul | 애국가 |
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Hanja | 愛國歌 |
Revised Romanization | Aegukga |
McCune–Reischauer | Aegukka |
- Aegukga is also the name of the national anthem of North Korea, although it is romanized differently. See also Aegukka.
- Aegukga is also the name of the national anthem of Korean Empire, See also Korean Empire Aegukga.
Aegukga is the national anthem of South Korea. The title literally means "The Patriotic Song", or "The Song of Love for the Country".
It is believed that the lyrics were written for the cornerstone-laying ceremony of the Independence Gate in Seoul in 1896 by Yun Chiho, a politician, or by An Chang-ho, a pro-independence leader and educator.[1] Initially, Aegukga was sung to the tune of the Scottish folk song "Auld Lang Syne", introduced to Korea by Western missionaries. The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (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 that Ahn Eak-tai had composed in 1935. The new "Aegukga" was later adopted by the Presidential Decree of 1948 by then-President Syngman Rhee (or Lee Seungman).
Lyrics
Hangul | Hangul and hanja | Revised Romanization | English translation | |
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1 | 동해 물과 백두산이 마르고 닳도록 하느님이 보우하사 우리나라 만세 |
東海 물과 白頭山이 마르고 닳도록 하느님이 保佑하사 우리나라 萬歲 |
Donghae mulgwa Baekdusani mareugo daldorok Haneunimi bouhasa urinara manse |
Until that day when Mt. Baekdu's worn away and the East Sea's waters run dry, God protect and preserve our country! |
Refrain | 무궁화 삼천리 화려 강산 대한 사람 대한으로 길이 보전하세 |
無窮花 三千里 華麗 江山 大韓 사람 大韓으로 길이 保全하세 |
Mugunghwa samcheolli hwaryeo gangsan Daehan saram daehaneuro giri bojeonhase |
Roses of Sharon and Three thousand ri full of splendid mountains and rivers; Great Koreans, To the Great Korean way, stay always true! |
2 | 남산 위에 저 소나무 철갑을 두른 듯 바람서리 불변함은 우리 기상일세 |
南山 위에 저 소나무 鐵甲을 두른 듯 바람서리 不變함은 우리 氣像일세 |
Namsan wie jeo sonamu cheolgabeul dureun deut Baram seori bulbyeonhameun uri gisangilse |
As the pine atop Namsan Peak stands firm, unchanged through wind and frost, as if wrapped in armour, so shall our resilient spirit. |
Refrain | ||||
3 | 가을 하늘 공활한데 높고 구름 없이 밝은 달은 우리 가슴 일편단심일세 |
가을 하늘 空豁한데 높고 구름 없이 밝은 달은 우리 가슴 一片丹心일세 |
Gaeul haneul gonghwalhande nopgo gureum eopsi Balgeun dareun uri gaseum ilpyeondansimilse |
The Autumn skies are void and vast, high and cloudless; the bright moon is like our heart, undivided and true. |
Refrain | ||||
4 | 이 기상과 이 맘으로 충성을 다하여 괴로우나 즐거우나 나라 사랑하세 |
이 氣像과 이 맘으로 忠誠을 다하여 괴로우나 즐거우나 나라 사랑하세 |
I gisanggwa i mameuro chungseongeul dahayeo Goerouna jeulgeouna nara saranghase |
With this spirit and this mind, let us give all loyalty, in suffering or in joy, to the country's love. |
Refrain |
Copyright issues
Since the composer Ahn Eak-tai died in 1965, the copyright for the music will not expire at least until 2015. Two Korean professional soccer teams were sued by a copyrightholders' group for public playing of this song in December 2003.[citation needed] The composer's widow Lolita Ahn and her family then relinquished all rights to Aegukga to the Korean government on 16 March 2005.[citation needed] The lyrics, written in the 19th century, are in the public domain.
See also
References
- ^ "South Korea - Aegukga". NationalAnthems.me. Retrieved 2011-11-17.