For the national anthem of North Korea, see Aegukka. For the national anthem of the Korean Empire, see Korean Empire Aegukga.
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"Aegukga" (Korean: 애국가), 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 song, set to the music of "Auld Lang Syne", was sung, as well when 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 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.
Etymology
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 gukga (lit.'country song') is an official symbol of the state, 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.[2][3] In general shorthand, the term aegukga refers to the national anthem of South Korea.[4] Nevertheless, there are still more than ten other extant "Aegukgas" in South Korea.[2]
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.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7]
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.[7]
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.[7]
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.[7]
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.[8] However, on March 16, 2005, the composer's widow—Lolita Ahn—and her family relinquished all rights to "Aegukga" to the South Korean government.[9] "Aegukga" has since become a public domain song.[10]
Version
In 2018, music director, Park In-young, gave Aegukga a makeover and added brass and woodwind instruments to the arrangement and she said, “while trying not to change Ahn’s original version, we gave it a more modern spin.”[11]
All sporting events such as pro baseball games start with the song.[12]
