Aegukka

The National Anthem of North Korea was known as until 2024. It was composed in 1945 as a patriotic song celebrating independence from Japanese occupation and was adopted as the state anthem in 1947.

In 2023, Kim Jong Un announced an end to attempts at reunifying with South Korea. The following year, the song’s second line, “The country of three thousand ri,” was replaced to remove its reference to a unified Korean nation. Ri is the length of a Korean mile (equivalent to 0.24 imperial miles) and a reference to the length of the Korean peninsula.

The title was also changed to remove references to the South Korean patriotic song Aegukga. The text of the Constitution was altered to officially rename the anthem to the "National Anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" ().

Performance of this anthem is prohibited in South Korea under the National Security Act.

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 in its Korean name or alternatively as the "Song of a Devotion to a Country".

The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture defines the word "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 (1919–1945) in Shanghai, China adopted as their national anthem "Aegukga" (which has the same name with a different Romanization) to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne". After World War II, South Korea kept the words, put to a new tune (changed from "Auld Lang Syne"). North Korea briefly used Aegukga with Auld Lang Syne but subsequently 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. "Aegukka" is almost unique among most North Korean patriotic songs, as it praises neither the Workers' Party of Korea nor the Kim family, but rather the whole of Korea itself. "Aegukka" is played at the start of each of Korean Central Broadcasting Station, Voice of Korea and Korean Central Television's broadcast days.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine:

In February 2024, in line with Kim Jong Un's announcement of officially abandoning efforts to peacefully reunifying Korea, the lyrics were partially modified, with the phrase "three thousand ri" () referring to the Korean Peninsula being replaced by "this world" ().

On 17 April 2024, a ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of 10,000 new homes in Hwasong District, Pyongyang, in which the national anthem was performed. This was broadcast on Korea Central Television, and was rebroadcast on the next day, 18 April. However, during the rebroadcast, the title was changed from Aegukka () to "National Anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (). It has been speculated that this was done to further strengthen the division between the north and south after North Korea abandoned the idea of peaceful reunification, by giving the national anthem a different title to that of South Korea. On 25 October 2024, the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly adopted the "Law of the DPRK on the National Anthem", without reporting what the new law mandates. The Constitution of North Korea was also amended to change the name of the anthem from Aegukka to the "National Anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea".

Lyrics 2024–present Chosŏn'gŭlHanja and Chosŏn'gŭlOfficial romanizationRevised Romanization of KoreanIPA transcriptionEnglish translation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRKI Shine bright, you dawn, on this land so fair, Over the world, dazzles my country. So rich in silver and in gold you are, Five thousand years of your history. 𝄆 Our people ever were renowned and sage, And rich in cultural heritage, And as with heart and soul, we strive, Korea shall forever thrive! 𝄇

II And in the spirit of Mount Paektu, With the love of toil that shall never die, With a will of iron fostered by the truth, We'll lead the whole world by and by. 𝄆 We have the might to foil the angry sea, Our land more prosperous still shall be, As by the people's will we strive, Korea shall forever thrive! 𝄇

1947–2024 Chosŏn'gŭlHanja and Chosŏn'gŭlMcCune–Reischauer RomanizationRevised Romanization of KoreanIPA transcriptionEnglish translation from Kim Il-Sung UniversityI Shine bright, you dawn, on this land so fair, The country of three thousand ri, So rich in silver and in gold you are, Five thousand years of your history. 𝄆 Our people ever were renowned and sage, And rich in cultural heritage, And as with heart and soul, we strive, Korea shall forever thrive! 𝄇

Aegukka

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