"Aegukka" (Korean: 애국가;Hanja: 愛國歌), officially translated as "Patriotic Song",[2] is thenational anthem ofNorth Korea. It was composed in 1945 as a patriotic song celebrating independence fromJapanese occupation and was adopted as the state anthem in 1947.
Starting 2024, the lyrics of the song were significantly edited, and the song has begun to be referred as the "National Anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (조선민주주의공화국 국가). Whether the text of the Constitution was altered remains unknown, due to North Korea not publishing the full text of amended Constitution.
"Aegukka" is a Romanized transliteration of "The Patriotic Song"; the song is also known by itsincipitAch'imŭn pinnara or "Let Morning Shine"[1][3] or in its Korean name아침은 빛나라 or alternatively as the "Song of a Devotion to a Country".
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.[8][9] "Song of General Kim Il Sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong Il" have since taken the place ofde 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.[10] "Aegukka" is almost unique among most North Korean patriotic songs, as it praises neither theWorkers' Party of Korea nor theKim family, but rather the whole of Korea itself.[11] "Aegukka" is played at the start of each ofKorean Central Broadcasting Station,Voice of Korea andKorean Central Television's broadcast days.[12][13]
On 17 April 2024, a ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of 10,000 new homes in Hwasong District, Pyongyang,[14] 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 fromAegukka (애국가;愛國歌) to "National Anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (조선민주주의인민공화국 국가;朝鮮民主主義人民共和國 國歌).[15] 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. However, theConstitution of North Korea, in Article 171, still mentions that the national anthem isAegukka, and as of 21 April 2024[update] there have been no reports regarding revision of this article. On 25 October 2024, the Standing Committee of theSupreme People's Assembly adopted the "Law of the DPRK on the National Anthem", without reporting what the new law mandates.[16]
I 아침은 빛나라 이 강산 은금에 자원도 가득한 이 세상 아름다운 내 조국 반만년 오랜 력사에 𝄆 찬란한 문화로 자라난 슬기론 인민의 이 영광 몸과 맘 다 바쳐 이 조선 길이 받드세 𝄇
II 백두산 기상을 다 안고 근로의 정신은 깃들어 진리로 뭉쳐진 억센 뜻 온 세계 앞서 나가리 𝄆 솟는 힘 노도도 내밀어 인민의 뜻으로 선 나라 한없이 부강하는 이 조선 길이 빛내세 𝄇
I 아침은 빛나라 이 江山 銀金에 資源도 가득한 이 世上 아름다운 내 祖國 半萬年 오랜 歷史에 𝄆 燦爛한 文化로 자라난 슬기론 人民의 이 榮光 몸과 맘 다 바쳐 이 朝鮮 길이 받드세 𝄇
II 白頭山 氣像을 다 안고 勤勞의 精神은 깃들어 眞理로 뭉쳐진 억센 뜻 온 世界 앞서 나가리 𝄆 솟는 힘 怒濤도 내밀어 人民의 뜻으로 선 나라 限없이 富强하는 이 朝鮮 길이 빛내세 𝄇
I Achimŭn pinnara i kangsan Ŭn'gŭme jawŏndo kadŭkhan I sesang arŭmdaun nae joguk Panmannyŏn oraen ryŏksaë 𝄆 Challanhan munhwaro jaranan Sŭlgiron inminŭi i yŏnggwang Momgwa mam ta pachyŏ i Josŏn Kiri pattŭse 𝄇
II Paektusan kisangŭl ta anko Kŭlloŭi jŏngsinŭn kittŭrŏ Jilliro mungchyŏjin ŏksen ttŭt On segye apsŏ nagari 𝄆 Sonnŭn him nododo naemirŏ Inminŭi ttŭsŭro sŏn nara Hanŏpsi puganghanŭn i Josŏn Kiri pinnaese 𝄇
I Achimeun binnara i gangsan Eungeume jawondo gadeukhan I sesang areumdaun nae joguk Banmannyeon oraen ryeoksae 𝄆 Chanranhan munhwaro jaranan Seulgiron inminui i yeonggwang Momgwa mam da bachyeo i Joseon Giri batdeuse 𝄇
II Baekdusan gisangeul da ango Geunroui jeongsineun gitdeureo Jinriro mungchyeojin eoksen tteut On segye apseo nagari 𝄆 Sonneun him nododo naemireo Inminui tteuseuro seon nara Haneopsi buganghaneun i Joseon Giri binnaese 𝄇
I 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 MountPaektu, 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! 𝄇
I 아침은 빛나라 이 강산 은금에 자원도 가득한 삼천리 아름다운 내 조국 반만년 오랜 력사에 𝄆 찬란한 문화로 자라난 슬기론 인민의 이 영광 몸과 맘 다 바쳐 이 조선 길이 받드세 𝄇
II 백두산 기상을 다 안고 근로의 정신은 깃들어 진리로 뭉쳐진 억센 뜻 온 세계 앞서 나가리 𝄆 솟는 힘 노도도 내밀어 인민의 뜻으로 선 나라 한없이 부강하는 이 조선 길이 빛내세 𝄇
I 아침은 빛나라 이 江山 銀金에 資源도 가득한 三千里 아름다운 내 祖國 半萬年 오랜 歷史에 𝄆 燦爛한 文化로 자라난 슬기론 人民의 이 榮光 몸과 맘 다 바쳐 이 朝鮮 길이 받드세 𝄇
II 白頭山 氣像을 다 안고 勤勞의 精神은 깃들어 眞理로 뭉쳐진 억센 뜻 온 世界 앞서 나가리 𝄆 솟는 힘 怒濤도 내밀어 人民의 뜻으로 선 나라 限없이 富强하는 이 朝鮮 길이 빛내세 𝄇
I Ach'imŭn pinnara i kangsan Ŭn'gŭme chawŏndo kadŭkhan Samch'ŏlli arŭmdaun nae choguk Panmannyŏn oraen ryŏksaë 𝄆 Ch'allanhan munhwaro charanan Sŭlgiron inminŭi i yŏnggwang Momgwa mam ta pach'yŏ i Chosŏn Kiri pattŭse 𝄇
II Paektusan kisangŭl ta anko Kŭlloŭi chŏngsinŭn kittŭrŏ Chilliro mungch'yŏjin ŏksen ttŭt On segye apsŏ nagari 𝄆 Sonnŭn him nododo naemirŏ Inminŭi ttŭsŭro sŏn nara Hanŏpsi puganghanŭn i Chosŏn Kiri pinnaese 𝄇
I Achimeun binnara i gangsan Eungeume jawondo gadeukhan Samcheolli areumdaun nae joguk Banmannyeon oraen ryeoksae 𝄆 Chanranhan munhwaro jaranan Seulgiron inminui i yeonggwang Momgwa mam da bachyeo i Joseon Giri batdeuse 𝄇
II Baekdusan gisangeul da ango Geunroui jeongsineun gitdeureo Jinriro mungchyeojin eoksen tteut On segye apseo nagari 𝄆 Sonneun him nododo naemireo Inminui tteuseuro seon nara Haneopsi buganghaneun i Joseon Giri binnaese 𝄇
I Shine bright, you dawn, on this land so fair, The country of three thousandri, 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! 𝄇
^"北, '애국가'→'조선민주주의인민공화국 국가'로 표기" [North Korea labelsAegukka as "National Anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea"].Kukmin Ilbo (in Korean). 18 April 2024. Retrieved21 April 2024.
