Aegukka

"" (), officially translated as "Patriotic Song", is the national anthem of North Korea. It was composed in 1945 as a patriotic song celebrating independence from Japanese 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" (). Whether the text of the Constitution was altered remains unknown, due to North Korea not publishing the full text of the amended Constitution.

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. but subsequently adopted this newly written piece in 1947.

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.

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" (). 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. However, the Constitution of North Korea, in Article 171, still mentions that the national anthem is Aegukka, and there have been no reports regarding revision of this article. 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.

Lyrics

2024–present

{| class="wikitable"

!Chosŏn'gŭl

!Hanja and Chosŏn'gŭl

!Official romanization

!Revised Romanization of Korean

!IPA transcription

!English translation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK

|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"

|<poem style="line-height:1.52em;"></poem>

|<poem></poem>

|<poem>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! 𝄇

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! 𝄇</poem>

</div>

1947–2024