Aegukka facts for kids

"Aegukka", which means "Patriotic Song" in Korean, is the national anthem of North Korea. It was created to celebrate the country's freedom from imperial Japan. The words were written by Pak Se-yong, and the music was composed by Kim Won-gyun. It was officially adopted in 1947, not long after North Korea became independent.

It's important not to mix up North Korea's "Aegukka" with South Korea's anthem. Even though they have the same name, they are different songs and are spelled a bit differently in English due to different romanisation rules. Sometimes, people also call North Korea's anthem Achhimŭn pinnara (아침은 빛나라), which means Let Morning Shine. This comes from the very first line of the song.

North Korea's National Anthem: Aegukka

The Story Behind Aegukka

North Korea's national anthem, "Aegukka," was created at a very important time for the country. After many years of being ruled by Japan, North Korea gained its independence. To mark this big moment, leaders wanted a special song that would represent their new nation.

Pak Se-yong was chosen to write the lyrics, which are the words of the song. Kim Won-gyun composed the music, creating the melody you hear. Together, they made a powerful song that was adopted in 1947. This song became a symbol of North Korea's independence and its future.

What the Lyrics Say

The lyrics of "Aegukka" are full of pride for North Korea. They talk about the country's beauty, its long history, and the spirit of its people. Here is a poetic English translation of the song:

Shine bright, thou dawn, on this land so fair;

Thy land in silver and gold aboundeth.

The country of three thousand ri;

Thy history five millennia stretcheth.

𝄆 Rich in cultural heritage,

Our Folk were ever renown'd and sage

And as with heart and soul we strive –

Korea shall forever thrive! 𝄇

The spirit of Paektu we embrace,

’Tis where our love of toil dwelleth,

United with truth, our strong will shall face

The whole world and set forth.

𝄆 O nation, thy will our People built

Braceth fierce waves mightily

Our united Korea the Great

Fourisheth eternally! 𝄇

The first part of the song celebrates the land itself. It mentions the "three thousand ri" which is a traditional way to describe the length of the Korean peninsula. It also talks about the country's "five millennia" (5,000 years) of history. The lyrics praise the people for their wisdom and culture. They encourage everyone to work hard for Korea to "forever thrive."

The second part of the song mentions Mount Paektu. This is a very important mountain in Korean culture and history. It represents strength and spirit. The lyrics also talk about the "love of toil," meaning hard work. They say that the people's strong will, united by truth, will help the nation move forward in the world. The song ends by saying that the nation, built by its people, will "flourish eternally."

See also

In Spanish: Himno Nacional de Corea del Norte para niños