National Anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

"Aegukka" is a Romanized transliteration of "The Patriotic Song"; the song is also known by its incipit Ach'imŭn pinnara or "Let Morning Shine"^[1][3] or in its Korean name 아침은 빛나라 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 (lit. 'country song') 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.^[4][5] In general shorthand, the term aegukka refers to the national anthem of North Korea.^[6][4]

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^[7] but subsequently adopted this newly written piece in 1947.^[3] The words were written by Pak Se-yong and the music was composed by Kim Won-gyun.^[1]

In the early 1980s, Kim Jong Il sought to reduce the song's importance to the benefit of "Song of General Kim Il Sung".^[8]

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.^[9][10] "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.^[11] "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.^[12] "Aegukka" is played at the start of each of Korean Central Broadcasting Station, Voice of Korea and Korean Central Television's broadcast days.^[13][14]

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" (삼천리; 三千里) referring to the Korean Peninsula being replaced by "this world" (이 세상; 이 世上).^[12]

On 17 April 2024, a ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of 10,000 new homes in Hwasong District, Pyongyang,^[15] 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 (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).^[16] 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.^[17] 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".^[18]

• National symbols of North Korea