Aegukka

Aegukka

English: The Patriotic Song
애국가
North Korean emblem
National anthem of  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Also known as	Ach'imŭn pinnara English: Let Morning Shine
Lyrics	Pak Se-yong, 1946
Music	Kim Won-gyun, 1945
Adopted	1947
Music sample
Aegukka

"Aegukka" (Korean: 애국가, lit. 'The Patriotic Song') is the national anthem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). It was composed in 1945 as a patriotic song celebrating independence from Imperial Japanese occupation and was adopted as the state anthem in 1947.

"Aegukka" is a Romanized transliteration of "The Patriotic Song"; the song is also known by the first phrase of the song Ach'imŭn pinnara or "Let Morning Shine".

The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (1919–1945) in Shanghai, China adopted as their national anthem "Aegukga" (which has the same name with a different Romanization). After World War II, South Korea kept the words, put to a new tune (changed from Auld Lang Syne), while North Korea 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".

"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.