Aegukka 애국가

Introduction

Music: Kim Won Gyun (김원균) 1945

Lyrics: Pak Se Yong (박세영)

National Anthem of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. 'Aegukka' means 'national anthem' in Korean. The South Korean version has the same name but the lyrics and composition are different. It was composed in 1945 to celebrate their independence from Japan and was later made the state anthem in 1947. An official English translation was on the Naenara site but the page seems to have been taken down. The lyrics below from Moranbong Band HD are from Naenara but that performance only has part of the song. I found the rest of the lyrics here and just pieced the two together. Some of the videos linked below also have English translations but they are all slightly different.

Performances

Moranbong Band

07.28.2012. Instrumental. One of the longer instrumental versions of the national anthem. I really like this one.

01.01.2013. Instrumental.

08.03.2013. Ra Yu-mi starts, followed by Ryu Jin-a and then Pak Mi-kyong, Kim Sol-mi, Pak Son-hyang, Jong Su-hyang, Kim You-kyong, and Ri Myong-hui join in.

05.20.2014. Similar to the one above. Ra You-mi and Ryu Jin-a start and then the rest follow, but this time it’s Pak Mi-kyong, Kim Sol-mi, and Jong Su-hyang.

Chongbong Band

02.16.2016. Instrumental.

Other

Great Party, Rosy Korea. WPK 70th anniversary. I found this mp3 of the national anthem as I was looking for other DPR Korea related music information on a DPRK based site called Naenara. It doesn’t say what group recorded it or when it was recorded, but it sounds like a traditional men’s choir version of the song. Maybe the State Merited Chorus?

English Lyrics

Translation by Lyrics translate

Shine bright, dawn, on this land so fair
The country of three thousand ri
So rich in silver and in gold you are
Five thousand years 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!
Our people were ever renowned and sage
And rich in cultural heritage
And as with heart and soul we strive
Korea shall forever thrive!

The firm will, bonded with truth,
Nest for the spirit of labour,
Embracing the atmosphere of Mount Paektu,
Will go forth to all the world.
The country established by the will of the people,
Breasting the raging waves with soaring strength.
Let us glorify forever this Korea,
Limitlessly rich and strong

Korean Lyrics

Lyrics by Lyrics Translate

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

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