Korean National Anthem 애국가

The South Korean national anthem is 애국가 (ae-guk-ga; Hanja: 愛國歌), where 애 means "love", 국 means "country" and 가 means "song". So the title literally means "The Song of Love for the Country" or "The Patriotic Song".

Initially, 애국가 was sung to the tune of the Scottish folk song "Auld Lang Syne", introduced to Korea by Western missionaries. The provisional Korean government (1919-1945) in Shanghai, China adopted it as their national anthem, while Korea was under the Japanese rule.

In 1948, the Scottish tune was finally replaced by the Finale of Korea Fantasia that 안익테 (Ahn Eak Tae) had composed in 1935, and became the official national anthem.

Source: youtube.com

"애국가" (The Patriotic Song)

동해 물과 백두산이 마르고 닳도록	til the day when Mt. Baekdu's worn away and the East Sea's water run dry
dong-hae mul-gwa Baek-du-sa-ni ma-reu-go dal-do-rok
하느님이 보우하사 우리나라 만세	heaven protect and preserve our country
ha-neu-ni-mi bo-u-ha-sa u-ri-na-ra man-se
[ *** Chorus ***
무궁화 삼천리 화려 강산	roses of sharon and 3 thousand li of splendid rivers and mountains
mu-gung-hwa sam-cheol-li hwa-ryeo gang-san
대한 사람 대한으로 길이 보전하세	Korean people, to the great Korean way stay always true
dae-han sa-ram dae-han-eu-ro gi-ri bo-jeon-ha-se
]
남산 위에 저 소나무 철갑을 두른 듯	as the pine atop Namsan Peak stands firm as if wrapped in armour
Nam-san wi-e jeo so-na-mu cheol-ga-beul du-reun deut
바람서리 불변함은 우리 기상일세	unchanged through wind and frost, so shall our resilient spirit
ba-ram-seo-ri bul-byeon-ha-meun u-ri gi-sang-il-se
[ *** Chorus *** ]
가을 하늘 공활한데 높고 구름 없이	the autumn skies are void and vast, high and cloudless
ga-eul ha-neul gong-hwal-han-de nop-go gu-reum eop-si
밝은 달은 우리 가슴 일편단심일세	the bright moon is our heart, undivided and true
bal-geun da-reun u-ri ga-seum il-pyeon-dan-si-mil-se
[ *** Chorus *** ]
이 기상과 이 맘으로 충성을 다하여	with this spirit and this mind, let us give all loyalty
i gi-sang-gwa i ma-meu-ro chung-seong-eul da-ha-yeo
괴로우나 즐거우나 나라 사랑하세	in suffering or in joy, to the love of country
goe-ro-u-na jeul-geo-u-na na-ra sa-rang-ha-se
[ *** Chorus *** ]