“Aegukga“ (“Love Country Song”), often translated as “The Patriotic Song“, is the national anthem of South Korea….which was adopted in 1948….when the country was founded….as its music was composed in the 1930’s….with its lyrics dating back to the 1890’s. The lyrics of “Aegukga” were originally set to the music of the Scottish song “Auld Lang Syne” before Ahn Eak-tai composed a unique melody specifically for it in 1936. Before the founding of South Korea, the song’s lyrics, set to the music of “Auld Lang Syne”, was sung….as well as during Korea under Japanese rule by dissidents. The version set to the melody composed by Ahn Eak-tai was adopted as the national anthem of the Korean exile government….which existed during Korea’s occupation by Japan from the early 1910’s to the mid-1940’s. As seen in this video herewith…..”Aegukga” is played by the 800 strong All American Olympic Band at the Closing Ceremony of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
