Ordeal of 'Aegukga'

By Park Moo-jong

Seventy-five years have passed since national liberation from 36 years of brutal colonial rule by Japan (1910-45). This year, the official ceremony to commemorate the "celebrated" anniversary was held on Aug. 15 at the state-of-the-art Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul.

All the participants, including President Moon Jae-in, sang in unison "Aegukga" ― which translates to "Patriotic Song" ― the national anthem of the Republic of Korea, to open the monumental event.

For nearly a century, "Aegukga" has been a part of our lives to cultivate patriotism and loyalty. Even without any spectators in the wave of the coronavirus pandemic, all sporting events such as pro baseball games start with the song.

We used to be happy hearing "Aegukga" at award ceremonies of major sporting extravaganzas like the Olympics when our competitors won gold medals.

Yet, debate has surfaced anew over whether the use of "Aegukga" should be discontinued after the chairman of the Heritage of Korean Independence (HKI), Kim Won-woong, condemned its composer Ahn Eak-tai (1906-1965) as a "traitor to the country" for his alleged pro-Japanese activities during his speech to congratulate the 75th anniversary of the national independence.

While Ahn is one of Korea's most recognized composers worldwide, he has also been subject to much controversy, including being labeled a Japanese sympathizer. As much as political and social issues with Japan remain heated, some have argued the need to adopt a new national anthem.

However, the outspoken leader of the HKI, whose catchphrase is: "We take the head in achieving harmony for the nation and the people," was apparently scheming to support the Moon Jae-in government's major political purpose to "wipe out vestiges of the pro-Japanese collaborators" by igniting the debate that started in the early 2000s.

Kim, who is notorious for his numerous changes of political affiliation from the ruling party to opposition party and vice versa, claimed in the speech before President Moon, "There is no country in the world but the Republic of Korea that adopted a song a national traitor composed as the national anthem."

For reference, let's consider the Star-Spangled Banner of the United States. The lyrics come from the poem "Defense of Fort McHenry" that describes the American victory against the British Royal Navy in the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.

The poem was set to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven," a popular British song composed by Briton John Stafford Smith for the Anareontic Society, a men's social club in London, and was renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner" becoming a well-known U.S. patriotic song.

Well, technically, the U.S. national anthem was not composed by a traitor but by an enemy, a Briton. Surveys showed that about 10 percent of Americans want to change their national anthem.

Over the past 75 years, the people of the Republic of Korea have made their country as it is now ― an object of global admiration, even jealousy. From the ashes of the 1950-53 Korea War, what we call the "June 25 War," us Koreans have been faithfully doing our given duties, overcoming various political and social upheavals.

In 1961, the nation's per capita GNP was a mere $89, placed 101st among 125 countries, compared to North Korea's $350 for the 50th post. But less than half a century later, South Korea has become a little big country, even asked to join an expanded version of the G7.

"Aegukga" is a song that has been living in the hearts of Koreans for nearly a century during their odyssey to build their nation as an economic power of the world from our beginnings as one of the poorest.

It is true that then renowned maestro Ahn conducted a concert in Berlin in 1942 for the 10th anniversary of Manchukuo, a puppet state established by Japan in China in 1932.

But earlier in 1938, he was invited to Ireland and premiered his symphony, "Korea Fantasy" in Dublin, and won the hearts of the Irish audience who, like the Koreans, had been under foreign (British) rule. Throughout his conducting career he almost always showcased "Korea Fantasy," and on one occasion he was barred from the Rome Philharmonic Orchestra for performing the symphony since Italy's then-ally Japan found the piece politically offensive.

In an interview with an Irish newspaper, he said that "as all Koreans are yearning for, I wish my fatherland will become an independent country like Ireland."

Every person has merits and demerits. We should not focus only on the demerits of a person. In any case the fact remains clear that Ahn Eak-tai was Korea's first maestro the world recognized and respected.

He left behind a legacy that means a great deal to Koreans to date. If the government has an idea of considering adopting a new national anthem instead of "Aegukga" the Korean people have been singing for 75 years, it needs to ask them in a referendum or surveys.

By the way, I wonder if Kim Won-woong is qualified as the leader of the Heritage for Korean Independence that symbolizes the nation's independence movement and legitimacy while working for patriots and their descendants. And what is President Moon's opinion?

Park Moo-jong (emjei29@gmail.com) is a standing adviser of The Korea Times. He served as the president-publisher of the nation's first English daily newspaper from 2004 to 2014 after working as a reporter since 1974.