hankyoreh

Open calls are being made for Aegukga, Korea's national anthem, to be changed. There were calls for a change back in 1964, but then quietly disappeared. This time the situation is more serious, because there are allegations that the man who composed the music also composed music praising aggression by Japan.

A scholar recently made the following allegations. (1) Ahn Eak Tae composed a symphony commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Japanese puppet government of Manchukuo. (2) He performed that piece in 1942 and 1943 in Germany and Austria. (3) He directed the performance of a work praising Japan that was composed by Nazi supporter Richard Strauss. (4) Two main themes in the Manchukuo symphony were taken from his "Symphonic Fantasia Korea," which also includes Aegukga, If true, that sad melody of the nation's fate was essentially used to praise aggression.

One truly hopes it isn't true, mostly because his patriotic activities were a great source of pride during the colonial years. In 1919, he was expelled from Soongsil Middle School for participation in the March First campaign. When he arrived in San Francisco in 1930 and heard Koreans there signing what are still the words to the Aegukga to the Scottish folksong Auld Lang Syne, he decided to compose a new tune. Six years later that saw fruition when it was written as part of Korea Fantasia, which he performed in 1938 with the Irish national symphony orchestra. At the time he said he "hopes to see my fatherland independent" like Ireland.

However, we cannot express our wishes for a sovereign and independent fatherland that is peaceful and prosperous with a tune that praised the aggressors. What is important now, therefore, is that there be a strict clarification of the truth as it relates to the allegations. The government, scholars, and civil society need to rise to action. Whether or not to change the music is something that can be determined after the truth has been established.

The Hankyoreh, 10 March 2006.


[Translations by Seoul Selection]