National Anthem of the Korean Empire

Daehan jeguk Aegukga ( 대한 제국 애국가 ,大 韩帝国 爱国 歌) was the " national anthem of the Great Korean Empire " ( 1897-1910 ) from 1902 until the integration of Korea into the Japanese Empire in 1910. It goes on the German military musician and composer Franz Eckert back.

Eckert, who had come at the invitation of the Korean government in 1901 to Seoul in order to build a military orchestra, developed on behalf of the court a hymn, which was based on the melody of a transcribed from the American missionary, teacher and journalist Homer Hulbert Korean folk song. It was probably first performed on 1 January 1902. In recognition of his services Eckert received in December of the same year of Emperor Gojong the Order of Merit Tai keuk 3rd class. Because of the long melody in 6/4-Takt and the difficult text, the anthem, but only slowly spread among the population. In addition, as early as 1905 began with the Japanese -Korean Protektorationsvertrag 1910 completed inclusion of Korea in the Japanese Empire.

Text

상제 여, 우리 황제 를 도우 소서. 성스러운 수명 이 무궁 하여 해옥 주 를 산 같이 쌓게 하소서. 위세 와 권력 을 바다 에 떨 치어 오천만 대 까지 복 이 무궁 케 하소서. 상제 여, 우리 황제 를 도우 소서.

상뎨 (上帝) 는 우리 황뎨 를 도으 소셔 셩슈 무강 (圣寿 无 疆)   해옥 듀 (海 屋 筹) 를 산 (山) 갓치 ㅄ 으시고 위권 (威权) 이 환영 (寰 瀛) 에  ㅅ ㄷ ㄹ 치사 오쳔 만 셰 (于 千万 岁) 에 복녹 (福禄) 이 일신 (日新) 케  ㅎ 소셔 상뎨 (上帝) 는 우리 황뎨 (皇帝) 를 도우 소셔

God bless our Emperor, The fact that there are increasing its annual Countless as the sands on the shore, The way up häufet the dune, That his fame is bright wide Well over all the worlds, And the happiness of the ruling house A thousand toes one thousand years New flourish with each passing day. God bless our Emperor!

Score

• Franz Eckert: Imperial Korean national anthem: After Korean motifs. Toyo Bunko Library, Tokyo, call Mark IV 9-8