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The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag (Korean: 국기에 대한 맹세; Hanja: 國旗에 對한 盟誓, lit. '"Oath facing the national flag"') is the pledge to the national flag of South Korea. The pledge is recited at flag ceremonies immediately before the South Korean national anthem.
History
editThe current pledge was introduced on July 27, 2007.[1] A previous pledge of allegiance was used from 1972 until 2007 and was introduced by then-president Park Chung-hee.[2][3]
Text of the pledge
edit1972 versioneditKorean-language versionedit
Korean-language transliterationeditNaneun jalangseuleon taegeuggi ap-e joguggwa minjog-ui mugunghan yeong-gwang-eul wihayeo momgwa ma-eum-eul bachyeo chungseong-eul dahal geos-eul gudge dajimhabnida. English translationeditI strongly pledge, in front of the proud Korean flag, allegiance to my fatherland, to devote my body and soul to the eternal glory of the race.[2][5][3] Alternate English translation (with notations)editI firmly pledge, proudly in front of the Korean flag [Taegukgi], to loyally devote our body and soul to the eternal glory of the fatherland [joguk] and the race [minjok].[2][5] Literal English translationeditI am firmly committed to fulfilling my allegiance by offering my body and mind for the endless glory of my fatherland and race before the proud Korean flag. | 2007 versioneditKorean-language version (official version)edit
Korean-language transliterationeditNaneun jarangseureoun Taegeukgi ape jayuropgo jeoneuiroun Daehanmingug ae mugunghan yeonggwangeul wihayeo chungseongeul dahal geoseul gutge dajimhamnida. Official English-language translationeditI pledge, in front of proud Taegeuk flag, allegiance to the Republic of Korea for the eternal glory of the country, liberty and freedom to the Republic of Korea. Alternate English-language translationeditI, standing before the noble Taegeuk flag, solemnly pledge allegiance to the Republic of Korea, to its glory, liberty and justice. Literal English translationeditI am firmly committed to my loyalty to the endless glory of the great Korean nation that is free and just in front of a proud Taegeuk flag. |
Controversy
editUnlike the current pledge which pledges allegiance to the state of South Korea, the 1972 pledge rather pledged allegiance to the "Korean race," also known as the minjok.[2][3][5][6][7][8]
In the mid-2000s, the pledging of allegiance to a "Korean race" (or "Korean ethnicity") was criticized by some people,[9] specifically for being racist and "not appropriate at a time when South Korea is becoming a multiracial and multicultural society."[10] This version of the pledge was discontinued in July 2007, during the presidency of Roh Moo-hyun,[11] and replaced with different, non-racialist wording. Some left-wing South Koreans condemned the rewording of the country's pledge of allegiance, as it went against their racialist ideology.[12]
Similarly, until April 2011, the South Korean army's soldiers swore allegiance to the "Korean race" in their oaths of enlistment until that, too, was discontinued for similar reasons.[5]
See also
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References
editExternal links
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Quotations related to South Korea at Wikiquote- Quotations related to Racism in South Korea at Wikiquote
