Arirang (song)
Artist: Korean Folk Song
Year: 2013
Date of Action: December 11 2013
Region: Asia
Location: South Korea
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Music
Confronting Bodies: The Defense Ministry of South Korea
Description of Artwork: Famous Korean folk song
Lyrics:
청천하늘엔 잔별도 많고 우리네 가슴엔 희망도 많다
저기 저 산이 백두산이라지 동지 섣달에도 꽃만 핀다
English Translation:
Just as there are many stars in the clear sky, There are also many dreams in our heart
There, over there that mountain is Baekdu Mountain, Where, even in the middle of winter days, flowers bloom.
The Incident: The South Korean Military banned the famous Korean folk song from its military base from being sung in their karaoke rooms because they thought the song would lower soldier morale as it was once sung by North Korean artists. The military also said the song was sad and too depressing. Versions sung by South Korean artists are not banned, however, such as versions sung by SG Wannabe. In the past, bans like this were questioned but upheld in the end. In a case where the Defense Ministry banned 23 book, the Constitutional Court of South Korea "said intent behind the ban is just and the scope of the ban appropriate as it '...seriously undermine the spiritual strength of the soldiers"(YonHap News).
Results of Incident: There have been no known movements to repeal the ban.
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