2026 병오년 조국 찬가 12곡

 

동해 바다 붉은 해 눈부신 새날 오네

다시금 동방의 등불* 보석 같은 나라*로 빛나리

 

인내천(人乃天)의 큰 숨결 범평화(凡平和)의 빛으로

21세기 인류의 길 바른 지표 설정하고

영성의 별 품은 나라 대한민국 우뚝 세우리

 

*동방의 등불: 인도의 시인 라빈 드라나드 타고르의 시(1929년)에 나온 말

*보석같은 나라: 미국 작가 펄 벅은 그의 소설 '살아있는 갈대' 서문에서

한국은 "고상한 국민이 살고있는 보석같은 나라"라고 함.

 

 

2026 The Red-Horse Year 12 Hymns for Fatherland

 

The red sun rises over the East Sea, bringing a dazzling new day.

The sound of red horses' hooves echoes throughout the land,

And the steel heart of the new pulse of the horses surges on.

 

Eighty years since liberation, seventy five years since the war.

A long period of forced separation and berevement,

Now the star of reunification is slowly approaching.

 

From the valley of poverty, sweat drops became a river, 

With strands of wig and fibers, we opened the path to the world,

In the flames of heavy industry, we built up the nation's economy.

 

Even amidst the storms of politics, the trees remained unbroken.

The flowers of freedom bloomed, enlightening the path of democracy,

We crossed the threshold of a developed nation, entering the age of 

advanced technology.

 

Our youth has been the embodiment of blood, sweat and tears,

Our nation of the flame with half a millennium of history of sorrow,

wisdom and justice,

We've overcome the IMF crisis and regained our economic sovereignity.

 

Though resources may be scarce, dedicated education has become

a spring of knowledge,

The semiconductor, automobile, shipbuilding and defense industries are

flowing like river, 

​Propelling us in the cutting-edge world of AI and the seas of tomorrow.

 

My home-land, leading the way of eco-friendly living, 

The Cheonggyecheon and Hanriver's flowing waters will be an example for the world,

The fruit of our hard work will open a new horizon for the global community.

 

On the narrow land, the intricate transportation network is like constellation,

Subways, buses, and high-speed trains connecting like starlight, pursuing a life

Of speed and efficiency, as if a future path of flowers in the universe.

 

The ship that departed from Busan port will be heading toward the Bering Sea 

And the Arctic Ocean, the Eurasian and Seoul transit trains, a route connecting 

East and West, a new era of Jang Bogo and a new silk Road will be opening.

 

Following the wind of Mongolia, the memories of our roots are flowing,

The flame of Hunminjeongum will burn out illiteracy,

And Hangul will spread throughout the world, illuminating a new era.

 

A nation of peace for five thousand years, spreading the love Hongik(benefitting all),

Becoming a melting pot of the world, bringing together a golden vein of culture,

Will once again shine as The Light of the East* and A Jewel Like Nation*.

 

With the great breath of the belief that humanity is one with heaven and with the light

Of universal peace​, we will set the right course for humanity in the 21st Century,

And proudly establish our country as a nation embracing the star of spirituality.

 

*The Light of the East : from 'The Light of the East'(1929) by Indian poet Rabindranath Togore