The national anthem of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is The Patriotic Song .
It was composed by Kim Won Gyun (January 2, 1917-April 5, 2002), winner of Kim Il Sung Prize, Labour Hero and People’s Artist who composed the immortal revolutionary hymn Song of General Kim Il Sung .
Before Korea’s liberation from the Japanese military rule (August 15, 1945), he was an odd-job man in the lowest stratum of society who would tar tinned roofs.
The national liberation gave him a hope and dream and provided him with an opportunity for cultivating his talent.
Experiencing the stirring events in the days of one year after liberation, he keenly realized that General Kim Il Sung was the great Sun of the nation who saved the destiny of Koreans in a miserable plight of a ruined nation, and that his was the genuine embrace of the fatherland.
Boundless respect and fascination for, absolute trust in and ardent loyalty to the leader inspired the ordinary 29-year-old young man to compose Song of General Kim Il Sung as an all-people hymn and famous song with a form of march.
The country honoured him with a title of composer. He believed the title as the expectation and trust of people for creating famous pieces singing of the great leader and the advancing country all his life.
So, one year after the creation of Song of General Kim Il Sung , he composed a solemn and weighty melody of the national anthem reflecting the feelings of people following the great leader, their love and devotion for the prosperous country and their wish for the future of the country.
Much water has flown under the bridge and the generations have been replaced several times, but the national flag of the DPRK is fluttering in the clear, blue sky and the solemn melody of The Patriotic Song is reverberating through the country.
Kim Won Gyun composed many famous pieces like March of Korea (1945), March of Democratic Youth (1947), Our Supreme Commander (1951) and Shine, the Workers’ Party of Korea (1980), while working as vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Union of Musicians of Korea and the chairman of the National Music Committee of Korea.
The artistic talent training base of the country is named Pyongyang Kim Won Gyun University of Music and Dance.
Yang Ryon Hui
More From Naenara (En)
								One day in October 2015 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Kim Jong Thae Electric Locomotive Complex to see a tube
 October 31, 2025
One day in October 2015 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Kim Jong Thae Electric Locomotive Complex to see a tube
Kim Mun Sop was the first to discover a variety of insect-borne mushrooms in the DPRK. He was in charge of a section at the
 October 31, 2025
Kim Mun Sop was the first to discover a variety of insect-borne mushrooms in the DPRK. He was in charge of a section at the
A knockout match between the DPRK team and the Moroccan team in the round of 16 for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup took plac
 October 31, 2025
A knockout match between the DPRK team and the Moroccan team in the round of 16 for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup took plac
DPRK players Pak Hae Yon and Kim Hyon I bagged gold medals in the women’s weightlifting and wrestling events at the Third Asian
 October 31, 2025
DPRK players Pak Hae Yon and Kim Hyon I bagged gold medals in the women’s weightlifting and wrestling events at the Third Asian
A Russian economic delegation led by Alexandr Kozlov, minister of Natural Resources and Ecology who is chairman of the Russian
 October 31, 2025
A Russian economic delegation led by Alexandr Kozlov, minister of Natural Resources and Ecology who is chairman of the Russian
New houses have been built at the Sinsang Farm and Samso Farm in Kim Jong Suk County of Ryanggang Province, the DPRK. Amid the joy
 October 31, 2025
New houses have been built at the Sinsang Farm and Samso Farm in Kim Jong Suk County of Ryanggang Province, the DPRK. Amid the joy
On October 6 the inauguration ceremony of the Pyongyang General Hospital was held with splendour on the shore of the picturesque
 October 30, 2025
On October 6 the inauguration ceremony of the Pyongyang General Hospital was held with splendour on the shore of the picturesque
DPRK weightlifter Choe Jin Myong lifted 124 kg in snatch (new record of the games) and won a gold medal in the men’s 65kg
 October 30, 2025
DPRK weightlifter Choe Jin Myong lifted 124 kg in snatch (new record of the games) and won a gold medal in the men’s 65kg
New houses have been built in the seat village of the Rojung Vegetable Farm in Hyesan City, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK. Cultural
 October 30, 2025
New houses have been built in the seat village of the Rojung Vegetable Farm in Hyesan City, Ryanggang Province, the DPRK. Cultural
A delegation of the Choson Sinbo Company of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) led by its Director
 October 30, 2025
A delegation of the Choson Sinbo Company of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) led by its Director
A riding club has been newly built in Sariwon City, North Hwanghae Province, the DPRK. The service centre with a room for
 October 30, 2025
A riding club has been newly built in Sariwon City, North Hwanghae Province, the DPRK. The service centre with a room for
There are two old monuments in Sonjuk-dong, Kaesong Municipality, which were built in the period of the feudal Joson dynasty
 October 30, 2025
There are two old monuments in Sonjuk-dong, Kaesong Municipality, which were built in the period of the feudal Joson dynasty
Many university entrants have come from the schoolchildren who studied in Pyongyang last year after being displaced by flood,
 October 30, 2025
Many university entrants have come from the schoolchildren who studied in Pyongyang last year after being displaced by flood,
The 17th Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair opened in the DPRK. Presented to the fair were more than tens of thousands of
 October 29, 2025
The 17th Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair opened in the DPRK. Presented to the fair were more than tens of thousands of
The whole countryside is turning into a socialist paradise day by day. New public and production buildings have been built at the
 October 29, 2025
The whole countryside is turning into a socialist paradise day by day. New public and production buildings have been built at the
A technical team of the Paeksung Insulated Wire Manufactory under the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports has developed an
 October 29, 2025
A technical team of the Paeksung Insulated Wire Manufactory under the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports has developed an
At the Third Asian Youth Games, DPRK player Pak Kyong Song set a new record of the games by lifting 112 kg in snatch on October
 October 29, 2025
At the Third Asian Youth Games, DPRK player Pak Kyong Song set a new record of the games by lifting 112 kg in snatch on October
In November 1971, the 5th World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships took place in Havana, Cuba.Among the participating athletes was 
 October 29, 2025
In November 1971, the 5th World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships took place in Havana, Cuba.Among the participating athletes was 
According to the grand blueprint for rural rejuvenation unfolded by the Central Committee of the great Workers’ Party of Korea,
 October 29, 2025
According to the grand blueprint for rural rejuvenation unfolded by the Central Committee of the great Workers’ Party of Korea,
The workers’ hostel of the Sariwon Textile Mill was inaugurated. The hostel, which has been built as a monumental creation in
 October 29, 2025
The workers’ hostel of the Sariwon Textile Mill was inaugurated. The hostel, which has been built as a monumental creation in
 
							
							More Articles