[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The national anthem played at the 70th anniversary commemoration ceremony of the June 25 War last month has sparked controversy for resembling the prelude of North Korea's national anthem. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs rebutted the claim, stating that the anthem was performed as a "solemn orchestral piece," but criticism has arisen over the failure to pre-check the similarity to North Korea's anthem prelude.
On the 1st, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs explained, "We conveyed to the KBS Symphony Orchestra that the national anthem needed to be performed in a particularly solemn and dignified atmosphere," adding, "The KBS Symphony Orchestra performed the anthem's prelude using Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, 1st movement, a piece known for its majestic resonance and familiarity to the public, as it is commonly used in the British national anthem 'God Save the Queen' and Wagner's 'Lohengrin'."
The ministry further stated, "Considering that the event marked both the 70th anniversary and the repatriation ceremony of the remains of fallen soldiers, we discussed the need for the anthem to be performed in a particularly solemn and dignified manner and conveyed this requirement to the KBS Symphony Orchestra, which performed the anthem's prelude with majestic resonance and public familiarity," according to the ministry's explanation.
However, netizens have continued to stir controversy online by releasing the sheet music of North Korea's national anthem. North Korea's anthem features lyrics written by Park Se-young, a poet who defected to the North, and music composed by Kim Won-gyun, a former mine worker.
The controversy has also extended into the political sphere. On the 30th, Yoon Gun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Tae Yong-ho, a member of the United Future Party, on his Facebook, targeting Tae's claim that the introduction of the national anthem played at the June 25 event resembled North Korea's anthem. Yoon stated, "It is wrong for anyone to mislead the public with fake news and color politics and to undermine peace on the Korean Peninsula."
Yoon added, "Some media outlets have fact-checked and revealed that the prelude was arranged by the KBS Symphony Orchestra with the feeling of Tchaikovsky's symphony and the British national anthem in mind," and criticized, "Despite knowing this, to still talk about North Korea's anthem is excessive."
He further remarked, "Previously, a single word caused the death of the living North Korean supreme leader, and now color politics are being spread by claiming that the national anthem prelude used at the presidential event is the same as North Korea's anthem," and directly attacked Tae, saying, "One mistake is an accident, but from the second time, it becomes a habit. When mistakes are repeated, one cannot help but suspect malice."
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