[Exclusive] "Can You Sing All Four Verses of the National Anthem?"... Survey on Taegeukgi and Anthem Memorization Among Students in Seoul

Koo Mikyung's Office Launches Memorization Survey Targeting Elementary, Middle, and High School Students
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"Declining Awareness of National Symbols Raises Socia

A survey on the recognition of the Taegeukgi (the national flag of South Korea) and the national anthem is being conducted among some elementary, middle, and high school students enrolled in Seoul. The survey aims to determine whether students can draw the Taegeukgi and recite all four verses of the national anthem. However, critics argue that this is an outdated measure of patriotism. Some educational institutions and parents are also expected to oppose the initiative.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Council and other sources on September 23, the office of Assemblywoman Koo Mikyung from the People Power Party recently launched a "Survey on the Recognition and Memorization of the Taegeukgi and National Anthem" targeting 1,000 students currently attending elementary, middle, and high schools in Seoul.

The scene around Hyochang Park in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, during the recent March 1st Movement Day. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The scope of the survey is quite specific. It will not only assess whether students can draw the Taegeukgi, but also check their understanding of the meaning and colors of the flag's components-Geon, Gon, Gam, and Ri. The same applies to the national anthem: the survey will examine whether students can sing all four verses, as well as their experiences singing or learning the anthem at school or at home.

The assemblywoman's office explained that "the declining awareness of national symbols and indifference to national ceremonies among the younger generation has become a social concern." They added, "We plan to use the results as foundational data for educational and policy responses," and stated, "We will work to develop measures to foster patriotism and strengthen related education among students."

It is reported that students' recognition of the Taegeukgi and the national anthem is severely lacking. About ten years ago, a media outlet randomly surveyed 100 elementary school students, and not a single one could sing all four verses of the national anthem at that time.

Some argue that, even if not as a test of patriotism, having an accurate understanding of the Taegeukgi and the national anthem is a basic civic competency for citizens who hold Korean nationality and receive compulsory education. There are concerns that indifference to national identity during adolescence may lead to various negative effects.

However, many also believe that this approach amounts to the forced imposition of outdated patriotism. An official from an educational office stated, "While knowing the national anthem and being able to draw the Taegeukgi may be considered basic knowledge for Korean citizens, using this as a measure of patriotism is an excessively narrow interpretation of what patriotism means."

Although the assemblywoman's office plans to conduct the survey by phone and online rather than visiting schools in person, resistance from educational institutions and parents is still anticipated. Another official from an educational office commented, "The results of this survey could lead to criticism of students and may also impact the educational curriculum."

The way the Taegeukgi and the national anthem are treated has long been a subject of controversy in the political sphere. During the 2011 Seoul mayoral election, Na Kyungwon, then-candidate from the Grand National Party, questioned Park Wonsoon, the opposition candidate, for holding an event without the Taegeukgi and the national anthem, attempting to scrutinize his sense of national identity. Park responded, "There are various ways to express patriotism." Since then, controversies have erupted over the inclusion of "all four verses of the national anthem" and "the pledge to the flag" in civil service exams. In 2015, Hwang Kyo-ahn, then-nominee for Prime Minister, attended a ceremony for newly appointed prosecutors and admonished those who could not sing all four verses of the national anthem, stating, "Defending constitutional values begins with the national anthem."

More recently, the Seoul Metropolitan Government faced criticism after announcing plans to install a 100-meter-high Taegeukgi flagpole in the center of Gwanghwamun. At the time, some civic groups denounced the plan as "nationalistic," and as the controversy persisted, Mayor Oh Sehoon revised the plan to create "a space honoring the sacrifices of countries that participated in the Korean War," after gathering public opinion.