Arirang: the meaning, regional versions and UNESCO listing of Korea's song
TUREFF• •0
If there is one song nearly every Korean knows, it is Arirang. It is sung at sporting events and protests, at weddings and in moments of homesickness, by Koreans in the South, the North and around the world. Yet there is no single Arirang. It is a family of folk songs that share a refrain and a feeling.
What the song is
Most versions share a refrain built around the words "arirang" and "arariyo", and a reference to crossing the Arirang gogae, the Arirang hill or mountain pass. The verses vary enormously. Many are about parting and longing, but others are humorous, about work, love or hardship.
The words "arirang" and "arari" themselves have no agreed meaning. Scholars have proposed many explanations, and none is settled. That openness may be part of the song's strength: anyone can fill it with their own feelings.
The regional versions
Arirang exists in many regional forms, each with its own melody and character. Among the best known:
- Jeongseon Arirang, from the mountains of Gangwon province, slow and lyrical. It is widely regarded as one of the oldest forms.
- Jindo Arirang, from Jindo island in the southwest, with a more ornamented, emotional style and southern dialect.
- Miryang Arirang, from Gyeongsang province in the southeast, brisk and lively.
- The Seoul or "standard" Arirang (bonjo Arirang), the version most people abroad know. Its popularity is closely tied to the 1926 silent film Arirang by Na Woon-gyu, whose theme helped spread it nationally during the Japanese colonial period.
Beyond these, there are countless local and personal versions, and new ones keep being made, including pop, rock and orchestral arrangements.
The UNESCO listings
Arirang has two entries on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
- 2012: "Arirang, lyrical folk song in the Republic of Korea", nominated by South Korea.
- 2014: "Arirang folk song in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea", nominated by North Korea.
UNESCO's recognition focuses on Arirang as a living practice of a whole community, a song ordinary people continue to sing, adapt and pass on, rather than a fixed piece of music.
Why it matters
- A shared song across a divided peninsula. Arirang belongs to both Koreas and to Korean communities abroad. It has been sung at moments of contact between North and South, including joint sporting appearances.
- A song of the diaspora. Koreans who emigrated to China, Central Asia, Japan and the Americas carried their own versions with them.
- A voice for hard times. During the colonial period, Arirang came to carry a sense of national sorrow and resilience.
- Han and heung. Arirang can express han, a deep, lingering sorrow, and also heung, joyful excitement. The same refrain serves both, which is very Korean.
How to listen
- Start with the standard Seoul version so the refrain is familiar.
- Then listen to Jeongseon, Jindo and Miryang Arirang one after another and notice how different they feel.
- Look up a modern arrangement, and listen for how much of the original is kept.
If you visit Jeongseon, Miryang or Jindo, you may find local performances or festivals dedicated to their own Arirang. Check local tourism information for dates.
Which version of Arirang means the most to you, or where did you first hear it? Share it in the comments.