Is Singing the National Anthem Totalitarianism? ... The Never-Ending Controversy Over the Gukga (National Anthem)

Former Board of Audit Chairman Choi Jae-hyung Sparks Controversy Over Tradition of Singing National Anthem in Full
"Love for Country Is Natural" vs "Excessive Patriotism" Debate
National Anthem Controversies Persist in Developed Countries
US Athlete Kneeling During Anthem Faces Criticism
Experts Say Attitudes Toward Anthem Vary by Generation
"Need to Respect Individual Freedom as Much as Possible"

On the afternoon of the 5th, Choi Jae-hyung, former Auditor General and presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is seen giving a salute after receiving a navy cap near the statue of the late Warrant Officer Han Ju-ho in Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Recently, former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, who declared his presidential bid, sparked controversy over 'totalitarianism' by revealing that he "sings the entire four verses of the national anthem at family gatherings." Although Choi drew a line by emphasizing that participation was entirely voluntary and explained that "this is not totalitarianism," criticism arose over excessive nationalism enforcement, and the controversy continues.

The 'national anthem,' created to foster patriotism and unite the nation, has actually been a subject of debate since long ago. While some defend it as the most representative symbol of a country, others point out that it promotes coercive loyalty to the nation. Even in advanced Western countries like the United States and Europe, which adopted national anthems much earlier than Korea, debates surrounding the anthem remain ongoing.

◆Controversy over 'Singing All Four Verses of the National Anthem' and Totalitarianism

The so-called 'national anthem full rendition controversy' began in the political arena. Recently, Choi's side released photos of a family gathering during a holiday, revealing that all family members, from daughters-in-law to young granddaughters, participated in the national ceremony and sang all four verses of the national anthem as a 'family tradition.'

When criticism arose questioning whether this was an excessive enforcement of totalitarianism, Choi appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 5th and rebutted, saying, "Loving the country is a different matter from totalitarianism."

Former Director Choi is saluting the national flag at the presidential election candidacy declaration ceremony held on the afternoon of the 4th at a studio in Munbal-dong, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do. / Photo by Yonhap News

On that day, Choi emphasized, "My father (the late Navy Colonel Choi Young-seop) started this family tradition out of love for the country, urging us to sing the entire national anthem," adding, "Our daughters-in-law willingly participated and sang the anthem with the same heart."

The daughters-in-law of the family also responded. In a family statement released through Choi's election camp, they said, "Some people mockingly use terms like 'totalitarianism' and 'fascist,'" and asked, "Why should singing the national anthem be criticized?"

They continued, "Some criticize it as family coercion, but that is not true," emphasizing, "If the country prospers, we would sing the national anthem a thousand or ten thousand times."

Despite Choi's explanation, criticism continued from some quarters. Kim Du-kwan, a presidential candidate from the ruling Democratic Party, pointed out in a radio interview, "(Singing all four verses of the national anthem) cannot be interpreted positively. It smells of nationalism."

◆National Anthems Are Sensitive Topics Even in Advanced Countries like Germany and the U.S.

Controversies over national anthems, which are representative symbols of a country, are not limited to Korea. Even Western advanced countries that adopted national anthems much earlier have faced ongoing debates.

Attitudes toward the national anthem vary by country. For example, Germany, which has a history of totalitarianism under Nazi rule, carries a burden regarding its national anthem, "Deutschlandlied."

Interior view of the German Federal Diet / Photo by Yonhap News

"Deutschlandlied" was written by 19th-century German poet Hoffmann with the purpose of promoting nationalism, which was spreading like wildfire across Europe at the time. During Nazi Germany's rule and World War II, the anthem was altered and known as "Germany above all."

The first and second verses of the song contained content encouraging German territorial expansion and praising German diligence. Lyrics such as "Germany above all else in the world" and "When defending and attacking, we stand together like brothers" were banned after World War II because they evoked expansionism. Since the reunification of West and East Germany in the 1990s, only the third verse, which emphasizes unity and peace, has been recognized as the national anthem.

On the other hand, in the United States, where the national anthem is an important symbol, the entire country was embroiled in controversy over the anthem. In 2016, Colin Kaepernick, a former NFL player, kneeled on one knee instead of placing his hand over his heart during the playing of the U.S. national anthem, the "Star-Spangled Banner," as a protest against the repeated deaths of Black people due to police shootings.

In October 2016, Colin Kaepernick (center) and his colleagues protested against police violence toward minority groups by sitting on their knees without standing during the national anthem. / Photo by Yonhap News

This sparked strong backlash from American conservatives. Former U.S. President Donald Trump said in a 2017 speech, "Don't you want to see NFL owners tell players who don't respect the flag and anthem, 'Get that son of a b**** off the field right now'?"

However, the 'one knee kneeling' gesture has since been consistently reproduced by human rights activists protesting racial discrimination in the U.S.

◆"Deserving Praise" vs. "Suffocating"?Citizens Debate

In Korea, public opinion on singing the full national anthem is sharply divided. Some defend it as something young people should emulate, while others express discomfort, saying it feels suffocating.

A housewife in her 50s, Ms. A, said, "In an era when many people can't even properly recite the first verse of the national anthem, it's fortunate to have a politician like that," adding, "Politicians should naturally cherish their country. This is something to praise, not criticize."

On the other hand, some expressed discomfort. A 20-something office worker, Mr. A, said, "I think singing the national anthem is a personal freedom," but added, "Personally, living in such a household would feel suffocating."

Another office worker, Mr. B (33), said, "I could accept singing one or two verses, but singing all four was a bit much," pointing out, "Patriotism itself is not bad, but the side effects of excessive patriotism or 'gukppong' (blind nationalism) are serious."

Experts suggest that citizens' attitudes toward the national anthem have changed over time and that individual freedom regarding this should be respected.

Cultural critic Jung Deok-hyun explained, "In the past, there was an atmosphere of sanctifying the national anthem, such as mandatorily playing it before movies in theaters, but with the widespread acceptance of liberalism now, perceptions have changed significantly," adding, "It is not unusual for some to cherish and want to sing the anthem while others feel uncomfortable."

He continued, "Especially, attitudes toward the national anthem can vary greatly by generation, and that is natural," advising, "Rather than judging which attitude is better, it is necessary to respect individual freedom as much as possible."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.