Mungyeong Saejae and the Arirang Song

 Korean traditional song Arirang is known worldwide as a signature of Korean spirit, an unofficial anthem of the Korean people all around the world. There are thousands of variations of Arirang song and it was included twice on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage list. The first verse goes: ’Arirang gogaero nomokanda’ - ‘Overcome the Arirang path’. Traditionally the word ‘path’ - ‘gogae’ in Korean means ‘to overcome’ and also ‘to transition into the new world’. That is why the phrase ‘Overcome the Arirang path’ is present in refrains of all versions of Arirang. This is the reason why Arirang is called ‘the song that helps to overcome all the hardships and sufferings’.

  Since 2008 an annual Arirang Festival has been held in Mungyeong city in North Gyeongsang Province - Mungyeong Saejae Arirang Festival.
  The famous phrase “Arirang gogae’ is directly related to Mungyeong Saejae, the path through Joryeong mountain. During the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1865-1872, a regional specialty - Schmidt’s birch wood - was being delivered to the capital and used for making construction tool handles. Mungyeong citizens felt a deep sense of loss for their native trees and they came up with the saying ‘All Mungyeong Saejae birch trees were lost and became wooden rollers for pressing clothes’. For 7 years strong young men from the South of the country were forced to cross the mountain through Saejae path to work at the construction, and this song about sorrow and parting reverberated in their hearts. In their minds, the construction separated them from their hometowns.

  That is how Saejae Arirang spread to Seoul and afterwards all over the country. The phrase ‘Mungyeong Saejae’ was generalized to ‘gogae’ - ‘path’. ‘Arirang path’ became a simile to Mungyeong Saejae path.

  Arirang gogae is Mungyeong Saejae. In a way, Arirang song served as a catharsis for Mungyeong people and they were reborn through this song. Just like the song did for Mungyeong, Arirang helps people to overcome all their hardships together and be open to good news. (Source: Mungyeong Saejae Arirang Festival Planning Committee ) 

  Traditional memorial ceremony performed at Mungyeong Saejae by Ms. Song Ok Ja, Chairman of the Mungyeong Saejae Arirang Preservation Society.