The Korean people call folk songs "ballads", which have beautiful melodies, natural smoothness, and strong appeal and expressiveness. When one person sings and everyone follows, it is not that "a good singer will be followed by others", but "the song in the heart can most arouse the singing of the soul". The famous folk songs "Platycodon Ballad", "Arirang", "Nodor Riverside", etc. are almost household names and everyone can sing them.

Korean folk songs and dances are popular, and the people are good at singing and dancing. The music is unique and rich in national color. The lyrics are simple and honest, the melody is beautiful and rich, the mood is warm and cheerful, the structure is complete and well-proportioned, and the main accompaniment instrument is the gayageum. The most famous folk songs are "Platycodon Ballad", "Arirang", and "Zhuheiya".

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April 27, 2018, is destined to be an extraordinary day. North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un crossed the military demarcation line and set foot on South Korean soil for the first time to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The South Korean military honor guard played Arirang to welcome him.

The origin of Arirang is a love story from the Goryeo Dynasty. It is said that there was a loving couple at that time. They lived a very poor life. The husband wanted to go out to work in order to improve the environment at home. The wife was unwilling and felt that the couple would be very happy if they could be together. However, the husband still wanted his wife to live a happy life. He was living a good life, so he secretly left home one night.

After her husband left, the beautiful wife gradually became coveted by some local gangsters. They often harassed her and forced her to remarry, but the wife sternly refused. Soon, the husband returned from working and the couple reunited. However, the gangsters came to harass her again, and some people spread gossip about the wife and the gangsters. The husband feels that his wife is unfaithful to him and wants to leave home again. No matter how hard the wife explains, it is useless.

After the husband left, the wife would chase him. If she couldn't catch him, she would sing "Arirang" (that is, my husband). The song was all about her longing for her husband. The wife's singing finally moved her husband, and the two fell in love as before. They left their hometown, moved to the capital, and lived a happy life.

"Arirang" has always inspired every Korean, including of course the Chinese Koreans living in Yanbian. In June 2011, the State Council included "Arirang" in the national intangible cultural heritage list. One year later, on December 5, 2012, "Arirang" was included in the "List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Korean Folk Songs