"Morning Dew" (Korean: 아침 이슬, "Achim Isul") is a South Korean protest song from the 1970s written by Kim Min-ki and sung by Yang Hee-eun.[1][2][3]
The song was Yang Hee-eun's debut in her album Minki Kim.[4][5] It was not intended to be a protest song, and belonged to the geonjeongayo genre.[1][4] It has also been described as belonging to the genres of Korean ballad[6] and T'ong guitar.[7] The song was well received by both music critics and the public, youths in particular.[8] Initially it won a government award (건전가요상, the Wholesome Song Award), and was considered a pro-government propaganda or "healthy" song, and played on the Korean radio under a cultural program supported by the government.[2][4][9][5]
Soon afterward, it had inexplicably become a popular protest song among the pro-democracy activists in South Korea, particularly with students.[1][4][8][10] Despite the song lacking an overt political message and being described as "full of resolve in spite of the sorrows of life's trials",[11] its wording could be interpreted as "activists yearning for a democratic society",[4] and critical of the 1972 Yushin Constitution.[3] It has also been interpreted as critical of Americanization of Korean society.[6]
Subsequently, in December 1975, it was banned by government censorship of the Park Chung Hee regime.[2][6][5][3] It was later also banned in North Korea.[10] Copies of the album containing it were recalled and destroyed, and it was even prohibited to cover it.[12] The song, composed in 1971, was one of the favorites of the pro-democracy students until the late 1980s (the other being another song by Kim Min-ki, Sangoksu, lit. Evergreen). It was often sung during the events of the 1987 June Democratic Struggle.[4] It has also been described as an anthem of the Korean pro-democracy movement[12] and credited with starting the South Korean protest music.[13]
The ban on the song was lifted following pro-democracy protests in 1987. It remained popular for some time afterward.[4] It has been sung at political rallies as late as the 2000s.[14]
The song has also been described as popular with North Koreans living in Japan (people affiliated with Chongryon).[15]
See also
References
External links
- "Morning Dew" on YouTube