Joguk

Joguk is a Korean term transliterated as joguk and written 조국 in Hangul. It translates to homeland or fatherland and is used to refer to one’s country or nation, often with a patriotic or reverential nuance. It can also denote the land of one’s ancestors.

The term derives from Sino-Korean roots: 祖 (jo, meaning ancestor or forebear) and 國 (guk, meaning country). In Korean usage, 조국 conveys the idea of the country as the homeland of one’s forebears. It is widely understood as a formal, emotionally charged concept in national discourse.

In modern Korean, 조국 appears in formal, ceremonial, or political contexts rather than everyday casual speech. Examples include phrases such as 조국을 지키다 (to defend the homeland), 조국의 독립 (the homeland’s independence), or 조국 사랑 (love of the homeland). It is common in history textbooks and patriotic songs.

North Korea and South Korea both use 조국, though the regnant usage and emphasis vary with political climate. In both, the term is associated with nationalism and national identity, and it also appears in literature, media, and commemorations connected to national anniversaries and unification debates.

See also: homeland, motherland, fatherland; nationalism; Korean language.