[5] The song is sung today in both North and South Korea, and represents the symbol of unity in the region that is divided by the Korean War.

"Arirang" as a term today is ambiguous in meaning, but some linguists have hypothesized that "Ari" (아리) meant "beautiful" and "rang" (랑) referred to a "beloved one" or "bridegroom" in the ancient native Korean language.

According to the legend, the name is derived from the story of a bachelor and a maiden who fell in love while picking Camellia blossoms near the wharf at Auraji (아우라지) — a body of water which derives its name from the Korean word "eoureojida" (어우러지다) that is closely translated to "be in harmony" or "to meet".

[8] Two versions of this story exist: According to Professor Keith Howard, Arirang originated in the mountainous regions of Jeongseon, Gangwon, and the first mention of the song was found in a 1756 manuscript.

[10] The Academy of Korean Studies also shares the same view that Arirang was originally the folk song of Jeongseon.

[11] Others especially theorize that the words "Arirang" and "Arari" in the song's lyrics originated from the families of the workers during this period who said "Arirang (아리랑; 我離郞)" or "Ananri (아난리; 我亂離)" to the officials taking the workers from their Gangwon homes to the palace construction in Seoul, the phrases which meant they cannot be separated from their lovers or families respectively.

[12][13] According to Maecheonyarok (매천야록; 梅泉野錄) recorded by the Joseon scholar Hwang Hyeon [ko], it seemed the song was widespread in the country by this time.

[14] Some trace the term "Arirang" to the name of Lady Aryeong, the wife of the first king of Silla, as the song could have evolved from the poem praising her virtues.

Others even speculate that the term is linked to the Jurchen word "Arin" meaning "hometown", or the name of the Indian god with similar name.

[16][17] One source suggests that the students belonged to noble Korean families and were studying abroad at Howard University during the period in which the recording was made.

Many of the variations of "Arirang" that were written during the occupation contain themes of injustice, the plight of labourers, and guerrilla warfare.

[28][29] In 2011, Arirang was added to the 3rd batch of "List of Representative Items of National Intangible Cultural Heritage of China'.

[5]The U.S. Army's 7th Infantry Division adopted "Arirang" as its official march song in May 1956, after receiving permission from Syngman Rhee, the first president of South Korea.