KCNA had an interview with a researcher, Kim Son Yong, at the Folklore Institute under the Academy of Social Sciences, to get a correct understanding of the songs.

Question: The folk songs "Kangkang Suwolae" and "Kwaejina Chingchingnane" have become popular nowadays among local people. It reflects their strong opposition to Japan's distortion of history and claim to Tok Islets. Can you tell me about the songs?

Answer: The songs were all created in the period of the Imjin Patriotic War (1592-1598) launched by the Korean people against Japanese aggressors.

"Kangkang Suwolae" calls for heightening vigilance against Japanese invaders coming over the sea.

It has been told that the song was sung mainly by women on guarding duties, with bonfire on beach.

As years passed by, this song developed into a melody for girls' dance. They danced to the tune of the song hand in hand in a circle on the moonlight evening of the January 15th day of the lunar calendar and the Harvest Moon Day in particular.

The song is interwoven with lento and mosso melodies, concise and interesting.

"Kwaejina Chingchingnane" sings of joy of victory in battles, while satirizing the retreating Japanese invaders, especially Kiyomasa Kato, one of the bosses of the invaders.

Its singing was usually accompanied by shoulder dance, beating tune with hands and feet.