"Arirang" (아리랑; [a.ɾi.ɾaŋ]) is a Korean folk song, often considered as the unofficial national anthem of Korea.

Many versions of the song start by describing the travails encountered by the subject of the song while crossing a mountain pass. "Arirang" is one name for the pass and hence the title of the song. Some versions of "Arirang" mention Mungyeong Saejae, which is the main mountain pass on the road connecting Seoul and southeastern Gyeongsang Province during the Joseon Dynasty.

There are a number of passes called "Arirang Pass" in Korea. One of them is in central-northeastern Seoul. This particular pass, however, was originally called Jeongneung Pass and was only renamed Arirang in 1926 to commemorate the release of the film Arirang. Older versions of the song long predate the movie. Arirang Pass (아리랑 고개) is an imaginary rendezvous of lovers in the land of dreams, although there is a real mountain pass, called "Arirang Gogae," outside the Small East Gate of Seoul.

The heroine of the story from which the Arirang song originated was a fair maid of Miryang. In fact, she was a modest woman killed by an unrequited lover. But as time went on, the tragic story changed to that of an unrequited lady-love who complained of her unfeeling lover. The tune is sweet and appealing. The story is recounted in "Miss Arirang" in Folk Tales of Old Korea (Korean Cultural Series, Vol. VI).

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