Arirang is an iconic Korean folksong that has a role in strengthening status in contemporary Korea that derives from its perceived role in strengthening Korean resolve to resist the cultural violence of the Japanese colonial occupation​(E. Taylor Atkins 2007)​.The Arirang has had influence as close as Korean folk music to as far as a Japanese hit pop song. It has come a long way from simply being a propaganda song sung as part of school music lessons. It was used to combat the rise in popularity of Western pop music in 1956 when the government set up plans to raise awareness of traditional music.