Franz_Eckert studied music and became a bandmaster in the German navy. In 1879 he was sent to Japan to help build up the military music in the new Japanese army. He also worked for the Japanese Ministry of Culture and the Imperial Household. The Japanese were now introduced to Western music at school and in the military. But Eckert was also interested in the native musical tradition. In 1880, he was commissioned by the Japanese government to set the Japanese national anthem Kimi ga yo, which is still used today, to music based on classical Japanese music. He left Japan in 1899. In 1901, however, he was engaged by the Korean imperial court to introduce Western music there as well. In 1902, he composed the national anthem of the Korean Empire. However, when Korea became a Japanese colony in 1910, this anthem was abolished and replaced by the Japanese anthem, which was also written by Eckert.

Eckert died in 1916 in Seoul, where his grave is also located.

Sculptor Axel Richter created this medal on the gravestone for Franz Eckert at the Foreigners' Cemetery in Seoul.