Flag of South Korea

The flag of South Korea is called Taegeukgi. It is white and has the yin-yang in its center. Yang (red symbol) means light and heat, yin (blue symbol) represents darkness and cold. The symbols surrounding the yin-yang are four of the taeguks, which symbolize sky, water, fire and earth. The white background means peace.

History

Background

The Korean flag, or Taegeukgi, was created and used during the Joseon Dynasty (조선, 朝鮮). Both the date of creation and the author are still uncertain. It has been said that Pak Yeonghyo was the creator and the first to make the flag.

In 1876, the absence of a national flag became a problem for Korea, at that time ruled by the Joseon dynasty. Before 1876, Korea did not have a national flag, but the king had his own royal standard. The lack of a national flag became a dilemma during the negotiations for the Treaty of Ganghwa, in which Japan's delegate displayed the Japanese national flag, while the Joseon dynasty had no corresponding national symbol to display. At the time, some proposed creating a national flag, but the Joseon government considered the matter unimportant and unnecessary. In 1880, the proliferation of foreign negotiations led to the need for a national flag. The most popular proposal was outlined in the 'Korean Strategy' documents, written by the Chinese delegate Huang Zunxian. He proposed incorporating the flag of China's Qing dynasty into that of Korea's Joseon dynasty. In response to the Chinese proposal, the Joseon government sent delegate Lee Young-Sook to consider the plan with Chinese statesman and diplomat Li Hongzhang. Li agreed with some elements of Huang's suggestion, although he accepted that Korea would make some modifications. The Qing government accepted Li's conclusions, but the degree of enthusiasm with which the Joseon government explored this proposal is unknown.

The issue remained unaddressed for a period, but resurfaced with the negotiation of the United States-Korea Treaty of 1882, also known as the Shufeldt Treaty. American emissary Robert Wilson Shufeldt suggested that Korea adopt a national flag to represent its sovereignty. Joseon King Kojong ordered government officials Sin Heon and Kim Hong-jip to begin work on a new flag. Kim Hong-jip, in turn, asked delegate Lee Eung-jun to create the first design, which Lee Eung-jun presented to Chinese official Ma Jianzhong. Ma Jianzhong opposed Huang Zunxian's proposal that Korea adopt the flag of the Qing dynasty and proposed a modified dragon flag. Kojong rejected this idea. Ma suggested a flag with a Taegeuk and the Eight Trigrams of Lee Eung-jun. Kim and Ma proposed changes: Kim proposed changing the red to blue and white; Ma proposed a white field, a red and black Taegeuk, black Eight Trigrams, and a red border. On May 14, 1882, before the Joseon-United States Treaty of 1882, Park Yeong-hyo presented a scale model of the Taegukgi of Lee Eung-jun to the Joseon government, Gojong approved Lee Eung-jun's taegukgi. Park Yeong-hyo became the first person to use the Taegukgi in 1882. The October 2, 1882 issue of the Japanese newspaper Jiji shimpō credited Gojong as the designer of the Taegukgi (i.e. a flag with a red and blue Taegeuk and four trigrams). On January 27, 1883, the Joseon government officially promulgated the Taegukgi as the official national flag.

In 1919, the Korean provisional government in exile based in China used a flag similar to the current flag of South Korea. Under colonial rule, the taeguk and the Korean flag grew as a powerful symbol of independence in the 1,500 demonstrations that took place.

After the restoration of Korean independence in 1945, Taegukgi continued to be used after the southern part of Korea became a republic under the influence of the United States, but also used by the People's Republic of Korea. At the same time, the United States flag was also used by the United States Army Military Government in Korea along with the Taegukgi. Following the establishment of the state of South Korea in August 1948, the current flag was declared official by the South Korean government on October 15, 1949. Although it had previously been used as the de facto national flag.

In February 1984, the exact dimensional specifications of the flag were codified. In October 1997, the precise color scheme of the flag was set for the first time by presidential decree.

Historical flags

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  Flag of the United States Army Military Government in Korea (1945-1948)

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  South Korea Flag (1945-1948)

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  South Korea Flag (1948-1949)

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  South Korea Flag (1949-1984)

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  South Korea Flag (1984-1997)

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  South Korea Flag (1997-2011)

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  South Korea Flag (2011-current)

Meaning

The meaning of the flag is based on the Taoist concept of Yin (음, 陰) - Yang (양, 陽) duality. The white background symbolizes peace. In the center is the Taegeuk (태극, 太極), which represents the origin of all things in the universe, the Great Absolute of Chinese philosophy, composed of the positive aspect or yang (in red), and the negative aspect, or yin. (in blue), both in perfect balance. Together they are in an infinite movement, mixing with each other and forming a single entity. Around it are four trigrams, called gwae (괘, 卦), which come from the 8 trigrams of the I Ching (Book of Changes), or Yeok Gyeong (역경, 易經), in Korean.

The 4 trigrams are:

• ☰ Geon (;;)) = Heaven (speaker)
• Gon (;;)) = Earth (sing)
• Gam (index;)) = Moon, water (p.m.)
• Ri (Bolivarian Republic of) = Sun, fire (b)

Each of the 8 trigrams is related to the 5 basic elements: Earth (地), water (水), fire (火), wood (木) and metal (金)

Flag construction

Flag raising

Using days

Flag uprising on holidays and normal days:

• 1 February
• June 6: Memorial Day (Izar at half asta).
• July 17: Constitution Day.
• August 15: Korean Independence Day.
• October 1st: Army Day.
• October 3: Foundation Day.
• October 9: Hangeul Day.
• Periods of mourning (Izar at half asta).
• Days of national mourning (Izar at half asta).
• Special days designated by the government.
• Days designated by the congresses of the provinces. (Applicable only locally)

The flag must be raised in public buildings, schools, airports and other public places, both within the country and in South Korean institutions in other countries.

ROAD AND ARRIADA TIME

The flag can be raised 24 h a day, and to raise it at night it is necessary to have adequate lighting.

In case the flag is only in the day, the following schedule must be followed: