FLAG OF SOUTH KOREA: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The flag of South Korea is the national flag that identifies this Asian republic among the countries of the world. This flag, traditionally known as Taegukgi, is made up of a white cloth with a circle in the middle of the flag. This has red and blue intermingled as colors. In each corner there are three black lines called trigrams.

Taegukgi is the name of the flag, because it includes the Taegeuk, as the central circle is called. In it you can synthesize part of Korean philosophy. The circle is inspired by the Chinese Yin Yang, divided into two equal non-straight parts, with interlocking halves.

Flag of South Korea. (By Various, via Wikimedia Commons).

The South Korean flag has its own distinctive meaning in Eastern philosophy. Its purpose can be synthesized in the balance and harmony that are present in nature. This is also reflected in the four trigrams, the names given to the three lines in each corner. While one represents heaven, the opposite does the same with earth.

The Taegukgi was used for the first time in 1883. Since then it has been the Korean flag, although later it became only that of South Korea.

History of the flag

The Korean peninsula has been populated for millennia, and different systems of government and political regimes have established themselves in power. For many centuries the different monarchies ruled partially or totally the territory, until in the 20th century several powers occupied it.

Japan first dominated the Korean peninsula for 35 years, and then, after World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union occupied and divided it. Since then there is North Korea and South Korea, with different political systems and flags.

Flag need at the end of the Joseon Dynasty

Korea's monarchical history has been very turbulent. Despite the fact that at first different groups clashed and later the Joseon dynasty acquired hegemony in the territory, having a flag was not on the list of needs.

This was due in part to the Joseon dynasty establishing an isolationist regime, without much contact with its neighbors. The logic of the Korean system was to defend territorial integrity against invasions, as Japan had already tried to establish itself in Korea before.

The monarchy considered having a flag only when Korea slightly opened its doors and made a treaty with Japan in 1876. As Japan had a flag, Korea was not supposed to present itself without one in principle, although it did eventually.

The need for the flag continued to be present during the following years, especially due to the growing international relations that Korea had. At that time, contacts with China, Japan and even the United States were already common.

In the same vein, Chinese and Japanese influence tried to impose a flag for Korea. While Korea carried a Japanese-like flag to the signing of the Shuefeldt treaty with the United States, China proposed another flag.

Creation of the Taegukgi

Ma Jianzhong, representative of the Chinese monarchy, proposed a new pavilion to the Korean. This consisted of a white pavilion with a circle in the center, the halves of which were black and red.

Eight bars were arranged around the circle. The symbol proposed by China for Korea was related to a monarchical banner used by the Joseon Dynasty in the country.

This consisted of a purple background with eight trigrams around the central circle, which was a Taegeuk. In this case, the circle was divided in half and into several internal circles, in such a way that each half faced its opposite with a different color.

Banner of the Joseon Dynasty with the Taegukgi. (By Alphanis, from Wikimedia Commons).

Chinese design became modern Taegukgi. With the stroke of politician Park Yeong-hyo, the flag was first used in Japan to identify Korea. From January 27, 1883, the use of the Taegukgi as a national flag was made official by the Korean authorities.

The flag reduced the trigrams to four, one for each corner. Also, the Taegukgi was mixed with subtlety and not with a straight line. Finally, the colors were red and blue, leaving black only for the trigrams.

Taegugki (1882). (By UnknownUnknown author (최초 국기 는 어느 것?), Via Wikimedia Commons).

Korean empire

The Korean monarchy weakened in the late 19th century. Years of isolationism consolidated the government internally, but eventually Japan's commercial pressures were stronger. The Nipponese did not settle for the Kanghwa Treaty in 1876, but wanted to increase their territorial power in Korea.

In addition to international pressure, within Korea there were revolts against the Joseon dynasty. For this, the king requested the support of China, which sent troops to the Korean peninsula. The Japanese, despite the fact that it was an internal conflict, considered this an affront. For this reason, they invaded and the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) was raised.

After the end of the war, in 1897 King Gojong created the Korean Empire, with himself as Emperor. This relaunch of the monarchy was truly a symbol of weakness. His actions as emperor were opened to foreign trade through the Gwangmu Reformation, causing enemies to be generated among Korean traditionalists.

The Korean Empire used a new version of the Taegukgi. The colors in the circle were still equal halves, but this time each entered the other as if it were a sea wave.

Flag of the Korean Empire (1887-1910). (By Lumia1234 (), via Wikimedia Commons).

Flag of the Resident General of Korea in the Japanese Protectorate (1905-1910)

The Korean Empire was never a strong state, as it was always in the Japanese orbit. For this reason, finally in 1905 Korea signed a treaty that made it a Japanese protectorate. Since then, a position of General Resident of Korea was established, held by a Japanese.

The highest Japanese official had a flag to distinguish his position. It was a dark blue cloth with the flag of Japan in the upper left corner.

Flag of the Resident General of Korea during the Japanese protectorate (1905-1910). (By Himasaram, via Wikimedia Commons).

Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945)

The need for Japanese control in Korea was not satisfied with the protectorate. For this reason, in 1910 the annexation of Korea to Japanese territory was signed. The symbols of the Korean territory were eliminated and since then, only the Japanese flag, known as Himomaru, has been used.

This flag is the same that Japan uses today. It consists of a large white cloth with a red circle in the central part, representative of the sun. Japan used its flag in all its conquests of the Pacific Ocean.

Flag of Japan (Hinomaru). (By Various, via Wikimedia Commons).

Japan remained in Korean territory until 1945. The end of the occupation came in the framework of World War II, because the United States and the Soviet Union invaded the Korean peninsula and ended the power of the Japanese Empire.

Despite the occupation, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was formed in China in 1919. This functioned as a government in exile, proclaiming the republic and being recognized by powers such as the USSR.

The flag of this government was also the Taegukgi. The only difference with that of the Korean Empire concerned the orientation of the colors in the Taegeuk, which were then set vertically.

Flag of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (1919-1948). (By Lumia1234 (), via Wikimedia Commons).

People's Republic of Korea (1945)

The end of World War II in Korea came with the American invasion from the south and the Soviet invasion from the north. On September 6, 1945, just four days after Japan surrendered to the Allied powers, the People's Republic of Korea was formed.

This was a brief state that tried to make a provisional government run by Koreans. The Americans dissolved it in January 1946 to make way for the American Military Administration.

The flag used in the People's Republic of Korea consisted of the Taegeuk on the left. The symbol was accompanied by three horizontal red stripes on a white background.

Flag of the People's Republic of Korea (1945). (By Samhanin, from Wikimedia Commons).

American occupation (1945-1948)

After the Soviet and American invasion, the Korean territory was divided into two occupation zones, across the 38th parallel. The north became occupied by the USSR, while the south, by the United States. However, it was never in the plans for this division to become permanent.

To realize the independence of Korea as a united country, the Soviet Union, the United States, China and Great Britain agreed at the Moscow Conference that a five-year trust would be made until the time of the country's independence.

However, the differences between north and south were accentuated. The passage between borders was restricted and in the north, the Soviet Union formed a provisional government with Korean communists.

Finally, and having no signs of a solution, the United States, which still occupied the south of the peninsula, took the Korean question to the United Nations in 1947.

This body decided the end of the military occupation of the Korean peninsula and the holding of multi-party elections throughout the territory, which was opposed by the Soviet Union.

Flags during the American occupation

Since South Korea is occupied by the United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGK), the flag used was that of the United States of America.

Flag of the United States of America (1912-1959), used in South Korea (1945-1948). (By Created by jacobolus using Adobe Illustrator., From Wikimedia Commons).

However, simultaneously to the American the Taegukgi was also raised. In this flag, the order and orientation of the trigrams changed completely. In addition, the Taegeuk happened to have the colors horizontally, although still intermingled.

Flag of Korea during the American occupation (1945-1948). (By Elevatorrailfan, via Wikimedia Commons).

Republic of Korea

In May 1948, the elections sponsored by the UN were held, but only in South Korea. Elected MPs drafted a new constitution, which constituted the Republic of Korea as a presidential democracy.

The president was chosen by the members of the assembly. Rhee Syngman, the new president, declared the independence of the Republic of Korea on August 15, 1948.

On December 12 of that same year, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was founded in the northern half of the peninsula. In this way, the division of the country that remains today was made official.

The flag used during the American occupation de facto remained the Korean flag. Finally, on October 1, 1949, a new flag was approved for the Republic of Korea. The biggest difference was that the Taegeuk grew a lot in size, leaving the trigrams of the flag in the background.

Flag of the Republic of Korea (1949-1984)

Changes in dimensions and colors

Since the independence of Korea, the design of the flag has remained virtually unchanged. Since then, legal specifications of colors and dimensions have followed one another, causing changes in the Korean flag.

In 1984 the exact dimensions of the flag were approved. Visibly the most prominent change was a further downsizing of the Taegeuk.

Flag of the Republic of Korea (1984-1997). (By This vector image includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this: Flag of South Korea.svg., Via Wikimedia Commons).

A similar change took place in 1997. At that time, the official colors of the flag were established through a presidential ordinance that was added to the law regulating the flag. The blue was a little lighter, while the red was darker.

Flag of the Republic of Korea (1997-2011). (By This vector image includes elements that have been taken or adapted from this: Flag of South Korea.svg., From Wikimedia Commons)

Finally, in 2011 the last change of the Korean flag was made. Again, the colors of the flag were re-specified. This time, both of them were lightened a bit, getting brighter.

Meaning of the flag

The South Korean flag is loaded with mysticism and oriental philosophy. The white color, predominant in the flag, is traditional in Korean history. Its meaning is mainly related to purity and peace, in a country that has suffered as many wars and invasions as Korea.

The Taegeuk is a closed circle that represents balance. The flag of Korea is of opposite symbols, and the Taegeuk proves it. Red represents Yang, the sun.

Instead, blue represents Yin, the shadow. The Taegeuk was formed inspired by the Chinese Yin Yang and is a great identifying element of duality: day and night, darkness and light, female and male, heat and cold, among other interpretations.

Trigrams

Trigrams share the same philosophy. The trigram in the upper left corner, made up of three solid black lines, represents heaven, but also spring, east, humanity and the father.

Your opponent is the trigram in the lower right corner, which is three lines divided in half. These are identified with the earth, in addition to summer, the west, courtesy and mother.

The same situation happens with the other two trigrams. The one in the upper right corner is two broken lines and one solid line. Its element is water, but also the moon, winter, the north, intelligence and the son.

Its opposite in the other corner is a trigram with two solid lines and one divided. The main element is fire, also having as meanings the sun, autumn, the south, righteousness and the daughter.

References

1. Arias, E. (2006). Flags of the world. Editorial Gente Nueva: Havana, Cuba.
2. Korean Overseas Information Service. (1978). Facts about Korea. Korean Overseas Information Service. Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Korea: Seoul, Korea.
3. Ministry of Interior and Safety. (sf). The National Flag - Taegeukgi. Ministry of Interior and Safety. Recovered from mois.go.kr.
4. Savada, A. and Shaw, W. (1997). South Korea: A country study (Vol. 550, No. 41). Diane Publishing. Recovered from books.google.com.
5. Smith, W. (2016). Flag of Korea, South. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Recovered from britannica.com.