Korean national Flag – Taegeukgi

Unravel the history and symbolism of South Korean flag, the Taegeukgi. Explore the meaning behind the colours, trigrams, and yin-yang symbol. Discover the pledge and official construction guidelines.

Origin of the South Korean Flag: A Journey Through History

Following a global trend of nation-building through symbols, South Korea’s journey to the Korean national flag began in 1882 with the signing of a treaty with the United States. While details of the exact flag used at the ceremony are unclear, some believe it resembled a design featured in a U.S. Navy publication.

Birth of the Taegeukgi

Historical records credit Park Yeong-hyo, a Korean diplomat, with creating the Taegeukgi in 1882. His design, featuring a taegeuk (yin-yang symbol) surrounded by four trigrams, replaced the previous flag with eight black bars. King Gojong officially declared this design the national flag in 1883. However, due to a lack of specific guidelines, the flag’s appearance varied for many years.

Symbolism of the Korean Flag

The Taegeukgi features a white background symbolizing peace and purity. The central taegeuk represents the harmony between opposing cosmic forces: yin (blue) and yang (red). The four surrounding black trigrams (geongongamri) each represent a fundamental element: geon (sky), gon (earth), gam (water), and ri (fire). Together, these elements create a harmonious whole around the taegeuk.

Constructing the Flag

Specific guidelines for the flag’s construction were established in 1949. These guidelines define the proportions of the flag’s elements, ensuring consistency.

Pledge of Allegiance

The South Korean pledge of allegiance, most recently revised in 2007, expresses devotion to the Republic of Korea, its glory, liberty, and justice.