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The National Flag - Taegeukgi

The National Flag - Taegeukgi

Origin

Following the trend for modern states to adopt national flags, the decision to create a national flag for Korea emerged with the ratification of the Korea-United States Treaty of 1882. No accurate records remain of the Korean flag chosen for use at the signing ceremony; however, some argue that the flag was si milar to the ensign flag featured in the Flags of Maritime Nations issued by the U.S. Navy Department’s Bureau of Navigation and found in 2004. In his capacity as Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary under King Gojong, Park Yeong-hyo kept a record of his diplomatic mission to Japan in 1882.

In his capacity as Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary under King Gojong, Park Yeong-hyo kept a record of his diplomatic mission to Japan in 1882. According to his journal, known as Sahwagiryak, in September of that year while aboard the ship to Japan, Park created a four-trigram flag with a taegeuk circle (instead of the flag with eight black bars that had been used prior to 1800). The flag was used from September 25, 1882, according to Park’s report to the government on October 3 of that year. By royal order on March 6, 1883, King Gojong promulgated that Park’s flag with a taegeuk circle in the center and four trigrams around it (the flag named Taegeukgi) be the national flag. However, due to a lack of specific guidelines, the flag design took different forms. On June 29, 1942, the Provisional Government issued a national flag style guide to ensure that subsequent flags would be created in a consistent manner. Despite these efforts, however, ordinary people were unaware of these guidelines.After the establishment of the Republic of Korea on August 15, 1948, the government felt an increasing need to standardize flag construction. Thus in January 1949, it formed the National Flag Correction Committee, which announced the National Flag Construction Guidelines on October 15 of that year. A number of regulations were later implemented, providing for the systematic management of the flag: the Act on the Flag of the Republic of Korea, enacted in January 2007; the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Flag of the Republic of Korea, in July 2007; and the Regulations on the Hoisting, Management, and Promotion of the National Flag in September 2009 (by instructions from the Prime Minister).

Symbolism of the flag

The Taegeukgi consists of a white background, a red and blue taegeuk circle in the center, and four black trigrams (collectively called geongongamri), one in each corner of the flag. The white background represents brightness, purity, and peace, qualities that are highly valued by the people. The taegeuk, which has long been a commonly used motif, denotes the harmony between the negative cosmic forces (yin : blue portion) and the positive cosmic forces (yang : red portion), depicting the truth of nature that all things are created and evolve through the interaction of yin and yang. The four black trigrams are specific representations of the movement and harmony of these forces. In detail, the geon symbolizes the sky, the gon the earth, the gam water, and the ri fire. Together, they create harmony around the taegeuk mark. In short, the Taegeukgi flag embodies the vision of the Korean people who, like the universe, seek continuous creation and enrichment. By upholding the spirit and significance of the Taegeukgi, the people seek to realize unity and unification and contribute to the happiness and peace of humanity.

Construction of the Flag of Korea

Construction of the Flag of Korea

  1. ① Diameter of circle x 3
  2. ② Diameter of circle x 2
  3. ③ Diameter of circle x 1/2
  4. ④ Length of flag x 1/2
  5. ⑤ Right angle (90 degrees)
  6. ⑥ Diameter of Circle x 1/24
  7. ⑦ Diameter of circle x 1/4
  8. ⑧ Diameter of circle x 1/3
  9. ⑨ Diameter of circle x 1/12

Pledge of allegiance to the flag (revised on July 27, 2007)

I, standing before the noble Taegeukgi, solemnly pledge allegiance to the Republic of Korea, to its glory, liberty and justice.

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Organization

FUNCTIONS

Assists Prime Minister with various tasks, responsible for directing, adjusting and overseeing central administrative authorities underneath Prime Minister's Office; planning and adjusting key national policies; managing, analyzing and assessing policies in regard to social risks, conflicts and pending problems; implementing regulatory reform; and doing other tasks specifically delegated by Prime Minister

Planning and Coordination Office

Plans and coordinates major policies of OPC.
Supports and coordinates the government’s administration policies.
Supports and coordinates foreign affairs and national security policies.
Plans and coordinates official development assistance policies.

Government Performance Evaluation Office

Manages individual evaluations
Manages and inspects policy and program performance self-evaluated by central ministries
Evaluates specific policies and programs

Regulatory Reform Office

Draws up basic directions of regulatory reform
Reviews new and strengthened regulations
Evaluates regulatory reform
Conducts institutional improvement of regulatory reform
Cooperates with OECD, APEC and other foreign organizations for regulatory reform

Economic Policy Coordination Office

Supervises and coordinates policies of central government agencies involved with finance, ICT, trade, industry, energy, agriculture, land, infrastructure, transport, oceans and fisheries etc.
Conducts economic risk management and conflict resolution, and establishes plans for economic issues
Manages mid- and long-term plans in which several government agencies are involved
Supports measures and polices for developing Jeju Free International City

Social Policy Coordination Office

Supervises and coordinates policies of central government agencies involved with social welfare, health, education, culture, gender equality, public safety, environment, employment, food and medicine etc.
Conducts social risk management and conflict resolution, and establishes plans for social issues
Manages mid- and long-term plans in which several government agencies are involved

Youth Policy Coordination Office

Plans and coordinates youth policies of related government agencies
Manages mid- and long-term plans in which several government agencies are involved

Director General for Administrative Affairs

Manages organization including organizational structure and division of works
Conducts human resource management including recruitment, service regulations, training and pension
Manages archives and general affairs and overseas official seal, documentation and opening of information
Manages security and informatization of administration
Oversees budget, accounting and closing
Supports contracts (goods and service, construction) and national property management

Director General for Legal Affairs and Audit

Takes in charge of legislation, judicial affairs and previous trials by an administrative agency concerning relevant duties
Audits all the duties and activities of the Office for Government Policy Coordination and its affiliated institutions
Overseas incorruptible and anti-corruption policies of the Office for Government Policy Coordination and the Code of Conduct for government officials