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.

Close

About OPC·PMS

Minister of the OPC

Minister of the OPC

Yoon Chang-ryeolYoon Chang-ryeol

Chief of Staff, PMS Biographytable for Chief of Staff, PMS Biography
Part Date Contents
Education 1985

Graduated from Daesung High School, Wonju

1989

B.A in Diplomacy, Seoul National University

1991

Completed Public Administration Course, Graduate School of Public Administration, Seoul National University

2001

M.A in Public Administration, American University (USA)

방기선 국무조정실장의 주요경력방기선 국무조정실장의 학력, 주요경력을 보여주는 표
Part Date Contents
Career 1990

Passed the 34th Higher Civil Service Examination

2002~2004

Political Affairs Secretary Office, Office of the Prime Minister / Executive Support Team, Presidential Transition Committee

2004

Director of Fund Management Division, Lottery Committee Secretariat, Office for Government Policy Coordination

2004~2006

Protocol & Political Affairs Secretary Office, Office of the Prime Minister

2006~2007

Civil Service Secretary 2, Office of the Prime Minister

2007~2008

Overseas Training (United Way, USA)

2008~2009

Deputy Director, USFK Base Relocation Support Group

2009

Political Affairs Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister

2009~2010

Seconded as Team Leader of Regulatory Reform, Presidential Committee on National Competitiveness

2010~2012

Director of General Administrative Policy, Office of the Prime Minister

2012~2013

Director of Education, Culture & Gender Equality Policy / Director of Policy Evaluation and Management, Office for Government Policy Coordination

2013~2015

Counselor to Malaysia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2015~2016

Director of Government Policy Task Management, Office for Government Policy Coordination

2016~2017

Protocol Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister

2017~2020

Director of Social Coordination Office, Office for Government Policy Coordination

2020

Director of Government Management Office, Office for Government Policy Coordination

2020~2021

Senior Presidential Secretary for Social Affairs

2021

Second Vice Minister of Government Policy Coordination

2021~2022

First Vice Minister of Government Policy Coordination

2022~2023

Visiting Professor, Seoul National University

2023~2025

General Manager of Global Strategy Center, LG Corporation / Director of Global Strategy Development Institute

2025.6.23. ~ Present

Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination