South Korea’s Taegeukgi (reaffirmed 1948; origins 1883) places a red‑blue Taegeuk at the center of a white field with four black I Ching trigrams (geon, gon, gam, ri) in the corners. White signifies purity and peace; the Taegeuk cosmic balance; the trigrams heaven, earth, water, fire. Proportions (2:3), color standards, and trigram placements are codified; protocol governs etiquette and half‑masting. Suppressed under Japanese rule, the flag became a symbol of resistance and later of the Republic.
The Taegeukgi—South Korea’s national flag—interweaves philosophical symbolism with modern statehood, spanning its 1883 introduction to its reaffirmation by the Republic in 1948.
Origins and adoption
(1882–1883) Facing expanding foreign relations in the late Joseon period, officials adopted a flag for international treaties and maritime recognition. The chosen design centered a red‑blue Taegeuk (yin‑yang) on white, with four trigrams from the I Ching placed at the corners to encode cosmic principles.
Suppression and Resistance (1910–1945) Under Japanese colonial rule, display was repressed. The Taegeukgi served as a clandestine emblem for independence movements, notably during the March 1st Movement (1919), where it became a rallying sign of national aspiration.
Republic of Korea and Standardisation (from 1948) With state formation in 1948, the Republic reaffirmed the Taegeukgi. Presidential decrees and later standards fixed a 2:3 ratio, the Taegeuk’s precise construction, trigram positions, and official shades (“Taegeuk red/blue”). Minor adjustments in 1984 and 1997 refined colourimetric and geometric details for consistent manufacture.
Symbolism
and Protocol White signifies purity and the cultural symbolism of traditional attire; the Taegeuk expresses harmony of opposing forces; the trigrams represent heaven (geon), earth (gon), water (gam), and fire (ri). Protocol prescribes respectful handling, precedence, half‑masting in mourning, and dignified retirement.
Public life
and International Representation The Taegeukgi anchors national observances and international events, appearing at schools, embassies, and sports arenas. Its fusion of philosophical cosmology and clean geometry makes it both distinctive and deeply resonant in contemporary Korea.