The Meaning of the South Korean Flag

The History of the South Korean Flag

What does the original Korean flag look like, and what does it represent?

For those who do not know, the flag of South Korea, also called the Taegeukgi, is composed of a rectangular white background with a red and blue circle in the center. Four sets of parallel lines are positioned at each corner of the flag. Contrary to what one might think, it is not a recent flag. The origins of the current flag date back to the end of the 19th century, but its inspiration goes back as far as the 14th century. We would like to mention that South Koreans care a lot about their flag. Even today, there are laws leading to prison sentences in acts of disrespect towards the flag or that of another country’s flag. In sum, you do not mess with the Taegeukgi.

Unlike other nations, Koreans did not find it important to have an official flag until the end of the 19th century. However, there was the coat of arms of the Joseon kings of Korea that was used to represent the country. This emblem, composed of a circle and several symbols, is reminiscent of the current flag of South Korea. It was during a treaty with Japan that Korea realized they needed a national flag. The Japanese had arrived with their flag, while the Koreans had nothing to present on their side to represent the Korean empire. It was not until 1883 that the Taegeukgi, the national flag of Korea, was accepted as the official flag of the country. There were few changes thereafter, except the circle that has been simplified over the years. After the end of the Korean War, South Korea decided to keep the traditional Korean flag as its national flag.

What do the symbols of the South Korean flag mean?

Why does the Taegeukgi flag have a yin-yang?

First, let's talk about the four sets of parallel groups of bars located at the corners of the South Korean flag. They are called trigrams, a figure composed of three superimposed strokes used in Asian cultures to represent elements of harmony and cardinal directions. The trigram at the top left is called the geon and is associated with both air in the spring, east and justice. The trigram at the bottom left is called the ri and represents fire, south, autumn and fertility. The trigram at the top right is the gam. It is associated with winter, north, water and wisdom. Finally, the trigram at the bottom right is the gon and represents the earth, summer, west and vitality. There are strict rules regarding the measurements and distances between the different elements of this flag.

As with many logos, the colors chosen for the South Korean flag have meaning. White is a very important color in Korean culture. White was widely used for traditional clothing, in addition to representing peace and purity. In the middle of the flag, there is a yin and yang symbol. The red on the circle represents the positive forces while the negative cosmic forces are blue. The whole represents the balance of the universe. It was not until 1997 that color codes were chosen to determine the exact hue for the South Korean flag.

In addition, the combination of white, red and blue is very popular for national flags. In fact, there are more than 30 countries using this color combination for their flags: to name a few, Australia, France, Cambodia, Chile, Croatia, Norway and the United States. Otherwise, white, red and blue are three colors widely used for flags, but also for company logos or sports teams.

What about the meaning of North Korea's flag?

We cannot talk about the Korean flag without having a few words about the flag of North Korea. The flag of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, also known as North Korea is much more different from its neighbors or the Joseon flag. 

The flag of North Korea also uses red, blue, and white, but the meaning is different from the South Korean flag. For example, red is used to represent communism and their revolution. To support this, we find as the main flag symbol a star, which is used by most communist countries like China.

How to Get Inspired by the South Korean and Joseon Flags for Your Logo

You don't need to use trigrams for your logo; however, you can certainly get inspiration from the South Korean flag. For starters, don't hesitate to use elements related to your history or region. What makes your city or country unique? Are there strong symbols that could inspire you when you create your logo? For example, the animal that represents South Korea is the tiger. If you are in this country or want to reach this clientele, it might be interesting to use this feline as a symbol for your logo. 

Second, it's important to choose colors that represent your values and who you are. As mentioned above, colors have meaning. The end result must also be harmonious. Finally, we advise you measure the distances between the different elements of your logo so that the ratios are balanced well. This will help you design a professional-looking logo.

In conclusion, we hope that you will no longer see the South Korean flag in the same light after reading this article. If you would like to learn more about the meaning of other countries’ flags, we invite you to read our articles on the New Zealand flag and the flag of Brazil!