Flag of South Korea

The flag features a white rectangular field with a central circle divided into two equal parts, red on top and blue on bottom, in a swirling S-curve shape. Four black trigrams, each consisting of three parallel bars that are either solid or broken, are positioned in the four corners of the field. These elements are arranged symmetrically on a background with a 2:3 aspect ratio.

The white background represents the traditional purity and peaceful nature of the Korean people, while the central taegeuk circle illustrates the balance of the universe through the dual forces of yang and um. Surrounding the center, the four black trigrams—Geon, Gon, Gam, and Ri—denote the fundamental elements of sky, earth, water, and fire respectively. Together, these components embody the principles of harmony, movement, and the continuous development of the cosmos.

Designed in 1882 by Bak Yeong-hyo, the flag was first adopted by the Joseon Dynasty as the national standard in 1883. Following the restoration of independence from Japanese rule, the Republic of Korea formally readopted the design in 1948 with specific geometric requirements. While the core elements have remained consistent for over a century, the government standardized the exact shades of red and blue through legislative updates in 1984 and 2011.