List of Korean flags

This is a list of flags used by South Korea, North Korea, and their predecessor states.

Korean reunification flag

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1991–present	Korean Unification Flag	Used to represent the whole of Korea when North and South participate together in international sporting events. [1]

National

Main articles: Flag of North Korea and Flag of South Korea

Flag	Date	Use	Description
Present national flags of North and South Korea
	1948–present	Flag of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Ramhongsaek Konghwagukki)	Red field with a blue bar on the top and bottom and a star in the center known as the red flag. Current, post-1992 version shown.
	1948–present	Flag of the Republic of Korea (Taegeukgi)	White field with a red and blue taegeuk in the center and four black trigrams, one in each corner of the flag. Modified several times since its original adoption in 1948. Current, post-2011 version shown.
Historical versions
	Extant 1392	The Royal flag of the Goryeo dynasty [2]	Also known as the "Bong-gi", which means "The Phoenix Flag".
	Extant 1392	The Royal banner of the Goryeo dynasty.	Also known as the "Haema-gi", which means "The Seahorse Flag".
	Extant 1392	The Royal banner of the Goryeo dynasty.	Also known as the "Sang-gi", which means "The Elephant Flag".
	Extant 1856	Flag of the Joseon dynasty [3] [4]
	Extant 1876	The Personal standard of the King of Joseon [3] [4]
	1882–1907	Royal standard of the Joseon dynasty [4]
	1897–1910	Imperial standard of the Korean Empire
	*Flag of the Korean Empire The third version from the top is depicted in the 1882 U.S. Navy book Flags of Maritime Nations. Lowest is the version found in the 1944 United States postage stamp series.	The former Korean imperial flag had a different taegeuk from that in the current South Korean flag. Note that the 1882 U.S. Navy depiction may be left-right reversed. The arrangement of the trigrams was not officially fixed until an ordinance of 1948, when the South Korean government was established.
	1919–1948	The flag of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea	In exile in Shanghai and Chungking located in China
	1945–1946	Flag of the People's Republic of Korea	Used by the People's Committees throughout postwar Korea
	1946–1948	Flag of the Provisional People's Committee for North Korea	A white rectangular background, a red and blue taegeuk in the center that symbolizes a balance, and four black trigrams, on each corner of the flag.
	1948–1992	Flag of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Red field with a blue bar on the top and bottom and a star in the center known as the red flag
	15 August 1948 –14 October 1949	Civil and state flag and ensign of the First Republic of South Korea.	This flag was designed by the first National Assembly.
	15 October 1949 –20 February 1984	Civil and state flag and ensign of the First, Second, Third, Fourth and the Fifth Republic of South Korea.	This flag was designed by the Ministry of Education and Culture in October 1949. The exact colors were not specified. [5]
	21 February 1984 –14 October 1997	Civil and state flag and ensign of the Fifth and Sixth Republic of South Korea.	In February 1984, with the enactment of regulations on the South Korean flag, the South Korean government re-designated the colors. The exact color was not specified.
	15 October 1997 –29 May 2011	Civil and state flag and ensign of the Sixth Republic of South Korea.	In October 1997, the South Korean government officially specified the exact colors to be used on the flag via presidential decree.

Political flags

Flag	Date	Party
	1935–1947	Korean National Revolutionary Party
	1926–?	Down-with-Imperialism Union
	1909–1940s	Korean National Association
	1913–current	Young Korean Academy  [ ko ]

North Korean government

Flag	Date	Use	Description
Standard of the chairman of the State Affairs Commission
	2018–present	Flag of the chairman of the State Affairs Commission	Emblem of the chairman of the State Affairs Commission on a dark red field.
Political organizations
	1949–present	Flag of the Workers' Party of Korea	Combination of a hammer (workers), a writing brush (intellectuals) and a Korean sickle (peasants), crossed over a red field.
	1946–present	Flag of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League	Emblem of Youth League on a red flag, with "Youth" (청년) on the emblem.
	1945–present	Flag of the Socialist Women's Union of Korea	Flag with the name of the organization: "Women's League" (녀성동맹).
	1955–present	Flag of the Korean Youth League in Japan  [ ja ]	Tricolor flag with the League's logo.

South Korean government

Flag	Date	Use	Description
Presidential standard
	1967–present	Presidential Standard	Two Phoenix taking golden Hibiscus syriacus under their wings.
Standard of the prime minister
	1988–present	Standard of the prime minister	Golden Hibiscus syriacus inlaid in symbolic Hibiscus syriacus insignia
Flag of the National Government
	1988–2016	Flag of the National Government	Symbolic Hibiscus syriacus insignia, inlaid with the word 정부, or Government.
	2016–present	Flag of the National Government	Taeguk with the words "Republic of Korea Government" below.
	2005–present	Flag of the South Korean national police agency.
	2005–present	Flag of the South Korean coast guard	Insignia of the South Korean coast guard, with the words 해양경찰청 ("Maritime Police Agency")
Flag of the Committee for the Five Northern Korean Provinces
	1949–2016	Flag of the Committee for the Five Northern Korean provinces	Symbolic Hibiscus syriacus insignia, covered by a blue arrow.
	2016–present	Flag of the Committee for the Five Northern Korean Provinces	Taeguk with the words "Committee for the Five Northern Korean Provinces" below.
Political flags
	?–present	Flag of the People Power Party
	?–present	Flag of the Justice Party

Military

Main articles: Korean People's Army and Republic of Korea Armed Forces

Korea

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	4th century	Military Flag of Goguryeo	A banner with a simple red field.
	Mid 5th Century	Military Flag of Goguryeo	A black 4-pointed banner with 3 white stripes.
	Late 5th Century	Military Flag of Goguryeo	A red swallowtail banner with a yellow stripe.
		Military Flag of Baekje	A banner with a simple yellow field.
		Military Flag of Silla	A banner with a blue field with a white crescent moon in the center.
		War flag	Shows a version of the Lo shu magic square.
		blacksmith flag	As one of the military flags of the Joseon Dynasty, it is called Sujagi (帥字旗) or Sugi (帥旗). During the Joseon Dynasty, it was hung as a mark of the general in the military camp. As for the shape, the word for "command" (帥) is engraved in black letters on the pressed color, and some have a dream (decoration of the flag) around the flag.

North Korea

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1996–2002	Flag of the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army
	2002–2022	Flag of the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army	The Supreme Commander Star on a red flag. Sometimes used as a war flag during military exercises.
	1948	Flag of the Korean People's Army	Initially designed in 1948 with the Emblem of North Korea in 1948. The slogan reads: "For the unification and independence of the motherland and the people" (조국의 통립과 인민을 위하여). Used only as ceremonial unit color for historical units beginning 2013.
	1948–1961		Used only as ceremonial unit color especially for Guards units beginning 2013.
	1961–1992 [6]		Latest version shown; emblem adopted in 1992. [6] The slogan reads: "For the unification and independence of the motherland, and the freedom and happiness of the people" (조국의 통일, 독립과 인민의 자유와 행복을 위하여).
	1992–1993		Emblem of DPRK updated to the one featuring the Paektu Mountain.
	1948–1993		With a red star with golden border and bearing a hammer and two sickles.
	1948–1961		Guards badge with Korean letters reading "[Unit number] / 2nd (as in ceremonies) Infantry Division" (제2부병사단). Used only as ceremonial unit color for Guards units beginning 2013.
	1993–2023	Flag of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army	Seen used during the October 1995 parade, observed very rarely.
	2023–present		Identical to the new flag of the ground forces except without the blue and white stripes. The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the health of the people! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 안녕을 위하여)", with the date of the founding of the KPA as 2 February 1948 in the canton.
			Party symbol placed within a design containing the façade of the WPK headquarters in Pyongyang. [7]
	1996–2002	Flag of the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army
	2002–2020 [8]		The Supreme Commander Star on a red flag. Sometimes used as a war flag during military exercises.
	1993–2023 [9]	Flag of the People's Army Ground Force	Emblem of KPA with slogan: "For the unification and independence of the motherland, and the freedom and happiness of the people" (조국의 통일, 독립과 인민의 자유와 행복을 위하여). [6] The 4.25 commemorates the foundation of People's Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Army on April 25, 1932. [6] Also used since 2020 by the Special Operations and Strategic Forces as branch and unit colours.
		Reverse side of the flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force.	With Korean letters reading "Revolutionary armed forces of the Workers' Party of Korea, Korean People's Army [unit name] / No.425 unit (in ceremonies)" (조선로동당의 혁명적무장력인 조선인민군 제425 군부대). The number 425 commemorates the foundation of People's Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Army on April 25, 1932.
	1997–2011	Flag of the People's Army Ground Force	Flag with modified slogan when Kim Jong Il was in power. The slogan: "Let us defend the headquarters of the revolution headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Il with our lives!" (위대한 김정일동지를 수반으로 하는 혁명의 수뇌부를 목숨으로 사수하자!). [6] The name of Kim Jong Il is slightly enlarged.
	2023–present	Flag of the People's Army Ground Force	Identical to the former flag except the emblem of the KPA is defaced with the emblem of the DPRK emblazoned on largened red star. The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the health of the people! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 안녕을 위하여)", with the date of founding of the particular unit placed in the canton. This flag is used by units of the Ground Forces to serve as a unit flag. The date of foundation on the canton differs among KPAGF units of regiment/brigade level and above, independent battalions and educational institutions.
		Reverse side of the flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force.	Identical to the former flag except the party symbol is placed within a design containing the facade of the WPK headquarters in Pyongyang. [7]
	1993–2023 [9]	Flag of the People's Navy	Emblem of KPA with anchor.
		Reverse side of the flag of the flag of Korean People's Navy.	With Korean letters reading "Revolutionary armed forces of the Workers' Party of Korea, Korean People's Army [unit name] / No.415 unit (in ceremonies)" (조선로동당의 혁명적무장력인 조선인민군 제415 군부대). The number 415 commemorates the birthday of Kim Il-Sung on April 15.
	1997–2011	Flag of the People's Navy	Flag with modified slogan when Kim Jong Il was in power. The slogan: "Let us defend the headquarters of the revolution headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Il with our lives!" (위대한 김정일동지를 수반으로 하는 혁명의 수뇌부를 목숨으로 사수하자!). [6] The name of Kim Jong Il is slightly enlarged.
	2023–present	Flag of the People's Navy	Identical to the former flag except the emblem of the KPA is defaced with the emblem of the DPRK emblazoned on largened red star, surrounded by a laurel wreath, and surmounted by an anchor and steering wheel. The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the health of the people! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 안녕을 위하여)", with the date of founding of the particular unit placed in the canton. The representative flag of the whole branch displays the date 28 August 1949.
		Reverse side of the flag of the flag of Korean People's Navy.	Identical to the former flag except the party symbol is placed within a design containing the façade of the WPK headquarters in Pyongyang. [7]
	1990s–present	Naval ensign of North Korea	Red flag with Paektu Mountain in rays in a disc with national color outlines and a red star.
	1990s–present	Naval Ensign of North Korea for Guards Units
	1990s–present	Naval Jack of North Korea
	1993–2023, [9] (insignia updated in 2012)	Flag of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force	Emblem of KPA with wings.
	1993–2023	Reverse side of the flag of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force.	With Korean letters reading "Revolutionary armed forces of the Workers' Party of Korea, Korean People's Army [unit name] / No.216 unit (in ceremonies)" (조선로동당의 혁명적무장력인 조선인민군 제216 군부대). The number 216 commemorates the birthday of Kim Jong-Il on February 16.
	1993–2012 (modified slogan 1997–2011)	Flag of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force	Flag with modified slogan when Kim Jong Il was in power. The slogan: "Let us defend the headquarters of the revolution headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Il with our lives!" (위대한 김정일동지를 수반으로 하는 혁명의 수뇌부를 목숨으로 사수하자!). [6] The name of Kim Jong Il is slightly enlarged. Wings and a star above the KPA emblem.
	2023–present	Flag of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force	Identical to the former flag except the emblem of the KPAAF is defaced with the emblem of the DPRK emblazoned on largened red star with additional stars at the top. Lower stripes are arranged as chevrons, and with six trailing jet fighters emerging behind the emblem. The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the health of the people! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 안녕을 위하여)", with the date of founding of the particular unit placed in the canton. The representative flag of the whole branch displays the date 29 November 1945.
		Reverse side of the flag of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force.	Identical to the former flag except the party symbol is placed within a design containing the façade of the WPK headquarters in Pyongyang. [7]
	2018–2020	Flag of the Strategic Force	Emblem of KPA on an upper half globe
	?–present (First appearance in 2018)	Reverse side of the flag of the flag of the Korean People's Army Strategic Force.	With Korean letters reading "Revolutionary armed forces of the Workers' Party of Korea, Korean People's Army [unit name] / No.108 unit (in ceremonies)" (조선로동당의 혁명적무장력인 조선인민군 제108 군부대). The number 108 commemorates the birthday of Kim Jong-Un on January 8.
	2023–present	Flag of the Missile General Bureau	The Flag of the Missile General Bureau is seen with its Emblem in a large form with the founding date of 2016.4.30, The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the health of the people! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 안녕을 위하여)"
			Identical to the Backside flags of the KPA except the party symbol is placed within a design containing the façade of the WPK headquarters in Pyongyang.
	2018–2020	Flag of the Special Operation Force	Emblem of KPA with the Big Dipper.
	?–present (First appearance in 2018)	Reverse side of the flag of the flag of the Korean People's Army Special Operation Force.	With Korean letters reading "Revolutionary armed forces of the Workers' Party of Korea, Korean People's Army [unit name]". / No.506 unit (in ceremonies)" (조선로동당의 혁명적무장력인 조선인민군 제506 군부대). The number 506 commemorates the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea on May 6, 2016.
	2007–2018	Flag of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards	Slogan used until 2012, since then the flag shares the same motto as the rest of the KPA.
		Reverse side of the flag of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards	With Korean letters reading "Worker-Peasant Red Guards".
	2023–Present	Flag of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards	The slogan reads "For the endless prosperity of the fatherland and the health of the people! (조국의 무궁한 번영과 인민의 안녕을 위하여)"
			With Korean letters reading "Worker-Peasant Red Guards".

South Korea

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1948–present	Flag of the Armed Forces	Insignia of the armed forces on a red field.
	?–present	Flag of the Minister of National Defense
	?–present	Flag of the Vice Minister of National Defense
	?–present	Flag of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
	1946–present	Flag of the Army	Insignia of the army on a field parted per fess; above is white, below is blue.
	?–present	Flag of the Chief of Staff of the Army
	?–present	Flag of the Daejang
	?–present	Flag of the Jungjang
	?–present	Flag of the Sojang
	?–present	Flag of the Junjang
	1955–present	Naval ensign, navy flag, and naval jack	Taegeuk on crossed anchors in a white canton on a blue field
	?–present	Flag of the Chief of Naval Operations
	?–present	Flag of the Daejang
	?–present	Flag of the Jungjang
	?–present	Flag of the Sojang
	?–present	Flag of the Junjang
	1952–present	Flag of the Marine Corps	The similarity with the flag of the United States Marine Corps shows the strong influence of the United States since the creation of South Korean armed forces.
	?–present	Flag of the Commandant of the Marine Corps
	?–present	Flag of the Jungjang
	?–present	Flag of the Sojang
	?–present	Flag of the Junjang
	1952–present	Flag of the Air Force	It is also used as the flag of the Air Force
	?–present	Flag of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force
	?–present	Flag of the Daejang
	?–present	Flag of the Jungjang
	?–present	Flag of the Sojang
	?–present	Flag of the Junjang
	1968–present	Flag of the Republic of Korea Reserve Forces

See also

• List of North Korean flags
• List of South Korean flags

References

1. Myers, Brian Reynolds (7 February 2018). "On the February 8 Parade and the Olympics". Sthele Press. Retrieved 9 February 2018. By forbearing to march behind the yin-yang flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympics, the South Korean athletes are making a bigger sacrifice than the North Koreans... [T]he peninsula flag means two very different things to the two Koreas. In the South it symbolizes a desire for peaceful co-existence, or at most for a unification of equal partners in the reassuringly remote future. In wall posters above the DMZ it has always symbolized the southern masses' yearning for "autonomous unification", meaning absorption by the North. It's worrying to think how inner-track propaganda is certain to misrepresent the South Koreans' eschewal of their state flag for this of all symbols — and at this of all events.
2. 봉기(鳳旗) (in Korean). War Memorial of Korea. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
3. "History of the South Korean flag". www.crwflags.com.
4. Kariyasu, Nozomi (July 2009). The History of Taegeuk Flags [of South Korea] (PDF). 23rd International Congress of Vexillology. Yokohama, Japan: International Federation of Vexillological Associations.
5. "Ministry of Education Notice No. 2". Official Gazette. 15 October 1949. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
6. Tertitskiy, Fyodor (10 April 2018). "What North Korea's army flags can teach us about its recent history". NK News . Retrieved 9 September 2018.
7. "New Flags of the KPA".
8. "North Korea completes erasure of Kim Jong Un's 'supreme commander' symbol". NK News . 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
9. "Colors of KPA Redesigned". KCNA . 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.