The white background represents peace and purity. The central 'Taegeuk' circle symbolizes the balance of the universe (yin/blue and yang/red). The four black trigrams (gwẻ) in the corners represent heaven, sun, moon, and earth, as well as the four seasons and cardinal directions.
History
Known as the 'Taegeukgi', it was first designed and used in 1882 during the Joseon dynasty. The current exact specifications were formalized by the South Korean government in 1949, with minor color updates in 1997 and 2011.
Construction
A 2:3 ratio. The Taegeuk is exactly centered, and the four trigrams are positioned in the corners, angled to point toward the center.
North Korea
