South Korea: flag and other national symbols. Symbols and flag of the republic of korea
All its state symbols carry a great historical meaning, telling about the history of the people.
Official symbols
Koreas reflect national ideas and culture. The first was approved in 1963 and is a traditional Korean character surrounded by five petals and a ribbon with the name of the country written in Hangul. The petals are associated with the national color of Korea, the Rose of Sharon. The second character that represents itself South Korea, the flag of the country, is made in white. In the center of it is an emblem expressing the relationship of Taoism to the universe. Two opposite principles, "yang" and "yin", unite and interact. Such a synthesis is called “taeguk” in Korean, which is why the flag is called “taegukki”. State symbols seem to most to be something that goes without saying, but Koreans have acquired their standard quite recently. It was created only at the end of the nineteenth century, in 1882. The flag of South Korea owes its appearance to the diplomat Pak Yong-hyun, who created its sketch. Only in 1948, on its basis, was the official 
state symbol.
Meaning of the South Korean flag
The cloth is filled with meaning drawn from the philosophy of Taoism, which was once adhered to by South Korea. The flag is made of white fabric, this shade is considered the national symbol of the country. The use of black is intended to express Korean traits such as vigilance, chastity, fortitude and justice. The central figure, the yin-yang sign, is depicted with a blue lower part and a red upper part, these parts remind Koreans of fish. Opposite in color and in spirit, "fish" are in eternal confrontation, ensuring harmony and movement of life. Diagonally from the central sign are four black trigrams. Solid stripes symbolize the masculine principle "yang", and open stripes express the feminine principle "yin". Each trigram has a separate meaning, describing the cardinal points, elements and seasons. If you decipher the trigrams clockwise, starting from the upper left corner, you get the following values: the first means south, sky, air, summer, 
the second indicates the west, the moon, water and autumn, the third speaks of the north, the planet, winter and earth, the fourth means the east, the sun, fire and spring.
Other state symbols
The first thing that South Korea uses to distinguish itself from other countries is the flag. But both the coat of arms and the anthem of the state have great importance for Koreans. The national emblem is directly related to the image used on the flag, because in its center there is also a red and blue “taeguk” pattern. The use of an ancient philosophical symbol in such national signs indicates that the connection with the past is very important for the present. Whatever happens in the economic and political life, in spirit it is still the same South Korea. The flag and coat of arms express this idea of succession clearly. The anthem also matches it. Initially, the former folk song was transformed by the composer Ahn Ik Thee and set to music by him. Four quatrains tell about the desire for freedom and independence.
Tangun the legendary founder of the state of Gojoseon (Ancient Joseon)
Every nation has its favorite animal. For Koreans, the tiger is such a "national" animal. He is the hero of proverbs and fairy tales, sayings and legends. The tiger is a terrible sorcerer and werewolf who could only be defeated by a brave dwarf. And a good tiger, who brought a beautiful bride on his back to a virtuous young man.
Show in full .. A stupid tiger who believed a hare and lowered his tail into a winter river to catch fish (here we see a wandering mythological plot, known to us from the Russian fairy tale "freeze, freeze, wolf's tail"). An ungrateful tiger who repaid with evil the man who pulled him out of the trap, but immediately fell back into it thanks to a smart toad. And a beautiful, noble girl-tigress, but who fell in love with the young man Kim Hyun and sacrificed her life for him.
In the fairy tale "A tiger is weaker than a dried persimmon", the mother frightened the child with a tiger, the baby continued to cry, and at the mention of a dried persimmon, a favorite delicacy, he immediately fell silent - another popular story familiar to us from Aesop's fable about how the gentle sun turned out to be stronger than the fierce wind and forced the traveler to take off his cloak ...
It is difficult to explain in a nutshell what kind of Korean tiger he is. Because this character is familiar to Koreans to the last strip, in folklore the tiger is presented in a variety of guises.
It is the native tiger, and not some exotic elephant or hippopotamus, that children in the Seoul Zoo want to see first of all. "Mom, look, this is our tiger!" - joyful exclamations are heard at the cage. (Everything dear and beloved to Koreans is always "ours": "our country", "our mother", "our husband"...). The tiger that once lived in Korea is the Amur tiger, one of the largest members of the cat family in size. Its habitat has traditionally included the Russian Far East, Manchuria and the Korean Peninsula.
Artists often depicted the Korean Peninsula in the form of a tiger.
A special attitude towards the tiger in Korea has been going on since ancient times. The image of this animal is found on the ancient military banners of the Koreans. The troops guarding the Korean king were called "tiger and dragon troops" for their bravery. And in 1988, the Hodori tiger cub became the symbol of the Seoul Olympics. South Korea proudly wears the nickname "Asian tiger", which was dubbed by lively Western journalists for an unexpected economic leap. Even in the geographic contours of the Korean Peninsula, the Koreans spotted a tiger on its hind legs. Unlike the "Italian boot", of course, the "geographical" Korean tiger is not so clearly visible. But who wants to see - will see.
The origins of the special attitude of Koreans to the tiger lie, I think, in the depths of Far Eastern history with its totem cults. For many Siberian, Altai peoples, close to the Koreans in culture, the tiger was a totem animal, he was revered and respected. In some areas of Korea, residents also believed that the tiger was the embodiment of the spirit of the mountains. If the beast suddenly attacked a villager, it was believed that the victim himself was to blame, for by some unseemly act he aroused the wrath of the spirit. However, the reverent attitude towards the tiger did not prevent the Koreans from hunting it. Catching and hunting for tigers in old Korea was carried out by a special corporation of hunters, whose activities were highly ritualized. Just like Dersu-Uzala, Korean tiger hunters never called the animal by name, and during the hunt they were not supposed to talk to each other. The clothes of the Korean hunters were also special, distinguishing them from the rest of the population - they wore a blue canvas jacket and a blue cotton turban. This headdress was decorated with colored beads, and a necklace of beans was adorned on the hunter's chest. The hunter's food necessarily included tiger meat or tiger bone broth. Often dishes were seasoned with tiger bone powder. It was believed that this food would give the hunter the qualities of a tiger, help him become as strong.
Tiger hunters occupied a rather privileged position in Korean society. In particular, they were exempted from state taxes - as a "surcharge for harmfulness." This was very sensible, since hunting a tiger involved a lot of risk. After all, the hunters were armed only with a spear and a short sword, and they were accompanied by specially trained dogs.
By the beginning of the 20th century, that is, by the time when "hermit" Korea opened its doors to foreign civilization, tiger hunting ceased to be the duty and privilege of a closed specialized corporation of hunters. On the one hand, guns appeared, which made hunting tigers much less dangerous than before. On the other hand, tiger hunting was still covered with a romantic halo. This led to the fact that a previously risky activity gradually turned into a fashionable entertainment. Increasingly, tigers were hunted not by professionals, but by members of an expensive private club of amateurs. The Japanese also contributed to this trend by turning Korea into a colony in 1905. Among them, it was fashionable to go hunting in the "wild" colonial lands, I think, following the example of the British colonialists in India. It is clear that the "natives" provided Japanese lovers of hunting romance with all possible services. Local rangers found the animal, prepared a place for hunting. In a matter of decades, the tiger in Korea was wiped out. The last tiger on the territory of present-day South Korea was killed in 1922 in North Gyeongsang province, which is located in the southern part of the country. In 1946, the last reliably confirmed encounter with a tiger took place (this time on the east coast, in the mountains of Seoraksan).
Now in South Korea, tigers are only in zoos.
General information about Korea
About 10 million foreign tourists visit Korea every year, attracted by its rich history and traditions, as well as the variety of tourist attractions. Below is information to learn more about this enchanting Land of Morning Calm.
Geographical position
The Korean Peninsula, located in Northeast Asia, is washed from 3 sides by the sea and has an elongated shape with a length of 1,030 km from north to south. and the distance from west to east is 175 km. The total area of South Korea is 100,033 square kilometers, and the capital is Seoul. Neighboring states include Japan, China and North Korea.
National symbols of Korea
Pictured) National flag: Taegukgi (left) / National flower: Mugunghwa (right) National Flag: Taegukgi Ornament of the currently used national flagRepublic of Korea -Taegukgi - was installed from October 1949. The peculiarity is that in the center of the white flag there is an ornament depicting the Universe and dividing it into two halves of red and of blue color, and on the edges are four trigrams. White color symbolizes a peaceful nation, the circle represents the harmony of the two basic principles of Eastern philosophy - "yin" and "yang", and each trigram characterizes the process of modification and development of these symbols. National Flower: Mugunghwa C long time ago Korea's national flower, the Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon, mugunghwa in Korean) was widely distributed throughout the Korean peninsula. Every year from the beginning of July until the end of October, these lovely flowers bloom. So, the locals do not stop admiring the beauty of mugunghwa for a long period of time. The symbolic name of the flower comes from the Korean word "mugun", which means "immortality". National Anthem: Aegukka The national anthem of Korea was created to awaken national patriotism and strengthen the spirit of independence in the Korean people. Before the approval of the modern version of the anthem in 1948, changes were made over the course of several years. In 1935, the conductor and composer Ahn Ik-tae (1906-1965) wrote a new piece of music, which in 1948 was recognized by the government as the official national anthem of Korea, and it began to be used by all educational institutions, state and public organizations. Population of Korea
The total population in Korea is 51,753,820 according to the August 2017 census. Most of the population is concentrated in Seoul and its environs, as well as in the cities of Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Ulsan, respectively.
The national flag of the Republic of Korea is the basis of national symbols, embodying the views and principles of
The white background is taken as the basis of the flag. This color in Buddhist teachings represents the purity of the heart, thoughts and spirit.
- The blue color represents the power and energy of the feminine Yin, symbolizing hope and desire.
- Red - masculine Yang, denoting nobility and generosity.
In the center is the Yin-Yang symbol borrowed from the Chinese, which embodies the idea of balance and interaction of energies in the Universe, its infinity and continuous movement. Hence the name of the flag of Korea "Taegukgi", which means "Flag of the Great Limit" in Korean.
Coat of arms of South Korea "Gugdyan 국장"
The national emblem of the Republic of Korea is one of the components of national symbols. It received official status in 1963 after a corresponding presidential decree. The emblem is simple in execution, but each sign and symbol on it has an important meaning and a deep meaning, reflected in Korean culture.
Cinquefoil
The main figure on the coat of arms of South Korea is the image of a pentagon imitating the five petals of a hibiscus that has long been revered in Korea. This flower of the "Malvaceae" family is considered national and in Korean it sounds like "Mugunghwa", which literally means "immortelle"....
Anthem of South Korea "Aegukka 애국가"
The name of the national anthem of the Republic of Korea in Korean sounds like "Egukka", which in Russian means "patriotic song". The anthem was created at the end of the 19th century. For more than a century of history, its text has hardly undergone changes, which cannot be said about the melody. In this regard, the anthem survived the musical turmoil until its status was secured at the state level.
The history of the creation of the anthem
Among historians to this day there are disputes over the authorship of the song. It is not known for certain, but there is an assumption that the author of his words is the director of the Pyongyang school An Chang Ho (1878-1938), who took an active part in the movement for a free life in the country, its independent existence....
State flower "Mugunghwa 무궁화"
Vegetable world The Korean peninsula is rich in exotic herbs and flowers. But from time immemorial, the hibiscus has been the most beloved and revered flower among the people. It grew in Korea more than a thousand years ago and has become so widespread that Korea has been called the birthplace of hibiscus since ancient times. And the flower itself has long received the title of national symbol of South Korea.
Why do people like hibiscus in Korea?
luxuriantly blooming and unpretentious plant, able to adapt to any environment, is valued not only for its decorative qualities. characteristic feature this plant is his life cycle. Its bright and colorful shrubs with a fragrant aroma can be enjoyed longer than any other flowers....
In September 2012 in the Department of Literature at foreign languages there is an exhibition "Discover Korea" dedicated to two states - North and South Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea).
Two very different states, however, have a common origin, culture, language and traditions. Over the past half century, due to the influence of different ideologies, their appearance and lifestyle have been greatly transformed, but regardless of the changes, an ordinary North Korean can easily understand a South Korean.
At the exhibition, visitors will be able to get acquainted with a selection of materials about South and North Korea. Learn about their history, about war and peace on the Korean Peninsula, about how modern Koreans live. The exhibition will also make it possible to lift the "iron curtain" that hides the DPRK and see "the world that Kim built."
Materials relating to the so-called "Korean wave - Hallyu" are presented separately. It means spreading modern culture South Korea around the world, primarily through music (K-Pop), series (dramas), as well as cuisine, fashion, video games and language.
Two states - a common history
What do we know about Northern and South Korea? Official name the first state in Russian - the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the second - the Republic of Korea. modern word Korea comes from one of the historical dynasties (Koryeo) that ruled the Korean peninsula.
Today, the colloquial name for Korea in South Korea is Hanguk, with South Korea called Namhan ("Southern Khan") and North Korea called Bukhan ("Northern Khan"). Less formally, southerners call the DPRK Ibuk ("North"). The DPRK uses the names Joseon for Korea, Namchoseon ("Southern Joseon") for South Korea, and Bukjoseon ("Northern Joseon") for North Korea. See, it's all very confusing...
The division of Korea into North and South took place in 1945 after the defeat of Japan, which had previously ruled Korea, in World War II. The US and the USSR signed an agreement on the joint government of the country. The dividing line of the zones of influence of the two superpowers passed along the 38th parallel. After the Korean War (1950-1953), the two young states were separated by a demilitarized zone. The unification of Korea is a political goal declared by the governments of the DPRK and the Republic of Korea, which is to create a unified Korean state.
Hangul - Korean alphabet
Hangul is a relatively “young” writing, it is only five hundred years old and it owes its invention to King Sejong the Great. The fact is that for more than a thousand years, educated Koreans wrote in their own language, but with the help of Chinese characters. At the same time, only a few people were literate, most often men from aristocratic families. Seeing this situation, the wise monarch Sejong ordered to develop simple system writing that could convey Korean speech and would not be difficult to master. And by 1446 the system was ready - writing became available to all Koreans.
The simplicity of Hangul lies in the fact that out of the twenty-four letters currently used (initially there were 28 letters in the alphabet, but later 4 of them became obsolete and out of use), five main consonants in outline resemble the position of the speech organs that are involved in the formation of these sounds. This is also the case with vowels, the tongue is involved in their pronunciation, and depending on its position (in the front, middle or back of the mouth), letters are indicated. Another undoubted advantage of Hangul is that all words are both heard and written. That is why, children, reaching school age, usually already perfectly literate.
However, despite its simplicity, Hangul has been ridiculed by the upper echelons of Korean society.
For a long time it was not used either in the literature or in official documents.
However, this invention made it possible to almost completely eliminate illiteracy in Korea.
Today, Hangul is used in all areas of Korean life. As for hieroglyphs, in South Korea they are used only in special literature, and in North Korea they were abolished in the middle of the last century.
traditional clothing
Hanbok (literally meaning "Korean clothes", in North Korea called "chosonot") is a traditional dress. Hanbok is sewn from bright monochrome fabrics. These are clothes for official and semi-official receptions, festivals and festivities. The elegance of the lines is the main thing that defines the beauty of the hanbok. The peculiarity of the traditional Korean dress is that it does not fit the figure, but is distinguished by a rather loose cut, splendor and elegance.
The influence of hanbok on contemporary Korean fashion is obvious and undeniable. His graceful style and bright colors inspire many couturiers to create fusion-style collections that combine elements of traditional dress and the achievements of the modern fashion industry.
Korean cuisine
Traditional Korean food necessarily includes soup, rice and many spicy snacks (panchang). The main panchang is kimchi, meant for long-term storage appetizer of pickled-fermented-salted vegetables. The role of kimchi in Korean everyday life can be compared to the role of sauerkraut in traditional Russian cuisine. He has not been to Korea who has not tasted kimchi at least once!
Another popular dish is samgyeopsal. It is pieces of fatty pork belly, not marinated, not sprinkled with spices, which the participants in the meal roast on a grill standing on the table. Usually samgyeopsal is served for dinner.
NORTH KOREA
We don't know much about North Korea. This is due to the "Iron Curtain" policy pursued by its leadership. North Korea is a country where they have been trying to build communism for 60 years, and its inhabitants are sure that they live in the best and most powerful country.
Symbols of North Korea
Flag. The star symbolizes revolutionary traditions. Red - revolutionary patriotism and the spirit of struggle; white color is traditional for Koreans, it means purity of ideals; blue - the desire to unite with the revolutionary forces of the whole world in the struggle for the victory of the ideas of independence, friendship and peace.
On the coat of arms depicted - a hydroelectric power station in the Paektusan mountain range, above it a shining five-pointed red star with ears of rice on the sides, forming an oval structure of the coat of arms, connected with a red ribbon, with the inscription "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" in Hangul. This emblem clearly indicates the connection of the DPRK with the communist ideology.
The symbol of the DPRK can also be called the Kim family . For three generations (Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un - the last since 2012) have led the country. North Koreans love and revere them very much. For example, there are more than 500 monuments to Kim Il Sung in North Korea. The main university, bridge, square and football stadium in Pyongyang are named after him. All the places where Kim Il Sung has been are marked with special memorial plaques, and even the bench on which he somehow sat down in the park is carefully guarded. In February 2012, two six-meter statues depicting Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on horseback were unveiled in Pyongyang. Portraits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il hang on residential buildings, in front of shops and even in subway cars. Newspaper publications actively cite their work. Studying the biography of Kim Il Sung begins in kindergarten continues in schools and universities. This is the North Korean cult of personality.
Interesting Facts
Despite the huge roads with six lanes (in Pyongyang), there is practically no one to drive on them. There are very few cars on the streets, there are practically no cars in private use. Only officials and those who have relatives in Japan who can give them a car for personal use are entitled to cars. At the same time, the same car should be donated to the state.
There are no working traffic lights in North Korea. The traffic is controlled by traffic controllers. Throughout the country, men in white uniforms do this, and only in Pyongyang are slender and attractive girls leading the movement. They change every 2 hours. Their movements are polished and sharp. There is no smoothness, everything is clear and very fast. At every intersection a circle is drawn for them. At night, the girls work until 2 o'clock, then they are replaced by men. And to make them visible in the dark, blinking LEDs are sewn into the form.
By the way, North Korea is open to tourists. True, from the moment of arrival in Pyongyang, a guide-interpreter and a driver are assigned to the traveler. They will constantly tail behind you and watch what you are photographing, where you are going, etc. It is forbidden to leave the hotel, the tour route is prepared in advance. Sightseeing objects that you can visit are: Mangyongdae (birthplace of President Kim Il Sung), Mansudae Sculptural Ensemble, Pyongyang Metro, Juche Idea Monument, Bohyun Buddhist Temple, etc.
In general, visiting North Korea is very interesting and absolutely safe, because here they strive to make a good impression on foreigners.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korea is a country with amazing story, beautiful nature and a great future. Our tourists from Far East it has long enjoyed consistently high popularity as a destination for mass tourism: people go there to relax in the local hot springs and clean sandy beaches, go skiing, and also in search of unique architecture and ancient monuments.
Symbols of South Korea
Flag. White is the national color of Korea. The central yin-yang emblem reflects the view of the universe as a whole. "Yin-yang" - is called in Korean "taeguk", so the flag was called "Taegukki". At the corners are trigrams, which also consist of "yin" (torn stripes) and "yang" (solid stripes). The trigrams mean (clockwise from the top of the shaft): sky, south, summer and air; moon, west, autumn and water; Earth, north, winter and land; Sun, east, spring and fire. Black color means vigilance, steadfastness, justice and chastity.
Coat of arms. Approved in 1963, it consists of a traditional Korean symbol surrounded by five stylized petals and a ribbon with the inscription "Republic of Korea" in Hangul. These five petals have a meaning and are associated with the national flower of Korea.
Rose of Sharon or Mugunghwa - the flower of infinity. The symbolic name of the flower comes from the Korean word "mugun", which means "immortality". This word very accurately reflects the culture of the country that has suffered a lot in its history, the perseverance and perseverance of its people. The peculiarity of this plant is that it blooms from July to October and, even in the most harsh conditions, no matter what, every day opens a new fresh bud, symbolizing the resilience of the Korean people, personifying its discreet beauty national character.
"Advanced Country"
Korean technologies are known all over the world. Almost each of us has a TV, telephone or other equipment of well-known companies Samsung, LG, Daewoo Electronics. Cars of the brands Hyunday, Kia, SsangYong, Daewoo drive along our streets.
Yes, and in Korea itself it is difficult to meet a person without mobile phone, and the Internet is almost everywhere and for little money. Interestingly, almost 99% of Koreans use Internet Explorer exclusively. They are unaware of other browsers, moreover, most do not even know what a browser is. Korean sites, respectively, are made only under Explorer, in any other browser, not a single Korean site will work correctly.
hallyu
Have you heard of the Korean Wave? Not? Meanwhile, the people of South Korea themselves are very proud of this phenomenon, by which they mean the penetration of Korean mass pop culture into other countries - first of all, South-East Asia. The first carriers of this wave were songs, but now the range has expanded to movies, food, martial arts and more. Many Korean actors are becoming popular not only in their own country, but also abroad, and some even manage to break through to the Hollywood screens.
Korean pop or K-pop has become the big harmonica of the Korean wave. Korean pop music is credited with special talent and individualism, as well as diversity through collaborations with international producers.
AT last years Korean entertainment companies have begun to recognize YouTube as a key component in the international dissemination of Korean culture.
IN CONCLUSION...
Of course, the key issue for the two states is their unification. Throughout history, many projects have been proposed. But at present, two remain most likely: the absorption of North Korea by South Korea, or the creation of a confederation and their gradual unification. However, relations between the two countries continue to be tense. We often hear from the news that one side or the other is threatening to start a war. At the same time, ordinary residents of both the North and the South positively assess the possibility of reunification and welcome any attempts by their governments to reconcile the parties.
More information about North and South Korea
you can get it from the following websites:
