Taegeukgi Designated Only as Treasures... Will Discussion Lead to First National Treasure Status?

[Anchor]

As another symbol of the anti-Japanese independence movement and the identity of South Korea itself, the Taegeukgi, or the South Korean national flag, holds profound meaning. Among the Taegeukgi created during the modern period starting from 1882, three have been designated as Treasures. However, none have yet been designated as a 'National Treasure,' and discussions are now officially underway to elevate the first one to National Treasure status.

Reporter Lee Ju-sang has the details.

[Reporter]

The Taegeukgi designated as Treasures are engraved with the turbulent modern history of Korea.

The Taegeukgi kept by Owen Denny, diplomatic advisor to King Gojong, is the oldest existing national flag.

Since Denny returned to the United States in 1891, it was made at least before that year.

Its different Taegeuk pattern and blue trigrams compared to today's flags offer a glimpse into the appearance of the early national flag.

The Taegeukgi signed by Kim Gu, president of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, with the inscription urging to "complete the independence of our homeland," vividly captures the yearning for liberation.

Dated March 16, 1941, it is the only Taegeukgi from before liberation with a clearly verifiable production date.

The Jingwansa Temple Taegeukgi in Seoul was discovered in 2009 hidden inside the wall behind the altar during the restoration of an ancillary building.

It holds even greater significance because it was crafted by painting over a Japanese Hinomaru flag used during the Japanese colonial period with ink.

[Interview / Monk Bonum, Jingwansa Temple: The very act of crushing the Hinomaru, the symbol of Japanese imperialism, and drawing the Taegeuk and four trigrams over it makes it a profoundly living historical relic that symbolically demonstrates our spirit.]

It is a precious artifact with the possibility of having been actually used at the site of the March 1st Independence Movement.

Promotion to a National Treasure can be considered when cultural heritage items already designated as Treasures are evaluated to possess exceptional value.

The Korea Heritage Service plans to conclude its review by the end of the year to see if the first National Treasure Taegeukgi can be born.

(Video Editing: Park Ji-in, Design: Hwang Se-yeon, VJ: Oh Se-gwan)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.