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ACT ON THE FLAG OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Act No. 8272, Jan. 26, 2007

Amended by Act No. 10741, May 30, 2011

Act No. 12342, Jan. 28, 2014

 Article 1 (Purpose)
The purpose of this Act is to inspire patriotism through enhanced awareness of the national flag and defense of the dignity of the national flag by providing for fundamental matters concerning the production, display, management, etc. of the national flag that symbolizes the Republic of Korea.
 Article 2 (Definitions)
The term "public institution" as used in this Act means any of the following institutions, legal entities, or organizations: <Amended by Act No. 12342, Jan. 28, 2014>
2. Any other institution, legal entity, or organization as specified by Presidential Decree.
 Article 3 (Relationship to other Acts)
Except as otherwise provided in other Acts, matters concerning the national flag shall be governed by this Act.
 Article 4 (National Flag of the Republic of Korea)
The national flag of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as "national flag") is called "Taegeukgi."
 Article 5 (Dignity of National Flag, etc.)
(1) All citizens shall respect and adore the national flag.
(2) The State and each local government shall take measures necessary for maintaining the dignity of the national flag in the courses of production, display, management, etc. of the national flag.
 Article 6 (Salute to National Flag)
A salute to the national flag shall be expressed either by placing the right hand on the left chest while standing towards the national flag and facing to the national flag or by making a hand salute. Other necessary matters concerning the method, procedures, etc. for the salute to the national flag shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 7 (Design, Finial, Pole, etc. of National Flag)
(1) The national flag is composed of one taegeuk circle (or Yin and Yang) at the center and four trigrams (or gwae) called "gun," "gon," "gam," and "ri" respectively, one at each corner.
(2) The field of the national flag shall be in white; the upper and lower parts of the taegeuk circle shall be in red and in blue, respectively; and the trigrams shall be in black.
(3) The ratio of the width of the national flag to its length shall be three to two: Provided, That the foregoing shall not apply to occasions specified by Presidential Decree, such as for celebration of special events.
(4) Every finial of the national flag shall be in the globular shape of a bud of the rose of Sharon with five calyces at the bottom, which is of a golden color.
(5) Every pole bearing the national flag shall be made of a solid material, of which color shall be white, silver white, yellowish green, or similar.
(6) Other necessary matters, such as the method of drawing the national flag, the size and standard chromaticity of the national flag, the method of production of a flag finial, and the method of installation of a flagpole, shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 8 (Days for Displaying National Flag, etc.)
(1) Days on which the national flag shall be displayed are as follows: <Amended by Act No. 10741, May 30, 2011>
1. National holidays under Article 2 of the Act on National Holidays;
2. The Memorial Day and the Armed Forces Day among commemoration days under Article 2 of the Regulations on Various Commemoration Days, Etc.;
3. The mourning period of a State funeral under Article 6 of the State Funeral Act;
4. Days designated separately by the Government;
5. Days designated by municipal ordinance of a local government or by resolution of a local council.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the national flag may be displayed everyday and 24 hours a day.
(3) Each office building of the State, each local government, and each public institution shall keep the national flag hoisted all year round, whereas the following places shall keep it hoisted to the greatest extent feasible. In such cases, appropriate lighting shall be cast towards the national flag at nighttime:
1. Places for international exchange, such as airports and hotels;
2. Places with heavy pedestrian traffic, such as large buildings, parks, and stadiums;
3. Fences around major governmental office buildings;
4. Places with many flagpoles installed;
5. Other places specified by Presidential Decree.
(4) The national flag shall be displayed at the main flagstaff of each school and military unit only during daylight hours.
(5) The national flag shall not be displayed if it is likely to be damaged by heavy snow, rain, wind, or any similar cause.
(6) Matters necessary for the hours for raising and lowering the national flag, the change of such hours, and other relevant matters shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 9 (Method of Displaying National Flag, etc.)
(1) The national flag shall be displayed in the following manner: <Amended by Act No. 10741, May 30, 2011>
1. On national holidays and ordinary days: The national flag shall be flown at full-mast, without allowing any gap between the finial and the flag itself;
2. On days of mourning, such as the Memorial Day and the mourning period of a State funeral: The national flag shall be flown at half-mast, with a gap between the finial and the flag itself by the width of the flag.
(2) Other necessary matters, such as the method of displaying and raising and lowering the national flag, the method of displaying and raising and lowering the national flag in line with other flags, the location for the display of the national flag, and ceremonies for raising and lowering the national flag, shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 10 (Management, etc. of National Flag)
(1) The head of each institution or organization that displays the national flag shall manage the national flag, finial, flagpole, etc. in a manner not to degrade the dignity of the national flag.
(2) Where hand-held flags are used for certain events such as large assemblies, any person hosting such event shall handle national flags in a proper manner so as to deter participants from recklessly dumping national flags.
(3) Damaged national flags shall be discarded without delay by incineration or other proper means.
(4) Where the national flag is draped over a coffin, it shall neither be allowed to touch the ground nor to be buried together with the coffin. In such cases, necessary matters concerning the method of draping coffins with the national flag shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 11 (Utilization of National Flag or National Flag Pattern, and Restriction thereon)
(1) The national flag or national flag pattern (taegeuk circle and four trigrams) may be utilized for various goods and ceremonies and for other purposes: Provided, That the foregoing shall not apply to the following cases:
1. Using the national flag or national flag pattern by making a hole through it, cutting it or damaging it in any other way;
2. Utilizing the national flag or national flag pattern in a manner that causes a sense of repugnance.
(2) The taegeuk circle and trigrams in the national flag pattern under paragraph (1) may be used together or separately for various goods and ceremonies and for other purposes.
 Article 12 (Support of Programs for Exaltation of National Flag)
The State may provide, within the extents of budget, necessary support to legal entities, organizations, or other entities that carry out programs specified by Presidential Decree for exalting the national flag.
ADDENDUM
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDA <Act No. 10741, May 30, 2011>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force three months after the date of its promulgation.
Articles 2 and 3 Omitted.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 12342, Jan. 28, 2014>
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.