4. Taegeukgi (National Flag)
The Korean flag is called Taegeukgi. Its design symbolizes the principles of Eum and Yang in Oriental philosophy. The circle in the center of the flag is divided into two equal parts. The upper red section represents the positive cosmic forces of Yang, while the lower blue section represents the negative cosmic forces of Eum. These two forces together embody the concepts of continual movement, balance and harmony that characterize infinity. The circle is surrounded by four trigrams, one in each corner. Each trigram symbolizes one of the four universal elements: heaven, earth, sun (or fire) and moon (or water). The white background represents peace, and also stands for the purity and homogeneity of the Korean people.
5. Mugungwha (National Flower)
The national flower of Korea is the rose of Sharon, or mugunghwa as it is called in Korean.
Every year from July to October, a profusion of mugunghwa graces the entire country. They are remarkably tenacious and able to withstand both blight and insects. Mugung means immortality, and hwa means flower, thus it is a flower symbolizing the immortality, determination and perseverance of the Korean people.
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