As Liberation Day approaches, interest is growing regarding when, where, and how to display the South Korean flag.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Liberation Day is one of five national holidays, along with March 1st Movement Day, Constitution Day, National Foundation Day, and Hangeul Day, when the flag should be displayed. On these commemorative days, the flag is to be raised properly without separating the flagpole from the flag. In contrast, on days of mourning, such as Memorial Day and during national funerals, a half-mast flag is displayed, lowered to the width of the flag's vertical dimension.
For households, the common practice is to display the flag from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Liberation Day. The ministry advises that the flag should be raised at 7 a.m. regardless of the season and taken down at 6 p.m. from March to October.
However, it is legally permissible to display the flag 24 hours a day. Therefore, it is not mandatory to raise it at 7 a.m. and lower it at 6 p.m. The ministry encourages year-round flag display but advises against it in severe weather conditions, such as heavy rain or strong winds, which could compromise the flag's dignity.
For single-family homes or multi-unit dwellings, the flag should be displayed at the center or left side of the main entrance when viewed from outside. In apartments, it can be raised at the center or left side of each unit's balcony. In buildings without flagpoles, attaching the flag to a window is also acceptable.
Flags can be displayed at the center or left side of the front ground level, on rooftops or awnings, or above the main entrance wall. When displayed on vehicles, the flag should be placed on the left side when viewed from the front.
One frequently asked question online is whether failing to display the flag on Liberation Day incurs a fine.
Households are not fined simply for not displaying the flag on Liberation Day. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has encouraged voluntary participation in flag display among the public. Thus, the notion that "not displaying the flag results in a fine" is inaccurate.
Displaying the flag involves more than just matching the red and blue colors; the direction of the Taegeuk symbol and the arrangement of the four trigrams must also be correct. The ministry provides specific guidelines on how to produce and size the flag.
When using images or illustrations of the flag, it is crucial to ensure that the orientation is correct, as flipping it horizontally or vertically can result in a different appearance. When creating or posting images of the flag for Liberation Day on social media, it is important to verify that they are displayed in the correct orientation.
In the event of sudden heavy rain or strong winds after raising the flag, caution is advised.
The ministry recommends not displaying the flag during inclement weather that could compromise its dignity. If the weather temporarily worsens, the flag can be taken down and raised again once conditions improve.
When displaying the flag on high-rise apartment balconies, care should be taken to prevent the flag from falling due to strong winds, which could pose a risk to pedestrians.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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