Asia · Emblem on a plain field
How to draw the flag of South Korea
The flag of South Korea is a central emblem on a plain field in white, red, blue and black, with taegeuk and four trigrams. It flies at a ratio of 2:3.
Step by step
- Start with the right shape. South Korea flies at 2:3 — for every 3 units of width the flag is 2 tall. Sketch that rectangle first; a flag drawn too square is the fastest way to lose layout points.
- Block in the background. Fill the whole flag with white first, then build the rest on top of it. Working from the largest area to the smallest keeps the proportions honest.
- Add the red, blue and black. A central emblem on a plain field. Place these shapes by eye against the edges of the flag, not against each other.
- Finish with the taegeuk and four trigrams. Detail is the last ten percent of the score, so leave it until the colour blocks are down. Size and position count for more than drawing every line of it.
South Korea flag colours
The colour codes below are the ones to reach for if you are recreating the flag digitally.
| Colour | Hex | RGB |
|---|---|---|
| White | #FFFFFF | rgb(255, 255, 255) |
| Red | #CD2E3A | rgb(205, 46, 58) |
| Blue | #0047A0 | rgb(0, 71, 160) |
| Black | #000000 | rgb(0, 0, 0) |
What the flag means
The red and blue taegeuk is the balance of opposing forces; the four trigrams stand for heaven, earth, fire and water.
Common mistakes
- Rotating the taegeuk the wrong way and drawing four identical trigrams. Red sits on top, blue below, and each corner group has a different number of broken bars.
A trick for remembering it
Top-left three solid bars, then clockwise the sets get more broken. Red over blue in the circle.
Questions about the South Korea flag
What colours are on the flag of South Korea?
South Korea uses 4 colours: white (#FFFFFF), red (#CD2E3A), blue (#0047A0), black (#000000).
What are the proportions of the South Korea flag?
It flies at 2:3 (height to width). Drawing it at the wrong shape is one of the quickest ways to lose layout marks in the game.
What does the South Korea flag mean?
The red and blue taegeuk is the balance of opposing forces; the four trigrams stand for heaven, earth, fire and water.
How hard is the South Korea flag to draw from memory?
PlayVexle rates it 4 out of 5. There is detailed artwork in the middle, which is worth only 10% of the score — get the colour blocks right first.
