Eunpyeong-gu Raises 'Jingwansa Taegukgi' Flag for Liberation Day

Commemoration of the 77th Liberation Day with the 'Jingwansa Taegukgi,' a symbol of the independence movement painted on the Korean flag... 2,000 flags displayed on 9 major arterial roads including Tongil-ro from the 14th to 16th

The Taegukgi flag (front) and the Jingwansa Taegukgi flag (back) hanging together

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) raised the ‘Jingwansa Taegukgi’ (Treasure No. 2142) as street flags on major arterial roads in the Eunpyeong area to commemorate the 77th anniversary of Liberation Day.

The flag-raising period is from the 14th to the 16th, and the flags were raised along nine major arterial roads including Tongil-ro, Eunpyeong-ro, Jeungsan-ro, Yeonseo-ro, and Seooreung-ro.

A total of 4,000 Taegukgi flags were raised, consisting of 2,000 regular Taegukgi flags and 2,000 Jingwansa Taegukgi flags.

The national treasure No. 2142, the ‘Jingwansa Taegukgi,’ is a Taegukgi used by Monk Baek Chowol during the independence movement. It was discovered on May 26, 2009, during the dismantling and repair work of the Chilseonggak at Jingwansa, found between the altar and a pillar.

The size is 89 cm in width, 70 cm in height, and the diameter of the Taeguk is 32 cm. At the time of discovery, independence movement materials were found together, making it a cultural asset of great historical value.

The ‘Jingwansa Taegukgi’ is presumed to have been made by painting the blue color over the Japanese rising sun flag, expressing a strong resistance against Japanese oppression. It is known that the Buddhist community actively interacted with the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and carried out independence activities, and temples including Jingwansa played an important role as bases in the process of the independence movement. This is an important resource for re-examining the reality and significance of Korean independence movement history.

Since 2015, the district has raised the Jingwansa Taegukgi along with the Taegukgi every March 1st and Liberation Day as part of the memorial project for Monk Baek Chowol, an independence activist from Eunpyeong.

Goseong County and Hamyang County in Gyeongnam Province have also been promoting memorial projects, including raising the Jingwansa Taegukgi, according to the ‘Joint Promotion Agreement for the Memorial Project of Monk Baek Chowol’ signed with the district in 2016.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, stated, “Monk Baek Chowol’s Jingwansa Taegukgi, a proud symbol of independence, has become the fifth national treasure of Eunpyeong. I hope that residents will feel proud when they see the Jingwansa Taegukgi raised as street flags in celebration of Liberation Day.”