Promotion of Taegeukgi Sales at Convenience Stores and Large Marts
Increase in Homes Without Flag Holders... Production of Stick-On Taegeukgi
The government will promote a mid- to long-term campaign related to the Taegeukgi, including marking 'Taegeukgi Display Day' on the calendar to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day in 2025.
On the 24th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it will raise awareness of displaying the Taegeukgi, make it easier to purchase the flag, and create an atmosphere where people voluntarily display it.
Ahead of the March 1st Movement Day, the trees along the Taegukgi Street at the entrance of Hyochang Park in Yongsan-gu are densely adorned with Taegukgi flags. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@
First, starting with next year’s calendar marking the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, 'Taegeukgi Display Day' will be indicated. For the first time, 'Taegeukgi Display Day' was included in the "Wolryeok Yohang," the reference material used by the private sector when producing calendars. The Administrator of the Space and Aeronautics Agency prepares the Wolryeok Yohang for the following year by the end of June each year and publishes it in the official gazette. The Wolryeok Yohang reflecting 'Taegeukgi Display Day' was published in the official gazette on the 20th of last month. Accordingly, a total of seven days will be marked as 'Taegeukgi Display Day': March 1st Movement Day, Memorial Day, Constitution Day, Liberation Day, Armed Forces Day, National Foundation Day, and Hangeul Day.
To improve accessibility for purchasing the Taegeukgi, sales will be promoted at convenience stores, large supermarkets, banks, and other locations. Until now, the Taegeukgi has been sold online or at community centers, but not at convenience stores. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with GS Retail, the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, and others by the end of this year or the first half of next year after consultations.
In response to recent changes in residential environments where there are no flagpoles or balconies to place the Taegeukgi outside the window, new ways to use the Taegeukgi have also been suggested. The Ministry plans to guide and recommend the use of 'adhesive-type' Taegeukgi that can be attached to windows by suction and vehicle-mounted Taegeukgi.
Education to raise awareness of the Taegeukgi in schools will also be conducted. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will consult with the Ministry of Education so that schools can teach the meaning, origin, and proper display methods of the national flag. They also plan to actively hold Taegeukgi drawing and essay contests, which have recently become rare.
Kim Hansu, Director of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "It is regrettable that the Taegeukgi has not been widely embraced partly because it has been used ideologically in protests and demonstrations," adding, "We want to revitalize it because awareness and promotion of the Taegeukgi have been insufficient."
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