Korean Unification Flag

The Korean Unification Flag (), also known as the Flag of the Korean Peninsula ( or ), is a flag used to represent all of Korea. When North Korea and South Korea participate as one team at international sporting events, the flag is carried by the unified team. It was introduced at the 1990 Asian Games but was not used by a unified team until the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships. Outside of sports, the flag has been used, particularly in North Korea, to express support for Korean reunification.

The flag is a white field charged in the center with a sky blue silhouette of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and Ulleungdo. The flag's depiction of Korean territorial claims has earned it the chagrin of Japan, which also claims the Liancourt Rocks. The disputed islets were added to the flag in 2003 but removed in 2018 upon the request of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Background and creation

Korea has been divided along the 38th parallel since the conclusion of World War II with the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945. Exactly three years later, on 15 August 1948, the American-occupied south established the Republic of Korea, and the Soviet-occupied north followed suit with the proclamation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 9 September. As separate sovereign states, North Korea and South Korea have since competed at international sporting events with their own teams, although they both claim to be the sole representative of the entire Korean Peninsula.

A detente in inter-Korean relations came during the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, China, when both countries agreed to compete as a unified team. The "Unification Flag" was conceived amid logistical difficulties with simultaneously raising two flags (i.e. the flag of North Korea and the flag of South Korea). While the unified team effort was not realized, the flag was prominently displayed by an unofficial cheerleading group during the games.

Design

The current variation of the flag features a sky blue silhouette of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and Ulleungdo on a white background.

Variations

The original design of the flag featured only the Korean Peninsula and Jeju Island. Ulleungdo was added 2002 and the Liancourt Rocks were added in 2003. Socotra Rock was added to the flag around September 2006, after a dispute between South Korea and China over their exclusive economic zones. and other events in 2018, following pressure from the IOC and Japan. The IOC told South Korea that including the Liancourt Rocks would be viewed as "a political act" and violate the IOC's neutrality, to which South Korea agreed.

Usage

In sporting events

thumb|Flag at the [[Seoul World Cup Stadium 2005]]

The Korean Unification Flag has been officially used at several international events, either for a unified team, or for when the two teams march together in the opening ceremony while competing separately. In addition to international events, inter-Korean sporting events have used the Unification Flag.

At the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing and the 2005 Asian Athletics Championships in Incheon, South Korea, unofficial cheerleading groups also prominently displayed the flag.

During the 2018 Winter Paralympics, negotiations were stalled by North Korean officials requesting that the Liancourt Rocks be included on the flag.

{| class="wikitable"

|+Official usage in international sports

!Event !! Location !! style="width:140px;"| Usage !! Ulleungdo !! Liancourt Rocks !! Socotra Rock !!

|1991 World Table Tennis Championships || Chiba, Japan || Unified team || style="text-align:center;"|15px ||style="text-align:center;"|15px ||style="text-align:center;"|15px ||

|2002 Asian Games || Busan, South Korea || Opening ceremony || style="text-align:center;"|15px||style="text-align:center;"|15px ||style="text-align:center;"|15px ||

|2004 Summer Olympics || Athens, Greece || Opening ceremony || style="text-align:center;"|15px||style="text-align:center;"|15px ||style="text-align:center;"|15px ||

|2006 Winter Olympics || Turin, Italy || Opening ceremony || style="text-align:center;"|15px||style="text-align:center;"|15px ||style="text-align:center;"|15px ||

|2018 Korea Open||Daejeon, South Korea||Unified team || style="text-align:center;"|15px ||style="text-align:center;"|15px ||style="text-align:center;"|15px ||

|2018 Asian Games || Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia || Unified team || style="text-align:center;"|15px ||style="text-align:center;"|15px ||style="text-align:center;"|15px ||

|2019 World Men's Handball Championship || Germany and Denmark || Unified team || style="text-align:center;"|15px||style="text-align:center;"|15px ||style="text-align:center;"|15px||

In political contexts

thumb|Flag at the Seoul Christmas Festival 2015

According to American Koreanist Brian Reynolds Myers, North Korea and South Korea view the flag in different political contexts. South Koreans view the flag as representing a peaceful relationship and coexistence with North Korea, whereas North Koreans view it as representing a desire to have Korea reunited under the leadership of the North Korean government.