Seoul, South Korea

While wandering around Seoul and neighboring Gyeonggi Province on my recent trip to South Korea, I noticed that the provincial flag being flown in Seoul was not the same as the [former flag] displayed here. The flag that I saw everywhere in the Seoul metropolitan area was very similar to the one we have, with the metropolitan symbol centered on a white field, but without any of the writing in English or Hangul around it. It is only the three-colored, Y-shaped symbol on a white field. I don't know if this is simply a variant of the flag originally reported by Dov Gutterman in March 1999, or if the flag design has officially changed in the 15 years since then. But at no point did I see one with the writing on it as we have displayed [below].
Randy Young, 28 November 2014

contributed by Dov Gutterman

The symbol (same as the one on the flag) was changed in 1996. On the city site it is written: (http://english.metro.seoul.kr/about/cityfacts/quick2.cfm#emblem)
The Seoul Metropolitan City has created its new emblem in order to show the bright future of the capital city of the Republic of Korea, which will be developing to a leading world city in the era of localization in the 21st century.
The new emblem has been used since Oct. 28, 1996 instead of the old one that had represented the city since 1947. The new emblem figures the Korean letters (Seoul), into mountains, sun and the Han River of Seoul, and symbolizes in general the look of a man in the merry mood.
Thus, it symbolizes Seoul tilting toward a human-oriented city. In the context of nature, human and city, the green mountain means love of environment, blue Han River signifying history and vitality, and the sun in the center stands for future and vision. The emblem was designed on the basis of the national roots, so that it can become the symbol of opening today and tomorrow of Seoul. The basic idea for the design stems from "Mokmyokchodon" by "Kyomjae" Chong son and "Mudong (dancing boy)" by "Tanwon" Kim Hong-do

image by Pascal Gross

image by Jaume Ollé

The old emblem was chosen through a prize contest to commemorate the renaming of Seoul "Seoul Free Special City" on Sept. 28, 1946, and had been used since April 1, 1947 until it was replaced by the new one. The circle in the center of the emblem represents street. and the octagonal symbol stands for eight mountains surrounding Seoul: Nam-san, An-san, Inwang-san, Pukak-san, Nak-san, Muhag-bong, Wau-san, Ung-bong.
Source: Seoul website
Dov Gutterman, 15 March 1999

image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 04 April 2010

The purple flag charged with winged yellow eagle holding scales on hibiscus and yin-yang with its name in white Korean letter.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 04 April 2010