▲ This photo, provided by The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, shows the design of Taegeukgi in the Schufeldt document. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, provided by The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, shows the design of Taegeukgi included in the Flags of Maritime Nations 1882. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- In order to commemorate the Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation, United States–Korea Treaty of 1882 signed on 22nd May 1882, the design of the Taegeukgi (Korean flag) which is believed to be the oldest in existence will be revealed.

The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History announced on the 12th that it will be presenting the first Taegeukgi design created in 1822 in a small special exhibition called "Josugyo and Taegeukgi" in the 1st floor lobby from May 13th till the 7th of July.

The first Taegeukgi design being exhibited this time was discovered by Lee Tae-jin, an emeritus professor at Seoul National University, in the Schufeldt document at The Library of Congress, United States. While the original document is in the library, the photos taken by professor Lee will be exhibited in the exhibition.

The report that included the draft is dated to be 11th June 1882. Admiral Robert Wilson Shufeldt was the American plenipotentiary at the time of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

This Taegeukgi design is presumed to have been included in the Flags of Maritime Nations published by the US Navy in July of that year. The Taegeukgi design in the report and the book is similar.

In the exhibition, the book "Flags of Maritime Nations" that was published in 1882 and 1899 respectively will also be displayed. One will also be able to see the chronological table explaining the transition process of Taegeukgi.

On the 13th, Professor Lee will talk about the process of finding the design of the Taegeukgi in the Schufeldt document while Dr. Mok Soo-hyun will give a lecture on the topic of "Taegeukgi in the Flags of all Nations" on 1st July.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.) 

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