National symbols of South Korea explained

The national symbols of South Korea are official and unofficial flags, icons, or cultural expressions that are emblematic, representative, or otherwise characteristic of South Korea (the Republic of Korea) and of its culture. Since the division of the Korean peninsula in 1948, South Korea has retained traditional symbols to distinguish from the national symbols of North Korea.

Symbols

	Symbol	Image	Notes
Flag			Current version, adopted in 2011; inaugural version from 1948.
Emblem	Emblem of South Korea	(Taegeuk; Hibiscus syriacus)	Current version, adopted in 2011; inaugural version from 1963.
National anthem	Aegukga 애국가
Song	Arirang 아리랑
Seal	National seal Guksae		Current version, adopted in 2011; inaugural version was adopted in 1949.
Governmental emblem	Government emblem of South Korea (Taegeuk)
National motto	홍익인간 (弘益人間)	"Benefit broadly in the human world / Devotion to the Welfare of Humanity"
National tree	Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora)
National flower	Hibiscus syriacus
National bird	Korean magpie (Pica sericea)
National animal	Korean tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
National fruit	Asian Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia)
National currency	South Korean won
Patron saint	Andrew Kim Taegon
National founder	Dangun
De facto National poet	Ch'oe Ch'i-wŏn, Han Yong-un, Pak Mok-wol, Jeong Cheol
National epic	Jewang Un'gi, King Dongmyeong
De facto National dance	Buchaechum, Ganggangsullae, Geommu
National costume	Hanbok
National insect	Callipogon relictus		Unofficial symbol of the Entomological Society of Korea and Korean Entomological Institute
National instrument
National stone	Amethyst
National colours
National mountains	Paektu Mountain, Hallasan		Paektu Mountain is located in North Korea and China Both are part of the larger Baekdu-daegan
National sport	Taekwondo
National dish	Kimchi
National liquor	Makgeolli