[AG/english]First Hanging of North Korean National Flag in 57 Years

For the first time in the history of divided Koreas, North Korea’s national flag was hung within the boundary of South.

On September 16, 2002, the committee for Busan Asian Games held an opening ceremony for the Main Media Center in Woo Dong, Heawoondae Gu, Busan, and hung 44 flags, each of which represents the country participating in the Games. Among the flags hung was North Korea’s national flag.

Since after Independence, Ingong Flag, the flag officially adopted by North Korea for its national flag, has been hung illegally at universities in South Korea from time to time and roused great social sensations every time it was hung. But this is the first time our government has ever authorized the display of the North’s flag.

North’s flag was hung at the sixth floor of the Nool Won Building in Bumil Dong, where the committee is located, and at Busan Lotte Hotel which is the headquarters hotel for the Games.

North’s flag will be hung from Sep. 17 at the athlete’s village, and from one week prior to the opening of the Games (i.e. Sep. 22) will be hung at 25 places including all stadiums until Sep. 14, one day after the Games is over.

One committee member explained, “Once North notified its decision to participate, we decided to follow the OCA Charter and international conventions. Thus, since North is not different from any other participating country, we decided to hang its flag.”

North flags were made for official purposes by the committee. 122 copies of the flags were produced in 12 kinds for various purposes such as hanging and ceremony. All of them will be collected back once the Asian Games is over.

A citizen, Kim Jung-kyu (62) expressed, “I feel kind of mixed, looking at the hanging of North Korean flags. Many things have changed, I guess. It will serve as an opportunity. By this, we will realize the reality of our Motherland, which has been divided.”