Seoul · Hongdae
Korean Local Shop
Advance Booking Available
Group Tattoo Available
English Friendly
YMTATTOO SEOUL
Tattoo Reviews & Stories — real experiences, designs, and moments from Hongdae.
I’ve collected flag tattoos from a few countries while traveling, and getting the Taegeuk flag design in Korea felt special. The mix of traditional motifs, the red-blue Taegeuk circle, and those four corner trigrams—it’s more than just a flag, it carries centuries of meaning.
When I was planning this piece, I dove in to learn what all the symbols in Taegeukgi actually mean. The white background stands for purity and peace. The circle in the center, the Taegeuk, comes from old yin-yang philosophy, with red showing positive energy, blue the negative, balancing each other.
Another part I really liked was the four black trigrams around the Taegeuk. Each corner symbol has its own meaning:
Geon (☰) for heaven
Gon (☷) for earth
Ri (☲) for fire
Gam (☵) for water
These add depth to the tattoo — it's not just pretty; it's symbolic of universal balance, nature, seasons, all that stuff.
Over the years I’ve had flag tattoos—some of my home country, some from places I loved visiting. When I thought about Korea, I wanted something that not only looks good but means something. Taegeuk and its trigrams felt like the right fit. The artist walked me through the symbolism before inking, which made me appreciate it even more.
Getting the tattoo was fun. The design stayed respectful to tradition: clean lines, proper shape of the Taegeuk curve, the four trigrams in correct placement. The colors red and blue were vivid, but not overdone. It felt like wearing a part of Korean heritage, not just art.
If you love national symbols, or just want something that carries story, Taegeuk tattoo in Korea is awesome. It’s versatile—you can add traditional motifs, maybe a traditional pattern border, or keep it minimal. For me, this design added a new layer to my collection that I didn’t expect—connected to history, philosophy, and identity.
Thanks for reading my Taegeuk story. If you're thinking about getting a flag tattoo in Seoul, dive into what the symbols mean first. It makes the whole experience richer.