The Presidential Symbol Phoenix, Dreaming of a Peaceful and Prosperous Era

The Deep and Long-Standing Aspiration for a Peaceful and Prosperous Era Embodied in the Phoenix, the Symbol of the President of the Republic of Korea.

• Understand the symbolic meaning of the phoenix in mythology.
• Explore what the phoenix meant to monarchs and the people throughout history.
• Grasp why the phoenix is used as the presidential symbol in modern South Korea.

The Mythical Bird Becomes a Real Symbol

Under the sky of the Seoul Presidential Office, a blue flag flutters in the wind. At its center, a radiant golden pair of birds embraces the national symbol, the Mugunghwa (Rose of Sharon). This is the ‘Phoenix Flag (鳳凰旗)’, the flag symbolizing the President of the Republic of Korea. In the heart of this dynamic 21st-century republic leading the world with semiconductors and K-POP, why do we choose a mythical bird from thousands of years ago as the symbol of our nation’s highest leader?

This is not mere decoration. It embodies one of the most earnest dreams our people have longed for throughout history: the “Peaceful and Prosperous Era (太平聖代)”. It is the dream of a golden age where a benevolent and wise leader, a ‘sage king (聖君)’, appears to bring peace and prosperity. The story of the phoenix is the story of the deepest and oldest hope of this land. Let us now unfold this grand narrative together.

Chapter 1: Anatomy of a Legend – What Kind of Being Is the Divine Bird Phoenix?

If you thought the phoenix was just a “beautiful bird,” you have only just taken your first step into the threshold of its vast symbolism. The phoenix is not a mere bird but a sacred being, a divine bird (神鳥) embodying East Asian cosmology and philosophy. Ancient Chinese texts such as the “Classic of Mountains and Seas (山海經)” and “Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字)” describe this mysterious bird in astonishing detail.

The phoenix is said to be a harmonious combination of the most sacred and excellent parts of various animals: the head of a rooster (trust), the neck of a snake (longevity), the jaw of a swallow (fortune), the back of a turtle (wisdom), and the tail of a fish (abundance). Its head represents the sun, its back the moon, wings the wind, tail the trees and flowers, and legs the earth, symbolizing the entire universe.

Moreover, the phoenix is a paired name representing male and female birds. The male is called ‘Bong (鳳),’ and the female ‘Hwang (凰).’ Together, they symbolize perfect harmony and balance.

The nobility of the phoenix reaches its peak in its habits:

• Diet: It eats only bamboo seeds called ‘jukshil (竹實)’ and drinks only the purest spring water, symbolizing integrity and nobility.
• Habitat: It nests only in the sacred paulownia tree.
• Character: It embodies peace and benevolence (仁愛), never harming living insects or breaking plants. The proverb “The phoenix does not peck at millet even when starving” reflects its loyalty and integrity.

Comparison: Phoenix vs. Western Phoenix, What’s the Difference?

Sometimes confused with the Western immortal bird ‘Phoenix,’ the two are fundamentally different symbols.

Thus, the phoenix is not a result of overcoming chaos but a heavenly blessing and certificate of a world achieved through supreme virtue and good governance, making it the ultimate political symbol.

Chapter 2: The Unreachable Dream – Waiting for the Phoenix in an Age of Chaos

Singing the Phoenix in the Era of the Sage King

The phoenix reached the pinnacle of political symbolism because of the belief that “it appears when a sage king governs and opens a peaceful and prosperous era.”

The monarch who came closest to this ideal in our history was undoubtedly King Sejong the Great. Proud of his brilliant achievements, Sejong regarded his era as a peaceful and prosperous age and commissioned the court banquet music called ‘Phoenix Song (鳳凰吟),’ literally ‘singing the phoenix.’ This was a declaration that “by my virtuous rule, a peaceful and prosperous era worthy of the phoenix has been established on this land.”

The Land Rejected by the Phoenix: An Age of Chaos

Unfortunately, Joseon’s history was not always peaceful. There may have been longer periods of severe turmoil and division where the phoenix could not possibly settle.

• Endless Strife, Factional Politics: Initially, mutual criticism and checks had positive aspects but soon degenerated into intense factional strife. The ‘Rites Disputes (禮訟論爭)’ during King Hyeonjong’s reign over Queen Dowager Hyosong’s mourning period was a hidden conflict over royal legitimacy and the balance of royal and ministerial power.
• Bloody Purges, Political Upheavals and Factional Dominance: By King Sukjong’s time, politics escalated into a massacre known as ‘Hwanguk (換局)’. The king’s support for a faction led to the sudden purge of opposition, destroying coexistence principles. Despite efforts by Kings Yeongjo and Jeongjo for political balance, it degenerated into ‘Sedojungchi (勢道政治)’, where a few in-law families monopolized power.
• People’s Tears, Corruption of the Three Taxes: During the Sedojungchi period, the tax system became a brutal exploitation mechanism known as ‘Corruption of the Three Taxes (三政의 紊亂)’. Horrific abuses like taxing the dead (‘Baekgoljingpo (白骨徵布)’) and infants (‘Hwanggucheomjeong (黃口簽丁)’) were rampant.

Witnessing this reality, Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (丁若鏞) wrote the poem ‘Aejeryang (哀絶陽)’ after hearing a story of a father who castrated himself because he could not afford taxes for his newborn son. A country where a father considered having a child a crime and had to emasculate himself—how could the auspicious phoenix ever fly here?

Chapter 3: The Palace of Dragons and Phoenixes – Symbolism of Power and Virtue

In the Joseon royal court, the monarch’s symbol was undoubtedly the dragon (龍), representing absolute authority and power. Yet, throughout the palace, the phoenix harmoniously accompanied the dragon, symbolizing the virtue and legitimacy that support the dragon’s ‘power and authority.’

Geunjeongjeon, The Dialectic of Dragon and Phoenix

Geunjeongjeon (勤政殿) in Gyeongbokgung Palace dramatically illustrates this harmony. Above the king’s throne, the ceiling features the seven-clawed ‘Chiljorong (七爪龍),’ symbolizing absolute power with an imposing presence. When I first visited, I thought it was just a lavish decoration to show the king’s majesty.

However, below, on the central stairway (Dapdo, 踏道) the king must pass to reach the throne, a pair of phoenixes is carved. This signifies that although the king is the highest being under heaven (dragon), his rule must be based on virtue (phoenix) to gain legitimacy. It teaches that a ruler with power but no virtue can never be a sage king.

The Queen’s Garments Embroidered with Phoenixes

In the palace, the phoenix flourished vividly on the ceremonial robes of royal women such as the queen. The queen’s formal ceremonial robe, ‘Jeokui (翟衣),’ and her daily official robe, ‘Dangui (唐衣),’ were embroidered with phoenix patterns to indicate her status. While the king symbolized the nation’s authority as the dragon, the queen symbolized peace, prosperity, and the flourishing of descendants as the phoenix, completing the royal legitimacy.

Chapter 4: The Phoenix Symbol Reborn in the Republic

With the end of the monarchy and the people as sovereign, South Korea needed a new symbol for its president.

The Birth of the Presidential Emblem

The Phoenix Emblem symbolizing the President of the Republic of Korea was officially established in 1967 during President Park Chung-hee’s administration. It features a pair of phoenixes facing each other with wings spread, embracing the Mugunghwa at the center.

This emblem embodies the national aspiration to achieve eternal prosperity through the Republic of Korea’s stability and harmonious development.

The Phoenix in Daily Life, a Symbol of Authority

Since then, the phoenix emblem has become the most important symbol representing the president’s authority and duties.

• National Seal (Guksae, 國璽): The handle of the national seal used to stamp important state documents is shaped like a phoenix.
• Presidential Aircraft and Vehicles: The presidential aircraft (‘Air Force One’ or ‘Code One’) and presidential vehicles bear the phoenix emblem.
• Appointment Certificates: The top of appointment certificates for high-ranking officials appointed by the president is embossed with a golden phoenix emblem, symbolizing the delegation of state authority.

Conclusion

Over time, in 2008, there were discussions about abolishing the phoenix emblem due to criticisms of it being ‘authoritarian,’ and in 2022, a new symbol system (CI) for the Yongsan Presidential Office was announced. These debates invite us to reconsider the modern meaning of the phoenix symbol.

• Key Point 1: The phoenix is not just an imaginary bird but a symbol of the peaceful and prosperous era achieved through the virtuous rule of a sage king.
• Key Point 2: Historically, the phoenix represented the ideal governance aspiration and served as a mirror and moral standard reflecting chaotic times.
• Key Point 3: In a democratic republic, the phoenix symbolizes not just a single leader but the aspiration of all citizens for an ideal nation.

The phoenix flag fluttering over Yongsan is not the personal authority of the president but a milestone for our community’s path and a sharp gaze from the people. The phoenix’s gaze may be asking the president and all of us every day:

“Are we building a country worthy of the phoenix’s willing descent today?”

Creating a country that can answer this question with pride is the true challenge the legend of the phoenix poses to our era.