Red, White, Blue and Black Flags
South Korea is the only flag that uses just red, white, blue and black. Antigua & Barbuda, Eswatini and South Africa include all four colors along with others.
Flags that are only red, white, blue and black (1)
Flags with red, white, blue and black and other colors (3)
Which countries have red, white, blue and black flags?
South Korea's flag, the Taegukgi, is a white field with a red and blue circle in the center and a set of three black bars in each corner. These bars are called trigrams, and each has a name and meaning: heaven, earth, fire and water.
The other three flags include these colors with extra shades:
- Antigua & Barbuda: a red field with a wedge of black, blue and white and a rising yellow sun.
- Eswatini: blue, yellow and crimson horizontal bands with a black and white shield, spears and staff in the center.
- South Africa: a sideways Y joining black, green, yellow, white, red and blue.
Only South Korea has a white background. The other three are dominated by red, blue or a multicolored Y.
What do the colors mean?
White is the traditional color of Korea and stands for peace and purity. The red and blue taegeuk represents the balance of opposites in the universe, such as day and night or light and dark. The four trigrams stand for heaven, earth, fire and water, and the design as a whole reflects harmony. The first version of the flag was designed in the early 1880s, and the current design has been official since 1948.
Antigua & Barbuda's flag was chosen in a national competition in 1967 and kept at independence in 1981. Its black stands for African ancestry, blue for hope, red for the energy of its people, and white for the sandy beaches that join the sea and sun.
Eswatini's shield refers to the Nguni warriors. South Africa's Y shape stands for the convergence of diverse groups of South Africans, moving together into the future, according to the designer's description.
Frequently asked questions
What country has a red, white, blue and black flag?
South Korea. The Taegukgi has a white field, a red and blue taegeuk and four black trigrams.
What do the black trigrams on the South Korean flag mean?
They represent heaven, earth, fire and water.
Which other flags have these colors?
Antigua & Barbuda, Eswatini and South Africa.
Which flag has a white field and black bars in the corners?
South Korea. The bars are the four trigrams.