Significance

The national seal has been called by various names-sae, bo, eobo, eosae, oksae, and guksae. Sae and bo are generic terms for national seals; eobo and eosae refer to the seal of the king engraved with his/her pen name and eulogistic title; oksae refer to a seal made of jade.
The modern term for the national seal is Guksae. As an official seal for state affairs and an important national symbol, the Guksae is stamped on important state documents. It represents national authority, and reflects the nation’s power and culture, and the characteristics of the era in which it is used. Unlike the West, where such seals are usually embossed, in Eastern countries, a national seal is an imprint.

The Fifth Guksae

The creation of the Fifth Guksae currently in use was preceded by an extensive opinion-gathering process, which involved expert discussions, opinion surveys, and public hearings beginning in September 2010. Based on the views gathered, a Guksae Creation Committee comprising experts from various fields was set up in November 2010 and the production of a new national seal was completed in September 2011. The seal has been in use since October 25, 2011.
The Fifth Guksae is square, measuring 10.4 centimeters on all sides, and weighs 3.38 kilograms. Compared to previous national seals, the new one was enlarged for greater dignity and authority. The seal, which is hollow inside, was produced in such a way that the seal’s face and grip are constructed as one piece, rather than separately executed. It is made of gold, silver, copper, zinc, and iridium.
The use of iridium, which is a rare metal, makes the alloy more tightly integrated, thus preventing fissures.
The seal is engraved in the hunminjeongeum style font with the letters ‘대한민국(Daehanminguk: Republic of Korea)’. The handle of the seal features a pair of seated phoenix with dynamically sculpted wings and tail feathers. A fully open rose of Sharon rests on their backs.