A new standard government logo was unveiled Tuesday with the aim of promoting a unified government identity.

The new taegeuk logo, featuring blue, red and white – the three main colors of the Korean national flag -- will replace the current logo in the shape of the mugunghwa national flower, which has been used since 1988. It will also replace individual logos used by more than 750 ministries and government-affiliated organizations.  

“Since the late 1990s, government ministries and organizations have developed their own logos, and changed them every time the government reshuffled its structure,” said Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Kim Jong-deok at a news conference Tuesday. “It was a waste of government money and administrative work. They also lacked consistency in design, and therefore were hardly recognized by citizens.”

Fifty-one government ministries and some 700 government organizations will be required to use the standard logo soon after the new rule for the use of the government logo is announced sometime in March. The new logo will be used in signs, banners and office supplies with relevant government organization names in a newly developed font. 

The Interior Ministry expects it would cost a total of 6 billion won ($5 million) to change the logos, in addition to 500 million won put into developing the new logo design and font.

“It will be done in stages. We expect that expenses will offset the future spending in developing and using different logos,” said Kim Sung-lyul, vice minister of the Interior Ministry, at the press conference.

According to the Interior Ministry, government ministries and organizations have each spent between 30 million won and 120 million won to develop their logos. In 2008, 18 ministries and organizations created new logos, and 15 agencies christened new logos in 2013. 

Meanwhile, several government ministries and organizations such as the Ministry of Defense, National Police Agency, the Post Office and Fire Department will be allowed to keep their own logos as they symbolize the organizations’ distinct roles.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)