Antique national flags will be designated as cultural assets to mark the nation’s 60th birthday this year.

The Cultural Heritage Administration will select several national flags among 33 owned by four agencies including the Independence Hall of Korea. The flags were made around the time the nation won independence from Japan in 1945.

The strongest candidates are flags signed by renowned independence activist Kim Ku that were used by the Korean government-in-exile in Shanghai during Japan’s colonial rule.