Campaign for Anti-Espionage (1972)

Today's stamp was issued in 1972 to promote the campaign for anti-espionage and victory over communism. The stamp design features the Korean flag and some Korean language characters set in a brick-like pattern that translates to "anti-espionage." My interest in this stamp is primarily due to the interesting topic than the design of the stamp itself. In some ways I actually find the design and color combination of this stamp to be mildly unattractive, but that is just me. Here are some of the details surrounding this issue:

• Date of Issue: 01 May 1972
• Scott Catalogue #: 819
• Korea Postage stamp Catalogue #: C532
• Quantity Produced: 1,000,000

The official announcement of this stamp issue provided by the South Korean Ministry of Communication and found on the Korea Stamp Society website is as follows:

The Republic of Korea has designated may, 1972 as the month of anti-espionage and victory over communism in a stepped-up move to foil any north Korean communists' attempts to reinvade the republic and strengthen the nation's posture to achieve a victory over communism.During the month, various national campaigns will be carried out under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture and Information. The republic is faced with unprecedented challenges posed by the recent local and international developments. 

On the one hand, Communist China was admitted to the United Nations. On the other, the communist in north Korea, ever bent on their aggressive scheme, have intensified their military preparations to communize the entire peninsula by force. To cope squarely with the critical situation, President Park Chung Hee declared a state of national emergency last December 6. While awaiting to seize what they call a decisive opportunity to reinvade the south, the north Korean communists have transformed the land in the north into a colossal military fortification and now are all out to produce arms and weapons in huge quantity. 

In addition to their 500,000 man regular armed forces, the communists have well-trained, well-equipped Workers and Farmers Red Guards of 1,400,000 men and women and 700,000 member Red Youth Guards. They are drilling even primary school children in military marksmanship. The communists, behind the facade of their acceptance of the Republic of Korea Red Cross proposal to hold talks to help locate and eventually reunite millions of families separated in the south and north, have been increasing their prevocations by infiltrating armed agents into the republic. 

This stark reality calls for the people of this republic to further reinforce its anti-espionage activities and renew its determination to win victory over communism not merely during the campaign month but beyond that period. 

In order to emphasize the importance of the campaign and thus help the nation to be better prepared to stave off north Korean espionage infiltrations and armed provocations and solidify the national unity and security stance against any eventuality, the Ministry of Communications is issuing this stamp.  

 The primary intelligence service in South Korea today is the National Intelligence Service, which has an interesting and colorful history, a part of which can be read about here.

Logo of the National Intelligence Service

Seal of the National Intelligence Service

The National Intelligence Service has been under a lot of scrutiny the past two years first following the North Korean attack on the South Korean naval vessel and now following the more recent North Korean artillery barrage against Yeonpyeong Island. However, this past week has been particularly hard on the National Intelligence Service as it came to light that several agents attempted (unsuccessfully) to surreptitiously enter the hotel room of a visiting Indonesian envoy and steal secrets from their computer's hard drives....Yes, a bit of egg on the face of the National Intelligence Service! The botched operation has been well publicized and many people are now calling for the director Won Sei Hoon to resign. The below picture of Won Sei Hoon was recently aired on Yonhap News.

Picture of Won Sei Hoon on Yonhap News

 
For those interested the National Intelligence Service maintains a website in english here. Below is a picture of the National Intelligence Service headquarters, which is located in Seoul.

National Intelligence Service Headquarters

The topic of this stamp issue is a fascinating one and I really enjoyed reading about the history of intelligence activities in South Korea. Who doesn't find espionage interesting?....

Until next time...