2010 Korean Postage Stamps Yearbook

2010 stamp yearbook as it appears on K-stamp website

Today's post features the other gift I received from my friend Eunju in Korea for my birthday, which was yesterday. This is the first postage stamp yearbook I have held in my hands and these are beautiful! This stamp yearbook was issued on 18 February 2011 and comes in hardcover with a matching slip case. On the inside there are descriptions in both English and Korean of every stamp issued in 2010 and the actual stamps are also mounted within the book. If interested in taking a peek at this yearbook check out: http://www.kstamp.go.kr/fcatalog/ecatalog.jsp?Dir=647

 I really like these yearbooks. Prior to receiving this one as a birthday gift I was contemplating getting one ever year for my daughter starting with 2009 (the year she was born), so that she can learn about Korean culture through stamps when she gets older. After reading through the 2010 yearbook I'm convinced that adding one to my collection each year is the way to go....now I just have to go out and pick up the 2009 issue!

This was a really wonderful birthday gift! Thank you Eunju!!

Until next time....

Korean-Made Characters 1st Series: Pororo (2011)

This week's stamp feature is the first stamp issue of 2011 for South Korea and the first of a new series of stamps to highlight Korean-made animation/cartoon characters. The image above is a full sheet of ten stamps of characters from "Pororo, The Little Penguin." For those unfamiliar with "Pororo, The Little Penguin", it is one of the more popular cartoons in South Korea and images of these characters can be found emblazoned on just about everything over in Korea. Here are some specific details surrounding this stamp series:

• Date of Issue: 22 February 2011
• Scott Catalogue #: TBD
• Korea Postage stamp Catalogue #: TBD
• Quantity Produced: 400,000 each

The image below is from a pamphlet issued by the Korea Post that provides additional information on this Pororo stamp issue.

(click to enlarge)

This stamp issue is a special one for me for two reasons. First, my two year old daughter is crazy about Pororo and she has everything from a Pororo play mat to a set of Pororo chopsticks. Second and more importantly...this stamp sheet was included in a package my good friend Eunju sent me from Korea for my birthday that is coming up next week. Eunju's package from Korea was a complete surprise and she knows that I collect stamps from South Korea so she included this stamp issue and another special gift that I will cover in next week's post. I was extremely touched by my friend's thinking of me on my birthday and I'll always remember this thoughtful gesture of hers.

Picture of my daughter's Pororo play mat

Though this stamp series is geared for children I think adults will find some enjoyment collecting these stamps as well (or at least I will). Until next time...

v/r
Beezer

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...

Campaign for National Tree Planting (1975)

Today's posting features four se-tenant stamps issued in 1975 to promote the campaign for national tree planting in South Korea. These four stamps attached together provide a nice panoramic nature scene that is pretty attractive in my opinion. I have seen these stamps when detached from one another and a bit of their beauty is lost when not viewed together and seen in context with one another. Here are some of the stamp particulars regarding this issue:

• Date of Issue: 20 March 1975
• Scott Catalogue #: 954a, 954b, 954c, 954d
• Korea Postage stamp Catalogue #: C661, C662, C663, C664
• Quantity Produced: 1,250,000

At the time of issue the South Korean Ministry of Communications offered the below statement to mark the campaign for national tree planting (as listed on the Korea Stamp Society website):

The total area of forests in our country amounts to 6,641,000 chungbo, or 16,600,000 aces, accounting for as much as 67 percent of the whole territory of Korea. The climate and other natural features, which are suitable for forestation, provide us with an ideal opportunity to make Korea a prosperous forestry state. 

In reality, however, Korea depends on imports form overseas to meet most of the domestic demand for timber. In order to bequeath green forests to our posterity, the government established in 1973 a 10-year forestation plan, under which all the people of the county are to plant 10 kinds of seeding, including those for fuel and fruits and fast-growing and slow-growing ones, on a yearly, step-by-step basis. 

As we did last year, we have again designated the period form March 21 through April 20 as the National tree planting period to have all our people take part in the nationwide campaign by planting, and closely attending to, trees for the eventual realization of our dream of green forests.
Hoping that the 10-year forestation plan will be successfully implemented through the combined effort of both the government and people, the Ministry of Communications is issuing this special Stamp in commemoration of the second National tree planting campaign. 

In South Korea today, the country still celebrates and promotes tree planting in what is known as National Arbor Day (식목일). National Arbor Day falls on April 5th and is a day where people plant tree seedlings throughout the country. In the United States Arbor Day is typically celebrated the last Friday in April and is marked similarly by the planting of tree seedlings. As a child growing up in Los Angeles I can remember taking field trips to the Tree People and receiving a little pine seedling to take home and plant. I'm not sure how our schools in the U.S. mark Arbor Day today...truthfully I completely forgot we had an Arbor Day until looking at these South Korean stamps a bit closer and reading about the background of these stamps. I live in a fairly rural part of Central Virginia and one of the most beautiful sights are the trees in the fall. Absolutely stunning sight.

For the hardcore arborists out there or those who like me don't know much about Arbor Day and how it is marked in South Korea...here is a link to an article from last year's National Arbor Day: http://www.korea.net/news.do?mode=detail&guid=45440

Until next time...

v/r
Beezer

American Philatelist (Feb 2011 Issue) ~ Korea in a Nutshell

Today's blog post features an article written by Bob Lamb for the Feb. issue of American Philatelist. One of my favorite sections of the American Philatelist is the "worldwide in a nutshell" article at the back of the journal. I usually take a sneak peek to see what country is covered first before I read from front to back. Much to my surprise this month the featured country is the Republic of Korea.

The article can be viewed in pdf format on the American Philatelic Society's website at: http://www.stamps.org/AP/Worldwide0211.pdf

The American Philatelist is a wonderful journal and this month's write-up on Korea made this issue extra special to me.

Until next time...

-Beezer

Encouraging Savings (1978)

Today's featured stamp was issued by the Republic of Korea in the spring of 1978. The design depicts two ants carrying coins and has Korean words in the bottom right which translates to "encouraging savings." There is something about this stamp that seems to catch my eye every time I'm flipping through my stockbook. Perhaps it is the giant ants depicted on it. I'm not sure, but I tend to like looking at this stamp. The details surrounding this stamp issue are as follows:

• Date of Issue: 01 April 1978
• Scott Catalogue #: 1129
• Korea Postage stamp Catalogue #: C785
• Quantity Produced: 3,000,000

Ants have a well known reputation for being industrious and for hoarding resources for their ant colony, so it is pretty obvious why two ants were selected to be on a stamp encouraging savings. 

A look at this stamp issue on the Korea Stamp Society's website also includes the below announcement in blue made by South Korea's Ministry of Communication for this issue. If you haven't visited the Korea Stamp Society's website and you are a collector of Korean stamps then you are really missing out and need to visit us. Here's the description of this stamp released by the Ministry of Communication:

We are well aware that the only way to overcome numerous disasters such as diseases, damages, conflagrations and thefts which we are bound to encounter in the course of life, is to practice savings. 

It is all more obvious that without savings, we can hardly except to enjoy such comforts of life as affluent living, happy marriage and good education for our children. Not only are savings indispensable for everyone of us on an individual basis, but are also vital for the supply of investment funds required for the construction of a viable national economy. 

Owing to successful implementation of economic development plans for three consecutive periods, during the past 15years from 1962 through 1976, the Republic of Korea has achieved a remarkable economic growth in terms of quantity. For the 4th economic development-plan period, which was launched last year, a target has been set at the building of a stable welfare state in which all our people can enjoy a well-to-do life, with emphasis placed on national security and qualitative improvement of the national life, so that the nation can establish a self-sustaining national economy. 

A self-supporting economy means that all the investment funds required for economic growth be made available solely by the savings of the people. In the case of 1977, the 1st year of 4th Economic Develolment Plan, the savings of the people accounted for 24.8 percent, and overseas savings 0.6 percent, of the investment funds used, showing that a considerable part of investment funds was borne by national savings. The government plans to supply all investment funds through national savings by 1981, the last year of the 4th Plan period. 

On the occasion of observing the 2nd anniversary of the property formation savings system, on April 1, the Ministry of Communications issues a special postage stamp for encouraging savings for the purpose of promoting savings practice among the people, to help realize our common goal of individual affluence of all our people, and increased wealth and power of our country as a whole.

For those of us who are citizens of the United States the subject of savings (or a lack thereof) strikes near and dear and is being felt everywhere in this country. Our country would do well to not only release a new stamp issue encouraging savings, but our elected officials should be forced to keep an ant farm on their desks and in the chambers where they cast votes on how to spend taxpayer's dollars. Spending is out of control and if serious measures are not taken to rein spending back in our national debt will sink this country. For a very interesting breakdown of our national debt check out: http://www.usdebtclock.org/

Back to stamps...if you are aware of any stamps (U.S. or foreign) previously released to encourage savings send me an email and let me know. Thanks.

Until next time...

v/r
Beezer

Pohang Iron & Steel Plant & Facilities (1973)

Today's featured stamp issue commemorates the opening of the Pohang Iron & Steel Plant in 1973. I can't recall exactly when I added this stamp to my collection, but I think the stamp was in a lot I purchased this past fall. Depicted on the stamp is a picture of the iron and steel plant with molten metal being poured in the background. The particulars for this issue are as follows:

• Date of Issue: 03 July 1973
• Scott Catalogue #: 873
• Korea Postage stamp Catalogue (KPC) #: C584
• Quantity Produced: 1,500,000

Checking this stamp issue on the Korea Stamp Society website yielded the following description of the stamp provided by the South Korean Ministry of Communication in 1973:

Pohang Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. (POSCO) will celebrate on July 3, 1973, the Inauguration of Pohand Steel Works which is the key industry of the nation's Third Five Year Economic Development Plan.

To pursue the Government policy for modernization and industrialization of the country, POSCO carried out the initial ground breaking for the construction of the integrated iron and steel mill to include modern type and large scale ironmaking, steelmaking and rolling mill plants on April 1, 1970, under positive assistance of the Government.

Normal operation of the mill will meet the domestic steel demand and consequently will lead to a better foreign exchange position of the nation. It also will greatly contribute to the well-balanced industrial structure of the country by expenditing the development of related industries such as machinery, construction, automobile, shipbuilding, mining, etc.

The Pohang Steel Works is capable of producing 1.03 million tons of crude steel per annum and the products mix of plates, hot rolled coil, sheets, skelps and billets. POSCO has also finalized an expansion project plan, under which construction will begin this year, to produce 2.6 million tons, aiming at final production capacity of 7 million tons, of crude steel per annum.

In order to give wide publicity of this historic dedication of Pohang Steel Works, the Ministry of Communications is issuing this commemorative postage stamp.  

Today, the Pohang Iron & Steel Plant, also known as POSCO, is one of the world's largest steel makers! The South Korean automobile and shipbuilding industries have made it so. For those interested in learning more about POSCO's history there is an interesting write-up at: http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/POHANG-IRON-AND-STEEL-COMPANY-LTD-Company-History.html

Additionally, here is the POSCO website (English):  http://www.posco.com/homepage/docs/eng2/jsp/s91a0010001i.jsp

Pohang will always have a special place in my heart. Pohang was the first place I visited in South Korea. The U.S. Marine Corps has a small presence in Pohang and maintains Camp Mu Juk (Marine Expeditionary Camp - Pohang) for training exercises that take place throughout the year on the peninsula. My first two visits to Korea in 1997/1998 were during these joint U.S.-ROK training exercises that are regularly conducted. One of the memorable highlights from my first two visits to Pohang was driving through the ROK 1st Marine Division's Headquarters and seeing some of the obstacle courses and other facilities used for ROKMC boot camp. Several years would pass before I would return to Pohang....in 2003, coincidentally the day after the Iraq War began, I was back near Pohang conducting amphibious landing exercises with a company of ROK Marines. This particular visit made a lasting impression in my memory because I got very very sea sick going from ship to shore and shore to ship. By the time we hit the shore and the vehicle ramps were lowered on the beaches half of us that were crammed like sardines in the amphib tracks had lost their breakfasts. Good times in Pohang. 

I have said time and time again that I enjoy stamps primarily due to the history and things that can be learned about our world from them...equally enjoyable is when a stamp issue helps bring to the surface memories of experiences and times in our lives that are either directly or indirectly tied to the stamp sitting before us.

I love this stamp issue not because of the design or topic of the stamp necessarily, but because of the memories it helps remind me of. Good times indeed.

Until next time...

-Beezer