Stamps in Two Koreas

The Two Koreas' Societies Reflected in Stamps

Gabriel Jonsson

The stamp is "an arena for conveying every possible kind of message through pictures". Since stamp motives are not chosen arbitrarily, this study considers what stamps issued by North and South Korea since their foundation in 1948 tell about these states. Firstly, the number of stamps made by each state from 1948 until 2002 is investigated. This time is divided into ten-year periods. Conclusions are drawn from the number of stamps made. Secondly, the motives are investigated in detail. Eight motives--commemoratives, history, famous persons, culture, politics, economics, nature and miscellaneous are identified. Quantitative data on the motives are presented in tables that are followed by facts about the issues. Thirdly, the main findings are presented on a general level and under the motives identified. Implica- tions of the motives on North and South Korean stamps are discussed and similarities and differences are highlighted.

KEYWORDS: Stamps, North Korea, South Korea, implications

Introduction

According to the Swedish arts scholar Lena Johannesson, the stamp is 'an arena for conveying every possible kind of message through pictures .... With- out thinking about it, stamps are a great channel for spreading information that also has been used by the authorities. The portrait of Lenin on Russian stamps is both an ordinary picture of a statesman or national leader and an encouragement for revolutionary thinking'.l

Since stamp motifs are not chosen arbitrarily, this article aims to find out what the 6,000 and more stamps issued by North and South Korea since their foundation in 1948 specifically tell us about the two states. This is done by investigating the number of stamps issued by each state as well as their motifs. To this end, the article is divided into three sections. First, a quantitative analysis of stamps issued each year from 1948 until 2002. This period is divided into ten-year periods to facilitate the analysis. Conclusions are drawn from the number of stamps produced. Second, the motifs are investigated in detail. Common motifs are famous persons, buildings, nature, communica-

EASTASIA, Summer 2005, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 77-95.

78 East Asia / Summer 2005

t i ons , h i s to ry , l i t e r a t u r e , a r t s , spor t s , r e l i g i o n , c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s , a n d so on . 2

E i g h t m o t i f s - - c o m m e m o r a t i v e i s sues , h i s to ry , f a m o u s p e r s o n s , cu l tu re , p o l i - t i cs , e c o n o m i c s , m i s c e l l a n e o u s a n d n a t u r e - - a r e i d e n t i f i e d to c o v e r the g r e a t d i v e r s i t y i d e n t i f i e d ? To a n a l y s e the m o t i f s , i t is m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e to i n v e s t i - ga t e p e r i o d s o f t i m e r a the r than e a c h year . C o n s e q u e n t l y , the p e r i o d s o f t i m e i d e n t i f i e d in the f i rs t s ec t ion se rve as the f r a m e w o r k . Q u a n t i t a t i v e da t a on the m o t i f s a re p r e s e n t e d in t ab l e s f o l l o w e d b y d a t a a b o u t the s t a m p i ssues . W h e n

Table 1 N u m b e r of s tamps issued by North and South Korea, 1948-2002 a

1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1948-1959

N.K. 3 5 20 20 18 27 21 20 17 18 27 49 245

S.K. 4 22 9 72 19 11 19 20 22 48 9 11 266

1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1960-69

N.K. 66 88 81 62 74 97 97 75 48 55 743

S.K. 25 21 43 27 56 39 56 35 38 50 390

1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1970-79

N.K. 44 68 78 79 115 128 139 97 109 134 991

S.K. 53 72 38 68 44 64 48 35 31 48 501

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1980-89

N.K. 112 127 141 125 112 91 84 98 93 92 1075

S.K. 42 42 35 46 42 36 71 54 31 31 430

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 1990-99

N.K. 89 90 116 130 158 104 94 107 146 111 1145

S.K. 56 34 32 48 58 48 39 48 44 56 463

2000 2001 2002 2000-002 1948-2002

N.K. 158 103 104 366 4564

S.K. 81 66 106 253 2303

Sources: Han'guk Umungwan (Korean Post Philatelic Bureau], 2001 Han'guk up'yo togam [2001 Korean Postage Stamp Catalogue], Seoul, 2000, pp. 19-46, 48-56, 59-206, 220-24; ibid., 2004, pp. 45-48, 58-59, 210-235; Korea Stamp Corporation, Korean Stamp Catalogue (1946-1998), P'yrngyang, 1998, pp. 2-276, 287; ibid., (1946-2002), 2002, pp. 273-316; Stanley Gibbons Ltd, Stanley Gibbons Simplified Catalogue: Stamps of the World, 1999 Edition, vol. 2: Foreign Countries K-Z, Ringwood: Hampshire, 1998, pp. 10-36, 38-76; op. cit., 2004 Edition, vol. 3, Countries K-R, pp. 56-60, 102-107.

Note: a) The South Korean catalogue covers the whole year 2002 while the North Korean catalogue ends at 20 November 2002.

Jonsson 79

possible, main themes are identified under the different motifs to enable com- parisons between the stamps produced by each state during the different periods of time. Short explanations about the motifs are recorded. Third, the main findings are presented on a general level and under the motifs identified, implications of the motifs on North and South Korean stamps are discussed and similarities and differences are highlighted.

Four distinct characteristics stand out in Table 1. First, North Korea has issued twice as many stamps as has South Korea. Since communist countries usually produce more stamps than capitalistic ones, this is not at all surprising. 4 Second, the difference is persistent. Between 1948 and 1957 North Ko- rea made more stamps than South Korea only in 1950, 1953 and 1954. However, it issued more stamps every year from 1958 (except for 1970 and 1971) until November 2002. Third, the difference is large: except for the 1960s and 1970s, North Korea produced more than twice as many stamps. That South Korea made more stamps between 1948 and 1959, except for the years 1950, 1953 and 1954, is largely explained by surcharges on and varieties of previous issues and the series 'Participation in the Korean War' from 1951 to 1952 with forty-four stamps showing the twenty-one countries that assisted the South. Fourth, the number of stamps produced during the periods 1960- 69, 1970-79 and 1990-99 rose far more for North than for South Korea. South Korea issued fewer stamps during the 1980s than during the 1970s but no change was perceivable for North Korea. Over the years, the trend is that North Korea makes an ever-increasing number of stampsr

Korean Stamp Motifs, 1948-1959

North Korea

North Korea's major motifs were politics followed by commemorative stamps and economics. Major themes were the foundation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the anniversary of liberation from Japan in 1945. Stamps were made in 1948 to celebrate the DPRK's foundation and in 1953, 1954 and 1958 on the anniversaries. Stamps were produced each year from 1949 to 1956 on the occasion of the anniversary of liberation.

N.K. S.K.

Table 2 Motifs on North and South Korean stamps, 1948-59

Commem. Hist . Faro. pers. Cult. Pol. ~ Econ. Nat. M i s c . b

81 9 l0 3 103 31 7 1 36 47 9 12 64 17 48 33

Sources: Han'guk Umungwan, op. cir., 2001, pp. 19-29, 48, 58-69, 220, 222-23; Korea Stamp Corporation, op. cit., 1998, pp. 2-18; Stanley Gibbons, op. cit., 1999, pp. 10-11, 38-41.

Notes: a) One stamp issued before the foundation of the Republic of Korea (ROK) on President Syngman Rhee is omitted here (and in Table 1) but is referred to below: b) refers to one air-mail stamp for North Korea and for South Korea to air-mail stamps (20), Christmas and New Year's stamps (9) and semi-postal stamps for charity purposes (4). Christmas and New Year's stamps were issued for the first time in 1957.

80 East Asia / S u m m e r 2005

According to the Swedish philatelist B6rje Wallberg, stamps were issued as a means to spread propaganda and information during the Korean War (1950- 53). 6 Stamps with political motifs during the war include 'Capture of Seoul by North Korean Forces' in 1950, 'Co-operation of Chinese People's Volunteers' in 1951, 'Anti-US Imperialism day' from 1952-53 and an 'Armistice and Vic- tory Issue' from 1953. Stamps were made after the war to commemorate North Korea's friendship with the Soviet Union and China. The only stamps on inter-Korean relations issued after the war was 'Campaign for Withdrawal of US Forces from South Korea' from 1959. All the most frequently issued commemorative stamps showed political events. Stamps were made each year from 1953 to 1956 and in 1958 to honour the establishment of the Korean People's Army in 1948. The 1946 Labour Law was celebrated with issues in 1952, 1955 and 1956.

In economics, the main theme was post-war reconstruction that appeared on stamps almost every year with a peak in 1959 when the series 'Great Per- spectives' came out. Historical motifs were mainly old buildings, including the famous temple Pulguksa in Ky6ngju in South Korea. Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1544-98), who defended Korea against the Japanese invasions during the Imjin War of the 1590s, was the most frequently depicted famous person. In the 1959 commemorative issue 'International Book Exhibition, Leipzig' the Korean alphabet Han'gM was shown.

South Korea

For South Korea, politics was the most common motif followed by nature, history and commemorat ive stamps. A main theme was President Syngman R h e e - - t w e l v e stamps on or related to him came out on seven occasions. 7 Among these stamps, the series 'Unification of National Land' came out in 1950 during the Korean War. But the major issue during the war was the above 'Participation in the Korean War'. 8 Stamps were issued to celebrate the president's re-election in 1952 and 1956 and his birthdays in 1955 and 1956. In contrast to North Korea, only the tenth anniversary of liberation in 1955 was commemorated. The foundation of the ROK was celebrated twice; in 1948 and 1958. Nature motifs were animals, including the from Korean folk tales famous tiger, the ginseng root, the national hibiscus flower Mugunghwa and Mt Kfimgang ( 'Diamond Mountains') located in North Korea. In the field of history, stamps were made in 1950 and 1959 to commemorate the anniversary of the 1 March 1919 Independence Movement. Famous persons who appeared on stamps were King Sejong (1397-1450), who founded Han'gfil, and Admiral Yi Sun-sin in a striking similarity to North Korea.


North Korea

For North Korea nature, politics, commemorat ive issues and economics dominate heavily. The number of stamps showing nature rose dramatically,

Jonsson 81

N,K. S.K.


Commem. Hist . Faro. pers. Cult. Pol. a Econ. Nat. Misc) 175 18 7 50 178 121 193 1 127 19 5 68 41 22 56 52

Sources: Han'guk Umungwan, op. cir., 2001, pp. 30-35, 49-50, 69-102, 220-21, 223-24; Korea Stamp Corporation, op. Clt., 1998, pp. 18-61; Stanley Gibbons, op. cit., 1999, pp. 11-16, 41-49.

Notes: a) refers to post-1945 Korea but with exceptions made for North Korea due to the continuity between the anti- Japanese struggle and the state's leaders; b) refers to one campaign stamp for North Korea and for South Korea to air-mail stamps (15), campaign stamps (15), Christmas and New Year's stamps (13) and serm-postal stamps for charity purposes (9). Christmas and New Year's stamps were not issued 1961-64.

whereas only two such issues had come out during the 1950s. Motifs were similar to those of South Korea during the 1950s; the tiger, the Mugunghwa and the ginseng root but also Mt Kfimgang were depicted. Notable is that Mt Kfimgang differs from the other motifs by appearing on stamps from 1960, 1964 and 1965.

In politics, Kim I1 Sung (1912-94) was for the first time honoured on stamps in the series 'Revolutionary Leadership' from 1960. Previously, the only stamps related to him were the issues in 1949 and 1956 on the Kiln I1 Sung University in P'yrngyang, which was honoured again in 1966 on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. Stamps came out in 1962 and 1968 on Kim's birthday. The series "Korean Revolutionaries" came out in 1962, 1963 and 1966 and the series 'War Heros' in 1965, 1967 and 1968. Stamps were issued from 1964 to 1967 on the anti-Japanese guerrilla struggle in the 1930s; previously this had hap- pened only in 1959. A major event celebrated was the 1937 battle of Po- ch'rnbo shown on stamps in 1962, 1967, 1968 and 1969. 9 Clearly, far more stamps were issued on Kim I1 Sung than had been issued on President Syngman Rhee during the 1950s. Political motifs also included anniversaries and relations with South Korea. The Fourth Korean Workers' Party (KWP) Congress was commemorated in 1961, the 20th anniversary of the party's foundation in 1965 and the anniversary of liberation again in 1960 and 1965 and the DPRK's foundation again in 1963 and 1968.

The 1959 stamp 'Campaign for Withdrawal of U.S. Forces from South Ko- rea' was reissued in 1960 and 1963. In 1961 and 1967, 'Propaganda For Peaceful Reunification of Korea' was issued, in 1964 and 1969 'Struggle for the Reunification of Korea' and in 1966 'Korean Reunification Campaign'. The Korean War appeared on stamps from 1963, 1966 and 1967; the 1963 issue was labelled '10th Anniversary of Victory in Korean War'. Stamps were produced in 1963 and 1965 on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1960 April Revolution in South Korea that forced President Rhee to resign.

Stamps were still issued to celebrate ties with the Soviet Union and China in, for instance, 1961 when friendship treaties were signed with both countries. The first stamp related to Japan was 'Repatriation of Korean Nationals from Japan' from 1960. It was followed in 1964 and 1965 by the issues '5th Anniversary of Agreement for Repatriation of Koreans in Japan' and '10th


Anniversary of General Association of Koreans in Japan'. Among the commemorative issues, political motifs included the foundation of the Korean People's Army in 1960, 1963 and 1968 and the above Labour Law in 1961. Three other laws from 1946 were also honoured; the anniversary of the Land Reform Law, the Nationalization of Industry Law and the Sex Equality Law in 1961 and 1966. The first of those laws were celebrated for the first time, but the two latter had been honoured already in 1956. Sports were a new theme. Many sports stamps showed domestic events. Only two series were issued on the occasion of the Winter and Summer Olympic Games held in 1964 but none on the 1968 games. 1~

Economic motifs include an extension in 1961 of the issue 'Great Perspec- tives' from 1959 but now with the targets of the Seven-Year Plan 1961-67. Far more stamps with cultural and historic motifs were issued now than during the 1950s. Cultural motifs include the 1963 issue of the popular fairy tale "Hfingbu" about the good brother Hfingbu and the wicked Nolbu (not recorded by the original name "Hfingbu and Nolbu" by Stanley Gibbons). Among historical motifs, the first North Korean stamp was issued in 1964 to commemorate the anniversary of the 1 March 1919 Independence Movement. The same year a stamp was issued for the second time on Han'gfil. Among famous persons, the scholar Tasan Ch6ng Yak-yong (1762-1836) appeared on stamps from 1960 and 1962.

South Korea

South Korea's dominating motifs were commemorative issues, culture, nature and politics. Stamps were issued in 1968 to honour the 20th anniversary of the armed forces. International events celebrated were the anniversary of the UN in 1960 and 1965 and the Summer Olympic Games held in 1960, 1964 and 1968. Many more stamps with cultural motifs, including the fairy tale 'Hfingbu and Nolbu ' , were issued. Nature motifs still included the Mugunghwa and the tiger. Frequent political motifs were President Park Chung Hee (1963-79) and anniversaries of major events, but the president was far less depicted than Kim I1 Sung was in the North. However, President Yun Po- s6n (1960-62) did not appear on the stamp issued to commemorate the new government established in 1960. He is thereby the only South Korean president never shown on stamps. 11 Stamps were issued to celebrate the inauguration of President Park in 1963 and 1967 and when he made foreign visits or received foreign heads of state from 1966 to 1969. The anniversary of liberation was celebrated in 1960, 1961 and 1965 and the foundation of the government in 1963 and 1968. The anniversary of the Apri l Revo lu t i on was commemorated in 1961 but that of the May 1961 Military Revolution was commemorated both in 1961 and 1962. The main issue on the Korean War was the series '15th Anniversary of UN Forces Participating in the Korean War' whereas the only stamp related to the unification issue was 'Opening of Freedom House, P ' anmunj6m' from 1966. Ant i -communism appeared on stamps issued in 1966, 1967 and 1968. Three of these five stamps were issued on the occasion of international conferences being held.

Jonsson 83

More stamps with economic motifs were issued. The First and Second Five- Year Economic Development Plans 1962-66 and 1967-71, respectively, were celebrated with issues each year. Among historical motifs, the anniversary of the 1 March 1919 Independence Movement was commemorated again in 1969 in a striking similarity to the 1964 North Korean issue. The 370th anniversary of the naval victories in the Imjin War 1592 was honoured in 1962. Among famous persons, King Sejong was depicted again.


North Korea

For North Korea, commemorat ive issues, politics and nature dominate heavily. As previously, stamps were made on the anniversaries of important laws. The 25th anniversary of the Nationalization of Industry Law, the Land Reform Law, the Labour Law and the Sex Equality Law were commemorated in 1971 and the Land Reform Law also in 1976. The 25th anniversary of the armed forces was honoured in 1973. More sports stamps were issued than during the 1960s, but now international events were shown more frequently than domestic ones. Stamps were made to commemorate the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games as well as Olympic medal winners. North Korean winners in international events were shown on stamps from 1974 and 1975. In politics, the anti-Japanese guerrilla struggle, Kim I1 Sung and inter-Korean relations were recurring themes. One series on the first theme was 'Mt Paekdu, Home of Revolution' from 1970-71.

Stamps with Kim I1 Sung were made every year from 1970 to 1977 and showed his childhood, anti-Japanese guerrilla struggle, revolutionary career and works. Sixteen stamps were issued to commemorate his 60th birthday in 1972; there had only been three in 1962. Stamps were produced on his birthday also in 1975, 1976 and 1977. His Juche (self-reliance) idea appeared on stamps from 1975, 1977 and 1979 but the anniversary of the Kim I1 Sung University was commemorated only in 1971.

The 1970 KWP Congress was celebrated with one issue. Stamps were made to honour the party's anniversary both in 1970 and 1975. The anniversary of the nation's foundation was commemorated in 1973 and 1978. The previous issue 'Campaign for Withdrawal of US Forces from South Korea' came out


Commem. His t . Fam. pers. Cult. Po12 Econ. Nat. Misc. b N.K. 376 2 - 91 266 82 171 3 S.K. 176 32 3 102 30 32 84 42

Sources: Han'guk Umungwan, op. cir., 2001, pp. 35-39, 50-52, 102-44, 221, 224; Korea Stamp Corporation, op. cir., 1998, pp. 61-125; Stanley Gibbons, op. cir., 1999, pp. 16-24, 49-59. Notes: a) refers to post- 1945 Korea, but with exceptions made for North Korea due to the continuity between the anti-Japanese struggle and the country's leaders; b) refers to New Year's stamps for North Korea issued for the first time in 1977 and for South Korea to air-mail stamps (4), campaign stamps (13), Christmas and New Year's stamps (20) and semi-postal stamps issued for charity purposes (5).


again in 1970 and 'The Struggle for the Reunification of Korea' in 1972. New issues were 'Struggle in South Korea against US Imperialism' in 1970, 'He- roes of the Revolutionary Struggle in South Korea', 'The Anti-lmperialist and Anti-US Imperialist Struggles' and 'Solidarity with South Korean Revolution- aries' in 1971, 'Menace of Japanese Influence in South Korea' and 'South Korean Revolution' from 1973 and 'Campaign against US Imperialism' in 1975. In 1973, the series 'Five-point Programme for Reunification of Korea' came out. One stamp was issued in 1975 on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the April Revolution in South Korea on which is written 'Crush the Park Government'. Stamps were still issued to commemorate the Korean War, including 'The 20th Anniversary of Victory in Korean War' from 1973. No stamps came out on relations with China and the Soviet Union but stamps related to Japan were issued again. In 1970 and 1975, the 15th and 20th anniversary of the Association of Koreans in Japan was celebrated. An issue from 1971 is "Solidarity of Koreans in Japan'. Numerous stamps with nature motifs, including animals, mountains and flowers, were issued. The issues from P'y6ngyang Zoo showed many foreign animals. Mt Kfimgang appeared again on stamps from 1973 and 1975.

The major series on economics was 'Tasks of the Six Year Plan 1971-1976' issued in 1971-72. Cultural motifs include dance, fairy tales and old paintings from the Kogury6 Dynasty (37 B.C.-668 A.D.) and the Yi Dynasty (1392- 1910) as well as modern art, embroidery, national and warrior customs of the Yi Dynasty, relics and porcelain. Fewer stamps with historical motifs such as buildings came out, but the 1 March 1919 Independent Movement was commemorated again in 1979.

South Korea

For South Korea, commemorative stamps, culture and nature were the entirely dominating issues. Again, a variety of domestic and international events were commemorated such as the first Asian Taekw6ndo Championships held in Seoul in 1974 and the Summer Olympics in 1972 and 1976. The anniversary of the UN's foundations was commemorated again in 1970 and 1975. But the largest commemorative issue with twenty-five stamps was 'Organiza- tions and Agencies of United Nations' from 1976. The number of stamps with cultural and nature motifs almost doubled compared to the 1960s. The former included art, clothes, dances, musical instruments, paintings and relics. Na- ture motifs were animals, f lowers--including the Mugunghwa--and scenery. President Park Chung Hee was a major political theme: he was shown on stamps made on the occasion of his re-election in 1971, 1972 and 1978. Stamps were issued when he received foreign heads of state in 1970, 1974, 1975 and 1979. Including the previous issues, he appeared on stamps altogether twenty- three times, lz Stamps were issued to commemora te the 10th anniversary of the 16 May 1961 Revolution and the death of his wife Yook Young Soo in 1974. Thus, for the first time a woman was shown on stamps in politics. In 1975, stamps were issued on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and the 30th anniversary of

Jonsson 85

liberation. The 30th anniversary of the ROK's foundation was honoured in 1978.

Unlike before, the unification issue now appeared on a few stamps but far less than in North Korea. The South-North Red Cross Conference was celebrated with one stamp each in 1971 and 1972. An issue from 1972 was 'The Development of Unification Grove' and one tu 1973 'The National Aspira- tion for Unification' . Anti-communism appeared on the stamps 'Campaign for Anti-Espionage' from 1971 and 1972. In economics, the main issue was the economic development series of 1971, but fewer stamps showed the Third and Fourth Five-Year Economic Development Plans 1972-76 and 1977-81 than the previous ones. The major historical issue was the 'Stone Pagoda Se- ries' from 1978. More famous persons were depicted than previously and now not only Admiral Yi Sun-sin but also the above Ch6ng Yak-yong and independence fighters An Chfing-gun (1879-1910) and Kim Ku (1876-1949).


North Korea

For North Korea, commemorative issues dominate heavily followed by politics. Almost twice as many commemorative stamps were issued as during the 1970s. International events now appeared more than national ones. Sports stamps were still frequently issued. Examples are the issues on the Olympic Games in 1980, 1984 and 1988 but in 1988 only the Winter Olympic games were celebrated. There were, as during the 1970s, still issues on Olympic medal winners and on the World Cup Football Championships. Stamp exhibitions held abroad and famous foreigners in history were new motifs. The former appeared on a few issues each year but they hardly showed North Korean stamps. Stamps were repeatedly made to honour the birth and death anniversaries of famous foreigners such as painters Rembrandt and Rubens, whose paintings were shown, Karl Marx and former UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskj61d. Furthermore, the series 'Wedding of Prince of Wales' came out in 1981 and stamps were issued on the occasion of the anniversary of the wedding in 1982. Also, in 1982, the birthday of the Princess of Wales Lady Diana and the birth of Prince William of Wales were celebrated. Among national motifs, the 13th World Youth and Students Festival held in P'y6ngyang in 1989 was commemorated with three issues in 1988-89.


Commem. Hist. Fam. pers. Cull. Pol? Econ. Nat. Misc. b N.K. 736 7 49 153 24 92 14 S.K. 144 40 4 91 61 22 48 20

Sources: Han'guk Umungwan, op. cit., 2001, pp. 38-40, 53-54, 144-80; Korea Stamp Corporation, op. cit., 1998, pp. 125-201 ; Stanley Gibbons, op. cir., 1999, pp. 24-32, 5%70. Notes: a) refers to post- 1945 Korea, but with exceptions made for North Korea due to the continuity between the anti- Japanese struggle and the country's leaders; b) refers to New Year's stamps for North Korea and for South Korea to campaign stamps (4) and Christmas and New Year's stamps (16).


Political motifs still included anniversaries and Kim I1 Sung. As in 1961 and 1970, stamps were issued to celebrate the KWP's Congress in 1980. The anniversary of the foundation of the DPRK was honoured in 1983 and 1988. The 40th anniversary of liberation and the foundation of the KWP were celebrated in 1985. But the number of stamps related to Kim I1 Sung fell. Yet, eighteen stamps were issued on his birthday in 1982 against fifteen in 1972. His birthday was celebrated also from 1984 to 1989. The state visits to the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries in 1984 and to Mongolia in 1988 were celebrated with stamp issues. But no other stamps were issued related to the Soviet Union and only one in relation to China. The anniversary of the Ko- rean Association in Japan was commemorated in 1980 and 1985. The Juche idea was celebrated in 1982, 1983 and 1988. The 'Kimilsungflower' appeared on the 1984 New Year's stamp. In 1989, even animals and plants presented to Kim were shown. In 1987, the first stamp was made to celebrate Kim Jong II's birthday and was followed by issues in 1988 and 1989. The stamp from 1989 showed the flower 'Kimjongilia' (a begonia).

But the only stamps issued on inter-Korean relations were 'Anniversary of the Victory in Korean War' and '10th Anniversary of Publication of the Five- Point Policy for Korea's Reunification' from 1983 and 'Proposal for Tripartite Talks' from 1984. The number of stamps on nature fell by half and those on culture by more than half. The former still included native animals such as the tiger issue of 1982 but also foreign animals at the P 'y6ngyang Zoo, flowers and fruits. Cultural motifs included cartoon films, dance, fables, fairytales, folk games, musical instruments and paintings. There was a slight increase of stamps with historical motifs such as buildings. In all these three fields, the outstanding characteristic was that there were no continuous issues. Economic motifs, such as agriculture and industry, decreased by two-thirds.

South Korea

South Korea's most frequent motifs were commemorative stamps, culture and politics followed by nature and history. The 1988 Seoul Olympics was by far the main event celebrated: eleven issues of altogether thirty-six stamps came out between 1985 and 1988. In 1984, stamps were issued on the World Philatelic Exhibition Phila Korea '84, in 1986 due to the participation in the exhibition "Ameripex' 86" and in 1988 showing the exhibition 'Olymphilex '88--International Sports Philately'. The UN's 40th anniversary was celebrated in 1985. Cultural motifs include arts, folkways, music and paintings. The largest issue was the 'Korean Folk Paintings Series' from 1980.

Among political motifs, the major one was President Chun Doo Hwan who appeared on forty-seven stamps but all did not show his portrait. He is thereby beyond comparison the South Korean president who has appeared most on stamps, but still much less than Kim I1 Sung. 13 Unlike President Park, who was commemorated after his death by two stamps in 1980, stamps were made not only when he was inaugurated in office in 1980 and 1981 but also to celebrate his numerous foreign visits every year from 1981 to 1986. The first South Korean stamp related to Japan was issued in 1984 on the occasion of Presi-

Jonsson 87

dent Chun's state visit. As his predecessor, he was shown on stamps also when foreign heads of state visited South Korea; such stamps were issued each year from 1981 to 1987. On the contrary, only one stamp was issued on President Roh Tae Woo when he was inaugurated in 1988. The anniversary of liberation was commemorated in 1981 and 1985. The only stamp on North-South relations was 'Opening of the Advisory Council on Peaceful Unification Policy' from 1981. The only one on the Korean War was issued in 1980 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the UN Forces' participation in the war. In 1985, stamps were made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of normalization of Korea-Japan relations.

Nature motifs were mainly animals such as birds, fish and mammals but also some scenic places. Among historical motifs, a major series was 'Korean Postal Service, Yesterday and Today' from 1983 to 1984 issued prior to 'Phila Korea '84' held on the occasion of the centenary of the first Korean stamp. The only issues with economic motifs were the 'Ships Series' from 1981 and the 'Korean-Made Cars Series' from 1983.


North Korea

For North Korea, commemorative issues dominate followed by nature and politics. The number of issues to commemorate international stamps exhibitions, sports events and famous foreigners fell but stamps were made to celebrate the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics. Gold Medal Winners and the World Cup Football Championships were other themes. Also domestic sports events such as World Champions from North Korea were commemorated in 1993. In 1996, the 50th anniversary of the Land Reform Law, the Labour Law, the Nationalization of Industry Law and the Sex Equality Law were honoured again. Nature motifs were animals, including dinosaurs, flowers such as the Mugunghwa but also 'Kimilsungia' and 'Kimjongilia' and mountains, including Mt Kfimgang. On the issue '40th Anniversary of the Found- ing of the Central Zoo' foreign animals were shown.

Political motifs included as before, Kim I1 Sung, revolutionary sites and anniversaries. His birthday was celebrated in 1990 and from 1992 to 1994

N.K. S.K.


Commem. Hist. Fam. pers. Cult. Pol? Econ. Nat. Misc. b 355 36 71 300 16 327 40 127 38 6 119 10 12 122 29

Sources: Han'guk Umungwan, op. cit., 2001, pp. 41-46, 54-56, 180-209: op. cit., 2004, pp, 45-46, 58, 206-217; Korea Stamp Corporation, op. cit., 1998, pp. 201-76, 287: op. cit., 2002, pp. 273-91; Stanley Gibbons, op. cit., 1999, pp. 32-36, 70-76: op. cit., 2004, pp. 56-58, 102-05.

Notes: a) refers to post-1945 Korea, but with exceptions made for North Korea due to the continuity between thc anti-Japanese struggle and the country's leaders; b) refers to New Year's stamps for North Korea and for South Korea to campaign stamps (10) and Christmas and New Year's stamps (19).


and seven stamps were issued on his 80th birthday in 1992. Two large issues came out shortly after his death in 1994. Stamps came out on his birthday every year also after his death. A major issue of 1998 was 'Commemoration of the Day of the Sun' with nine stamps. In 1996, the 50th anniversary of the Kim II Sung University was commemorated. In 1997, two major issues were 'The Great Leader Kim I1 Sung Will Always Be With Us' and the 'Commemo- ration of the Institution of the Juche Era and the Sun's Day'. Kim Jong II's birthday was celebrated each year from 1990 to 1999. His contribution to the Juche idea was commemorated in 1994. His face was depicted regularly from 1992 onwards, but not as frequently as his father's. In 1995, the 50th anniversary of liberation and the foundation of the Korean Workers' Party was celebrated. The 50th anniversary of the DPRK was celebrated with two issues. Stamps made on inter-Korean relations were in 1990 'Rally for Peace and Reunification of Korea', 'North-South Reunification Football Match' and 'Na- tional Reunification Concert ' . In 1991, P 'anmunj6m appeared on a stamp and, in 1992 and 1997, the anniversary of the announcement of the 1972 North-South Joint Agreement was honoured.

Stamps were issued on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the participation of Chinese volunteers in the Korean War. However, no stamps were issued related to the Soviet Union/Russia. The 40th anniversary of the Korean Association in Japan was commemorated in 1995 and the 40th anniversary of repatriation of Korean nationals in Japan in 1999. A large series was 'The 40th Anniversary of Victory in Liberation War' from 1993, but only a few stamps were issued in 1998. In 1993, the series 'National Reunification Prize Winners' was issued. There was a significant increase of stamps with historical motifs, now also including kings' tombs, but less were issued with cultural motifs and hardly none at all with economic motifs. Historical motifs include '400th Anniversary of the Victory in the Imjin Patriotic War' from 1998 and '80th Anniversary of 1 March Popular Uprising' from 1999. Cultural motifs were Korean cartoon films, films, ceramics, national customs and warrior customs, embroidery, traditional folk games, old literature and traditional paintings. Economic motifs were machinery, power stations and fish breeding.

South Korea

South Korea's dominating motifs were nature, commemorative issues and culture. The Taej6n Expo 1993 was celebrated with stamp issues each year from 1990 to 1993. Both the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics were commemorated with stamps issues. Stamps were issued also on the occasion of the Phila Korea 1994 World Stamp Exhibition. The 30th anniversary of the normalization of Korea-Japan relations was commemorated in 1995, when also the 50th anniversary of the UN was honoured. Nature motifs were animals, flowers, including the Mugunghwa, and mushrooms. Cultural motifs included national musical instruments, embroidery, arts, buildings, cartoons, literature, famous historical buildings and artefacts. The number of stamps with political motifs fell drastically but still included anniversaries. The 50th anniversary of liberation was commemorated in 1995 and the 50th anniver-

Jonsson 89

sary of the establishment of the government in 1998. Two stamps were issued on inter-Korean relations: in 1991 'National Aspiration for Unification Spe- cial' came out one week before South Korea's admission into the UN (simul- taneous with North Korea) was commemorated with one stamp. Only one stamp was issued to commemorate the inauguration of President Kim Young Sam in office in 1993 and one in 1998 of Kim Dae Jung.

Among historical motifs, the 400th year of the outbreak of the lmjin War was commemorated in 1992 and the 75th anniversary of the 1 March 1919 Independence Movement in 1994: the similarity with North Korea is striking. In 1996, the 550th anniversary of the promulgation of Han'gfil was commemorated. Previously, Han'gfil had been honoured indirectly by the stamps showing King Sejong. Economic motifs were all transport means. Among famous persons, King Sejong appeared again but ncw persons shown were independence fighters Yoon Pong-Gil (1908-32) and Lee Pong-Chang (1900- 32) in 1992.


For North Korea, nature, politics and commemorative issues dominate entirely. Nature motifs were animals, flowers, minerals, mountains, mushrooms and shellfish. The major issue was 'Animals' from 2000 with altogether sixty stamps showing many foreign animals such as pandas, parrots and whales. Many stamps were still issued to honour the leaders on their birthdays. The 55th anniversary of the KWP was celebrated in 2000 and the 70th anniversary of the Korean People's Army in 2002. Stamps were issued to commemorate the state visits of Kim Jong I1 to China in 2000 and to Russia in 2001. A few stamps were issued in relation to China and Russia. Two stamps were issued in 2002 on the occasion of the DPRK-Japan summit.

Notable is that North Korea in 2000 issued for the first time a stamp with a South Korean president on to honour the summit. In 2002, the issue '30th Anniversary of the Three Principles for the National Reunification' came out. The 2002 issue 'Day of the World Red Cross and the Red Crescent' showed meetings of divided families and, to be noted, humanitarian materials assistance from North to South Korea in 1984. The 40th anniversary of the April Revolution in South Korea was commemorated in 2000. Commemorative issues still showed sports events such as the 2000 Summer Olympics but also

N.K. S.K.


Commem. Hist. Farn. pcrs. Cult. Pol. a Econ. Nat. Misc. b 76 4 l 29 90 9 152 3 96 55 5 50 5 39 3

Sources: Han'guk Umungwan, op. cit., 2004, pp. 47-48, 59, 217-35: Korea Stamp Corporation, op. cir., 2002, pp. 291-316: Stanley Gibbons, op. tit., 2004, pp. 58-60, 105-07.

Note: a) refers to post-1945 Korea, but with exceptions made for North Korea due to the continuity between the anti-Japanese struggle and the country's leaders; b) refers to New Year's stamps for North Korea and for South Korea to Christmas and New Year's stamps.


international philatelic exhibitions. Cultural motifs included arts, folk dance, folk stories, music, national costumes and music instruments and mural paintings but there were no consecutive issues. Economic motifs were automobiles and roads.

For South Korea, commemorat ive stamps dominate followed by history, culture and nature. The main commemorat ive issues were all on the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/ Japan. The continuation of the 1999 'Millennium Series' showing old artefacts, buildings and events from 2000 to 2001 and 'World Heritage' each year is the main reason why more stamps on history were made. Famous persons shown include the above Kim Ku, but the other ones appeared for the first time on stamps. The previous 'Cartoon Series' came out each year while a new issue was the 'Korean Food Series' from 2001 to 2002. Stamps showing nature included birds, flowers and animals. While hardly any stamps had political motifs, it should be noted that both the June 2000 South-North summit and President Kim Dae Jung's Nobel Peace Prize the same year were commemorated.

How Stamps Reflect the Two Koreas' Socio-Political Culture

The main reason for North Korea issuing incomparably more stamps than South Korea is apparently to earn foreign currency rather than to serve purely postal needs. Supporting this view is the comment by the former Swedish diplomat Eric Cornell that when he worked at the Swedish Embassy in North Korea between 1975 and 1977, he could not find any stamps on sale and no post offices, z4 In addition, the South Korean journalist S~5 HyiSn-mi writes that North Korea until the early 1970s made stamps for postal usage but since then to earn foreign currency. Since North Korea has sold stamps not intended for postal usage abroad expensively, the International Postal Federation in 1992 made a list that put it, along with Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Bhutan, among the countries which issued stamps for commercial purposes, namely a 'warn- ing list'. ~5 On the contrary, it can hardly be said that South Korea has issued stamps excessively, although stamp issuing, of course, is a major source of income for postal authorities around the world.

Since there are philatelists who collect themes rather than all the stamps issued by a particular country, North Korea has seemingly targeted this group by issuing many commemorative stamps since the 1970s and 1980s, including stamps entirely unrelated to it such as famous foreigners like Lady Diana. These issues reinforce the impression of North Korea making stamps excessively. ~6 The large number of stamps issued is almost certainly also explained by political considerations: the many stamps with political motifs have been aimed to strengthen political unity domestically as well as towards the main enemies South Korea and the United States.

Politics is the most important motif to study when comparing the two Koreas' societies through stamps. Supporting this view is the retired American journalist Don Oberdorfer who referring to the 1970s said: 'On another occasion, eagle-eyed North Korean diplomats detected a few South Korean stamps in an international postal exhibition in Moscow, prompting a high-level com-

Jonsson 91

plaint and hurried removal of the offensive stamps from the display cases'. ~7 Politics and philately are thus related issues in inter-Korean relations. Political motifs are, along with the numerous commemorative issues, the dominating ones on North Korea's stamps. The many North Korean stamps made to celebrate major political events in particular between 1948 and 1959 imply a great pride during the post-liberation years over the country 's accomplish- ments. They also indicate that North Korea already at that time had become a heavily politicized country. 18

The numerous stamps issued from the 1950s onwards to honour the anniversaries of the foundation of the DPRK and the KWP, as well as its con- gresses, reinforce this impression. The many stamps made from the 1960s onwards showing Kim I1 Sung of course also reflect the rising personality cu l t . 19 At the same time, that Kim's portrait did not appear on stamps prior to 1960 is almost certainly related to the fact that he only at this time had won the struggle for power within the party. 2~ The rise of his son, Kim Jong I1, to power is also reflected by the many stamps issued on him from the late 1980s onwards. However, that fewer stamps have been issued on him confirms that he is only the 'Dear Leader'. As in the case of the portrait of Lenin on Russian stamps, the stamps on Kim have no doubt played a dual role by showing the Great Leader and encouraging revolutionary thinking. But far more stamps have been made to portrait Kim I1 Sung than Lenin. z~ This clearly shows his outstanding position in North Korean politics, which cannot be compared with that of any South Korean president.

That North Korea has issued far more stamps than South Korea on inter- Korean relations reflects that it for a long time pursued a one-Korea policy. It is no co-incidence that many of those stamps were issued during the 1960s, when North Korea was economically ahead of South Korea and pursued ag- gressive politics towards the South. It is worth noting that the issues 'Anniver- sary of Victory' in Korean War from 1963, 1973, 1983 and 1993 use the term 'Victory' reflecting the North's view of the war. In addition, the order of writ- ing in the 1990 soccer issue is 'North-South' while South Korea writes 'South- North' on its stamps. Stamps thus tell us a lot about North Korea's unification policies. On the contrary, South Korea has made only a few stamps on the unification issue. Most of them were issued to commemorate epoch-making events in the dialogue from 1971 to 1972, 1991 and 2000. Only a few stamps were issued by North Korea in 1990, 1992, 1997 and 2002; the latter three were issued to commemorate the 1972 North-South Joint Agreement, which makes it improper to compare them with the South's issues.

Another contrast is that North Korea has issued stamps to 'commemorate ' domestic political events in South Korea such as the 1960 April Revolution. The explanation appears to be that this event could be used by the North Koreans in their struggle with the South. In addition, there is no coincidence that North Korea made no stamps on the occasion of the 1988 Seoul Olym- pics.

Since almost every South Korean president has appeared on stamps, it is also possible to follow South Korea's political history through stamps. In contrast to North Korea, South Korean stamps do not imply that South Korea is a

92 East Asia ] Summer 2005

politicized society, but there can be no doubt that the frequency of stamps issued on the president has had a strong relat ionship with the level of authoritarianism. However, there is no doubt that President Chun Doo Hwan (1981-88) exceeded an acceptable frequency. This seems to be a main reason why the succeeding presidents Rob Tae Woo (1988-93) and Kim Young Sam (1993-98) were portrayed only when they were inaugurated and Kim Dae Jung (1998-2003)just three times.

In terms of foreign policy, what tells most about South Korea is that it regularly has issued stamps to commemorate the UN's help to the South during the Korean War as well as the UN's anniversary (while not being a member until 1991). But North Korea has not issued a single stamp on the UN. These facts imply the extent of the South's gratitude towards the UN for assistance during the war and the degree of the North's scepticism. Another striking difference in the case of foreign policy is that, unlike North Korea, South Korea has issued only a few stamps that have been directed against the 'enemy' . The motif has been anti-communism that doubtless makes North Korea the im- plicit target.

The stamps issued by North Korea related to China and the Soviet Union and by South Korea to the United States reflect their friendship with these countries. On the other hand, very few stamps have been issued related to Japan. This should be largely explained by the animosity towards Japan cre- ated by its occupation of Korea (1910-45). The major exceptions are the issues by South Korea to c o m m e m o r a t e the anniversary of the 1965 establishment of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations in 1985 and 1995 and Presi- dent Chun's state visit in 1984. In contrast, North Korean issues related to Japan almost exclusively deal with Koreans living in Japan.

Finally, it is worth noting that the main similarity between the two Koreas in the case of politics is the many stamps issued by both states to commemorate the anniversary of liberation in 1945, which clearly shows how great an event this was. Economics is another appropriate field to compare the two Koreas, although the number of such stamps is lower than one would expect in South Korea considering its substantial economic development. That numerous stamps were issued by North Korea with economic motifs after the Korean War and during the 1960s show that reconstruction was of the utmost impor- tance. Another explanation is certainly pride over the rapid economic development. That the number of such stamps issued decreased substantially and continuously during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s should be due to the deterio- ration of the economy. In fact, after the 1961-7 Seven-Year Plan, only the 1971-6 Six-Year Plan has appeared on stamps.

That South Korea made few stamps with economic motifs until the 1960s reflects that President Syngman Rhee did not prioritize economic development, in contrast to his successor Park Chung Hee. On the other hand, for some reason economics were not a major motif on South Korean stamps issued during the 1960s and 1970s, in contrast to North Korea. Further, economic motifs hardly appeared at all on South Korean stamps from the 1980s and 1990s, although the Korean economy at that time had developed substantially. When comparing commemorative issues, it seems that South Korea to a

Jonsson 93

larger extent than North Korea has used them to spread knowledge about itself to the outside world. Commemorative issues are, along with nature motifs, the most abused ones by North Korea. It is a paradox that communist North Korea made numerous stamps between 1981 and 1982 to commemorate Lady Diana's wedding and Prince Wiiliam's birth. 22 Why the large number of stamps issued of Olympic Medal-winners by a country whose ideology stresses equality? Why were so many stamps showing famous foreigners issued during the 1980s? It is difficult to find other reasons in these cases than commercial ones. On the other hand, stamps with non-political motifs slightly reduce the impression of North Korea as a heavily politicized society.

Stamps issued with historical motifs, albeit they are relatively few in North Korea, suggest pride over Korean history. It is no coincidence that both states have issued stamps on the highly symbolic 1 March 1919 Independence Move- ment against Japanese role over Korea. But a contrast is that a large number of North Korean stamps on pre-1945 Korean history have been issued not to commemorate history but to stress the continuity between Kim II Sung's rule and his own anti-Japanese struggles. On the contrary, South Korean stamps normally depict historical events and anniversaries unrelated to post-1945 Korea. That North Korea made so many stamps with nature motifs in the 196(I is explained both by a wish to spread knowledge about the nation and to attract collectors.

Given the historical tiger tales, it is surprising that the tiger has not appeared more frequently on stamps. Both North and South Korea have shown the national flower, Mugunghwa on a few stamps. That usage, along with the tiger motif, indicates that in spite of their ideological differences, there are also at least some basic similarities. Both states' nature issues give knowledge about them, but the differences are that North Korea has made many more such stamps and also on animals not native to Korea. The enormous increase of stamps with cultural motifs during the 1960s by both states implies a pride over Korean culture. But some of those stamps have been used to convey political ideas by North Korea. The implication of the 1963 issue 'Hfingbu' is to only present the good side of the folk tale 'Hfingbu and Nolbu'. There is no coincidence that two of the only three famous persons who appeared on both states' stamps are King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin: they are both apparently very proud of their important contributions to Korean history. 23

But given this author's impression of the Koreans as being extremely proud over their history it is surprising that only a few stamps have been made on famous persons. The reasons why North Korea has not issued a single stamp on famous persons outside the 'Kim Dynasty's ' ancestors since 1962 appears to be to manipulate history for political gains. The tendency for North Korea is that stamps originally reflected political and economic developments but that the picture since the 1960s has become more varied. It seems, albeit with fluctuations, that the political considerations behind stamps have become some- what weaker and the commercial ones stronger. Nevertheless, North Korean stamps do tell a great deal about its society, in particular politics. For South Korea, it is more difficult to find clear tendencies of stamp issuing, although a new characteristic from the 1960s onwards has been the many commemora-

94 East Asia I Summer 2005

tive issues. The variety of motifs on South Korean stamps is greater than on the North Korean. Also the South Korean stamps tell a great deal about its political history. It appears that the stamps tell more about the South than those issued by the North in the fields of culture, history and nature.

In conclusion, stamps issued by North and South Korea tell us a great deal about the two states. They have both used stamps as 'arena for conveying every possible kind of message through pictures'. We can follow developments within the two Koreas and to some extent also their relations with each other and with their main allies. On the other hand, that 'stamps are a great channel for spreading information that also has been used by the authorities' can be shown to be more true for North than for South Korea.

Notes

1. Lena Johannesson, Den massproducerade bilden [The Mass-Produced Picture], Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1978, pp. 130, 132 (author's translation).

2. Data on stamps' motifs are from Lars Ltwenberg, "Frim~xke" ]"Stamp"], in Nationalencyklopedin [National Encyclopaedia], vol. 6, Htganas: Bra Bocker, 1992, p. 47. This is the main source for the division of motifs in the study.

3. Commemorative issues are stamps commemorating a variety of national and international events and is by far the broadest category. History refers to Korean history prior to 1945 national division; international events that took place before 1945 are included under commemorative issues, with a few exceptions. Famous persons are Koreans who lived before 1945. Culture refers to arts, clothes, literature, music, paintmgs, relics and so on, but old buildings are regarded as history. Economics and politics refer to post-1945 events, unless otherwise recorded. In the case of politics, great consideration is taken to the half a century of national division. Nature includes animals, plants and secenrey. Miscellaneous refers to the remainder.

4. For instance, East Germany issued far more stamps than West Germany did. From Kurt Genrup, "Frimfirken som kulturellt och politiskt medium----40 ~rs frimarksutgivning i DDR: Ett f t rs tk till etnologisk/kultur-histonsk frankoteckenanalys" ["Stamps as a cultural and political m e d i u m ~ 0 years of GDR stamps: An attempt of ethnological/cultural-historic franco sign analysis"], Post~ttaren 1997 ]magazine of the Stockholm Postal Museum], Stockholm: Postmuseum ]Postal Museum], 1997, p. 124.

5. A consequence of North Korea's stamp policy is recorded by Stanley Gibbons, op. cit., 1999, p. 77: "The following stamps have either been issued in excess of postal needs or have not been available to the public in reasonable quantities at face value. Such stamps may later be given full listing if there is evidence of regular postal use". Such stamps are recorded from 1976 to 1977, 1979 and from 1981 to 1984.

6. Btrje Wallberg, "'Nordkoreas tidigare emissioner 1946-1953" ["North Korea's earlicr emissions 1946-1953"1, Post~ttaren 1968, Stockholm: Postmuseum, 1968, p. 127.

7. The finding is consistent with an investigation from 1991 by the Ministry of Communications (MOC) of how frequently the presidents were shown on stamps between 1948 and 1991. See Yun Chong-gyu, "Chtn-ssi taet 'ongnytng kinytm up'yo choeda kirog l"Mr. Chtn is the president who has appeared most on commemorative stamps"], Dong-a llbo, April 7, 1991.

8. Stamps hkely played a similar political rote in South Korea as they did in North Korea during the W a r .

9. Kim I1 Sung led a band of men who caught the Japanese off guard and successfully destroyed much of that little border town. From Joungwon Alexander Kim, Divided Korea: Politics of Develop- ment, 1945-1972 (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1976), p. 40.

10. North Korea had announced its participation in the 1968 Olympics but did not take part because it was called 'North Korea' and was not allowed to participate under the name 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea'. From Olympiaboken 1968 [Olympic Book 1968], Stockholm: Brunnhage, 1969, pp. 231,245.

Jonsson 95

I 1. The Issue 'Rebirth of Republic' from 1 October 1960 shows a sprout and demonstrating students (Han'guk Umungwan, op. cir., 2001, p. 71).

12. The investigation refercd to in note 7 records that hc appeared 24 times (Yun, op. cir.). The difference seems to be duc to the stamp issued after the 1961 May Revolution that does not show his portrait.

13. The figure is equal to that of the MOC that identifies the relationship that the more authoritarian the president was, the more frcquently his portrait appeared on stamps (Yun, op. tit.). Yun records that the stamps showing President Chun became impopular among collectors. Choi Kyu Ha (1979-80) is the only interim president who has appeared on a stamp (Han'guk Umungwan, op. cit., 2001, p. 144).

14. Personal communication. His saying suggests that the situation must have been similar previously when North Koreas was more closed to the outside world than it was at this time. Interestingly, Wallberg records that around 1957 the North Korean authorities had realized that money could be earned from philatelists (op. cit., p. 114).

15. $6 Hy6n-mi, "Pukhan my6nmo poy6 chunfin 'Chos6n up'yo' S6ul nadfiri", ["An outing to Seoul of North Korcan stamps showing the country's features"], T'ongil Han'guk 2002 (9), p. 61. It is strange that not more countries were listed: also small islands in the Caribbean issue stamps unrelated to the country tbr commercial reasons. For instance, tiny Grenada issued 1,866 stamps since independence (from the United Kingdom) in 1974 until latc 1992. From Stanley Gibbons. op. clt., 2004 Edition, vol. 2, Countries E-J, pp. 446-58.

16. North Korean stamps can often be found in packages for beginners and in motif packages. 17. Oberdoffer, 7"he Two Koreas: a contemporary tnstor 3, (London & New York: Little, Brown and

Company, 1998), p. 158. That stamps are controversial in inter-Korean relations is clear from the author's experience. First, a South Korean diplomat in 1986 requested the author to buy North Korean stamps at Stockholmia "86. Secondly, according to South Korean stamp dealers, as of 2004, North Korean stamps on sale had to be approved by the National Intelligence Service and stamps with political motifs were entirely prohibited. Third, among the North Korean stamps displayed at the Korea Institute for National Unification in 2004 there were no political motifs. However, at the Unification Observatory such stamps were displayed at the same time although it is unclear why.

18. A similarity can be identified with the role of stamps in East Germany about which Kurt Genrup (op. cit., p. 114) writes: "In the case of the GDR. we can see its stamps as concrete means of state and party discourse and as one of many instruments m the planned budding of socialism" (author's translation). This becomes clear also from Joe Peters' article "'The German Dem~x:ratic Republic-- A Political and Phdatelic Time Capsule", Gibbons Stamp Monthly, October 2000, pp. 64-67.

19. In terms of frequently issuing stamps on the leader's birthdays, Nepal exceeds North Korea by issuing stamps on the king's birthday every year since 1960. However, only one or two stamps were issued on each occasion. From Stanley Gibbons, op. cit., 2004, vol. 3, pp. 540-50; no stamps are shown after 2001. To the author's knowledge, Kim 11 Sung's body cannot be stamped.

20. According to Kim (op. cit., pp. 199, 200), at the Fourth Party Congress held in 1961 "'...Kim I1 Sung was clearly unchallengcable...."

21. The first stamps showing Lenin were "Lenin Mourning" from 1924. Stamps were issued almost every year between 1945 and 1991 to commemorate his birth and death anniversaries and the 1917 October Revolution. From Stanley Gibbons, op. cit., 2004, vol. 3, pp. 1018-1088.

22. Her wedding was an omnibus issue within the British Commonwealth. The only other non- member countries that issued stamps on the wedding recorded in Stanley Gibbons (op. tit., 1999, pp. 125, 238. 439, 494) arc Liberia, Mauritania, Niger and Paraguay. In contrast to Stanley Gib- bons, the Korean Stamp Catalogue (op. clt., 1998, pp. 141, 146, 148, 149) does not record any pictures of these stamps but it is unclear why.

23. The third famous person appearing on both nations' stamps is the scholar Tasan Ch6ng Yak-yong refered to above.

Documents

Stamps in Two Koreas