2002.01.15    Korea New Value Definitives
With the adjustment in the postal rates effective as of January 15, 2002, Korea Post released five new definitives and 4 new priority mail definitive stamps. The stamps are: 160-won definitives for non-priority postcards (under 5g), 210-won definitives for non-priority mail (under 50g), 280-won definitives for nonstandard non-priority mail, 1,290-won definitives for registered mail (under 25g) and 1,310-won definitives for registered mail (under 50g). The Priority Mail Service, launched in October 1 of 1994, is designed to meet the demand of users requiring prompt delivery of mail. Unlike non-priority mail that is delivered within four days of mailing, the priority mail is delivered the day after. The new stamps for priority mail are: 280-won stamps for priority mail under 25g, 310-won stamps for priority mail under 50g, 1,380-won stamps for registered priority mail under 25g and 1,410-won stamps for registered priority mail under 50g.

The 160-won definitives feature the Limenitis populi (Linnaeus), the poplar admiral butterfly. The wings of these butterflies are the longest among all striped butterflies at 70 to 80 mm. The female butterflies are larger than their male counterparts and have a wider white band in the wings. These butterflies live in valleys in high mountains or at the borders of forests.
 

Design Limenitis populi (Linnaeus)
Denomination 160 won
Designer Lee, Gi-seok
Image Area 22mm*19mm
Perforation 13
Sheet Composition 10*10
Print Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation
Quantity 3000000
Stamp No 2190

Falco tinnunculus, or the kestrel, featured in 210-won definitives is a falcon of permanent residence across the nation. Its body stretches aporoximately 30cm and male kestrels are slightly smaller than the females. They build nests in rock walls on riversides and between walls of buildings where they lay their eggs.
 

Design Falco tinnunculus
Denomination 210 won
Designer Lee, Gi-seok
Image Area 19mm*22mm
Perforation 13
Sheet Composition 10*10
Print Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation
Quantity 2000000
Stamp No 2191

The 280-won definitives feature the Ficedula zanthopygia. This summer bird found across the nation belongs to the family of Daurian redstarts. It resembles the narcissus flycatcher except that its eyebrows are white. Its body stretches 11? in length. It takes up nest in holes in trees or in artificial nest boxes and lay 5 to 6 eggs at a time.
 

Design Ficedula zanthopygia
Denomination 280 won
Designer Lee, Gi-seok
Image Area 25mm*22mm
Perforation 13
Sheet Composition 10*10
Print Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation
Quantity 5000000
Stamp No 2192

The 1,290-won definitives feature the roof-end tile of the kylin design. Roof-end tile refers to the roofing tile placed on the edge of the eaves. This roof-end tile from the Unified Silla Period takes the shape of a powerfully winged kylin with its tail raised head turned to the side. (Displayed at the Gyeongju National Museum)
 

Design The roof-end tile of the kylin design
Denomination 1,290 won
Designer Park, Eun-kyung
Image Area 33mm*23mm
Perforation 13
Sheet Composition 5*10
Print Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation
Quantity 8000000
Stamp No 2197

The ridge-end tile depicted in the 1,310-won stamp was excavated from the site of the Hwang-ryong Temple and belongs to the Silla Dynasty period. This is the largest of the ridge-end tile found to date in Korea. The ridge-end tile is a decorative tile placed on the outer ends of the ridge (center of the roof) and also served the function of preventing the spread of fire. The tile is decorated with patterns of lotus and faces of men and women. (Displayed at the Gyeongju National Museum)
 

Design The ridge-end tile
Denomination 1,310 won
Designer Park, Eun-kyung
Image Area 23mm*33mm
Perforation 13
Sheet Composition 10*5
Print Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation
Quantity 1000000
Stamp No 2198

The four types of newly unveiled stamps for priority mail feature "vehicles (airplanes, trains, trucks)". Changes were made in the background color of the stamps to distinguish its purpose of use. Of the definitive postage stamp for priority mail, the 280-won stamps are yellow while the 310-won stamps are blue. As to registered priority mail postage, the 1,380-won definitives are green and 1,410-won definitives are red.
 

Design vehicles (airplanes, trains, trucks)
Denomination 280 won, yellow
310 won, blue
1,380 won, green
1,410 won, red
Designer Kim, So-jeong
Image Area 36mm*26mm
Perforation 13
Sheet Composition 5*10
Print Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation
Quantity 280 won, 5000000
310 won, 1000000
1,380 won, 4000000
1,410 won, 1000000
Stamp No 2193-2196

 
Original information and image from Korea Post Museum