South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea) is a nation of Eastern Asia that occupies the southern part of the Korean peninsula. Knowing its unique mix of millennial traditions and cutting-edge technological innovation, it has gained global power thanks to the "Miracolo del fiume Han".
Capital: Seoul (Seoul), which is located close to the national population in its metropolitan area.
Population: Circa 52 million inhabitants (estimate 2024).
Lingua Ufficiale: Korean (written in Hangul alphabet).
Valuta: South Korean won (₩/KRW).
Government: Unitary presidential republic. The current president is Lee Jae-myung (unseeded by next year 2025 with anticipated elections).
Geography and Climate
The territory is predominantly mountainous (circa 70%) and the circumference of the sea is three lati: the Giappone Sea to the east, the Cinese Orientale Sea to the south and the Giallo Sea to the west.
Highest point: Mount Hallasan on the Jeju Island (1,950 m).
Climate: Continental climate with four different seasons. Gli winter sono freddi e secchi, while the state is very warm, still and characterized by the period of the piogge detto jangma.
Economy and Culture
South Korea is the 14th largest economy in the world (per PIL nominal) and is the global leader in sectors such as electronics (Samsung, LG), automobiles (Hyundai, Kia) and 5G technology.
Hallyu (Korean Wave): Korean pop culture has a massive global influence across K-pop (BTS, Blackpink), K-drama and cinema (film like Parasite).
Gastronomy: Celebrate with piatti eat Kimchi (fermented vegetables), Bulgogi (grilled marinated meat) and Bibimbap.
Recent Political Situation
The country has seen a phase of political instability from the end of 2024 to the beginning of 2025. Former President Yoon Suk-yeol was recently incarcerated and was subsequently sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment in January 2026 for having illegally deprived himself of the martial law in December 2024.
Face value | Family number | English name | Scientific name
1949.01
01.07.1949
Definitives
10w
32
Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis
1949.02
01.12.1949
Definitives
65w
168
Oriental Magpie Pica serica
1951.01
01.04.1951
Definitives
5w
32
Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis
1951.02
03.12.1951
Surcharge on 1949.01-2
300w
32
Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis
300w
168
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica
1960.01
28.09.1960
Korean telegraph service
40h
190
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
1960.02
28.09.1960
Korean telegraph service
Sheet, imp
1960.01
40h
190
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
1961.01
01.12.1961
Definitives
40h
102
White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis
1966.01
15.03.1966
Korean birds
3w
8
Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata
5w
32
Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis
7w
13
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
1966.02
15.03.1966
Korean birds
1966.01
3w
8
Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata
imp
5w
32
Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis
imp
7w
13
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
imp
1973.01
10.10.1973
Definitives
10w
32
Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis
Blue
1974.01
20.04.1974
Definitives
Booklet
1973.01
10w
32
Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis
1976.01
20.02.1976
Birds
20w
32
White-naped Crane Antigone vipio
20w
23
Great Bustard Otis tarda
1976.02
20.05.1976
Birds
20w
114
Fairy Pitta Pitta nympha
20w
102
White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis
1976.03
20.07.1976
Birds
20w
27
Black Wood Pigeon Columba janthina
20w
40
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
1976.04
20.09.1976
Birds
20w
64
Black Stork Ciconia nigra
20w
69
Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor
1976.05
20.11.1976
Birds
20w
78
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus
20w
8
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
1976.06
01.12.1976
Year of the snake
2v set
20w
32
Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis
1977.01
01.10.1977
Definitives
3w
168
Oriental Magpie Pica serica
1979.01
20.05.1979
Nature conservation
20w
8
Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata
1979.02
31.05.1979
New colour
1973.01
10w
32
Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis
Green
1980.01
10.03.1980
Paintings
2v set
60w
168
Oriental Magpie Pica serica
1981.01
05.06.1981
World environment day
90w
64
Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana
1982.01
01.12.1982
Year of the pig
2v set
60w
168
Oriental Magpie Pica serica
1983.01
01.07.1983
Insurance
70w
8
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
1983.02
01.12.1983
Year of the rat
2v set
70w
32
Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis
1983.03
01.12.1983
Year of the rat
2x1v sheet
1983.02
70w
32
Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis
1986.01
20.12.1986
Birds
80w
162
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis
80w
90
Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata
80w
84
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
80w
88
Oriental Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
80w
177
Japanese Waxwing Bombycilla japonica
1987.01
30.07.1987
Birds
clr
1986.01
80w
162
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis
80w
90
Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata
80w
84
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
80w
88
Oriental Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
80w
177
Japanese Waxwing Bombycilla japonica
1987.02
28.11.1987
Antarctic treaty
80w
59
Chinstrap Penguin Pygoscelis antarcticus
1988.01
16.02.1988
Antarctic base
80w
59
Gentoo Penguin Pygoscelis papua
1988.02
01.04.1988
WWF
Strip
80w
32
White-naped Crane Antigone vipio
80w
32
White-naped Crane Antigone vipio
80w
32
White-naped Crane Antigone vipio
80w
32
White-naped Crane Antigone vipio
1991.01
02.12.1991
Year of the monkey
2v set
100w
168
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica
1991.02
02.12.1991
Year of the monkey
2x100w sheet
1991.01
100w
168
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica
1993.01
24.05.1993
Definitives
20w
64
Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana
1994.01
22.04.1994
Definitives
90w
80
Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia
1994.02
12.09.1994
Definitives
180w
52
Little Tern Sternula albifrons
1995.01
01.11.1995
Definitives
1994.02
210w
52
Little Tern Sternula albifrons
1996.01
22.01.1996
Definitives
300w
188
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
1997.01
01.07.1997
Definitives
80w
206
Warbling White-eye Zosterops japonicus
1997.02
01.11.1997
Definitives
1994.02
260w
52
Little Tern Sternula albifrons
1997.03
15.12.1997
Definitives
170w
49
Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis
1998.01
19.02.1998
Definitives
50w
30
Watercock Gallicrex cinerea
1998.02
15.10.1998
Definitives
1997.03
170w
49
Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis
With Braille printing
1999.01
01.05.1999
Centenary of Masan port
170w
52
Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris
1999.02
05.06.1999
Protection of endangered species
170w
104
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
170w
78
Chinese Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza soloensis
340w
78
Steller's Sea Eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus
340w
80
Eurasian Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo
2000.01
17.01.2000
Definitives
20w
70
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
2002.01
15.01.2002
Definitives
210w
104
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
280w
227
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia
2002.02
15.03.2002
Definitives
60w
240
Chinese Grosbeak Eophona migratoria
2003.01
30.05.2003
Lighthouse
190w
52
Common Gull Larus canus
2004.01
16.01.2004
Nature of Dokdo
4v strip
190w
63
Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas
190w
52
Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris
2005.01
01.09.2005
Definitives
50w
80
Tawny Owl Strix aluco
2006.01
18.01.2006
Nature of Baengnyeongdo
4v sheet
220w
68
Pelagic Cormorant Urile pelagicus
2006.02
05.06.2006
Definitives
90w
Japanese Tit LUMPParus minor
2006.03
01.11.2006
Definitives
4v set
250w
80
Northern Boobook Ninox japonica
340w
8
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
2008.01
15.02.2008
Antarctic station
Sheet with 5 each
250w
53
South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki
and
59
Gentoo Penguin Pygoscelis papua
250w
59
Chinstrap Penguin Pygoscelis antarcticus
and
59
King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus
2011.01
03.06.2011
Preserve the polar regions and glaciers
2v set
250w
59
Adelie Penguin Pygoscelis adeliae
2014.01
20.11.2014
Definitives
400w
114
Fairy Pitta Pitta nympha
2015.01
24.04.2015
Korea-Bolivia diplomatic relations
*
8
Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus
*
123
Palkachupa Cotinga Phibalura boliviana
2016.01
22.11.2016
Nature in the DMZ of Korea
300w
Japanese Tit LUMPParus minor
300w
69
Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor
2017.01
29.05.2017
National park service
2v set
330w
114
Fairy Pitta Pitta nympha
2017.02
05.06.2017
Nature in the DMZ of Korea
2v set
330w
90
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
2019.01
27.11.2019
Falconry
380w
78
Eurasian Goshawk Astur gentilis
380w
78
Eurasian Goshawk Astur gentilis
and
13
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
2019.02
27.11.2019
Falconry
Sheet
2019.01
380w
78
Eurasian Goshawk Astur gentilis
380w
78
Eurasian Goshawk Astur gentilis
and
13
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
2021.01
06.04.2021
Folding screen with birds, flowers and animals
10v sheet
380w
224
Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus
380w
78
Eurasian Goshawk Astur gentilis
380w
168
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica
2021.02
29.10.2021
Definitives
3v set
100w
165
Black Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone atrocaudata
2022.01
03.06.2022
Endangered species returned to nature
2v set
430w
69
Crested Ibis Nipponia nippon
2023.01
14.07.2023
Protected marine species
430w
52
Saunders's Gull Saundersilarus saundersi
430w
49
Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis
430w
40
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
430w
69
Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor
Philately has been considered as an "auxiliary science of history" because it is based on the general principles of other sciences, which in turn contribute to enrich it. It acquires knowledge of the sciences, of the arts, of languages and opens an immense road of social relations through all countries. This science broadens broad horizons of culture, discovers artistic temperaments and offers the interest of the new and the unknown, while performing a positive therapeutic wor.
