South Korea: National Museum of Korea

Last Monday I got my first postcard of 2022. It came from South Korea.

The card shows the National Museum of Korea in Seoul. The National Museum of Korea was established in 1945 and is the most important museum about Korean art and history. Since its opening the museum moved several times. It is located at its current location since 2005 and since then it turned into one of the most visited museums in the World. What a great start for the new year!

The card was sent with a stamp about the Year of the Tiger (issued 07-12-2021) and its First Day Special Postmark. It is from a set of two and all the elements on the card are embossed.

Thank You very much Park!

South Korea: 2018 Winter Olympics

On 28th August I got a postcard from South Korea.

It was printed for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and shows the mascot Soohorang. This was the second time that South Korea hosted Olympics after the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, the third Winter Olympics in Asia and the first of three consecutive Olympics in East Asia followed by Tokyo in 2021 and Beijing in 2022. Norway led the total medal tally followed by Germany and Canada. Despite tense relations North Korea took part in the games and the two nations even paraded together at the opening ceremony as a unified Korea and fielded a unified team in the women's ice hockey.

A nice matching stamp was used here. It is from a set of twenty and shows Soohorang in different disciplines as well as venues and symbols of the games. The twenty stamps were issued in two sheets on 1st November 2017. The other stamp is from a set of two about the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul (issued 20-03-1985). 

Thank You very much Park!

I was really looking for a card and stamp like this in early 2018, but had no luck in swapping. Instead I later got this Soohorang sheet from Montenegro. Great to finally have the original card from Korea! And by the way, this is the other stamp from the set about the 1988 Summer Olympics.

South Korea: Busan

On 3rd August I got a postcard from South Korea. 

The card shows a view of Busan. Busan is the second largest city in South Korea and a centre of economy, culture and education. Its port is the busiest in Korea and the sixth-busiest in the World and the surrounding economic zone is South Korea's largest industrial area. As Busan was one of the few areas in Korea that remained under the control of South Korea throughout the Korean War, for some time it served as a temporary capital of the Republic of Korea. Since 2014 is Busan part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as City of Film. Talking about films, you might know the movie Train to Busan or remember the Black Panther scenes set in this city. 

I had swapped for this card in late 2020, but due to mail suspensions it was just sent out in late July 2021. Both South Korean Year of the Ox stamps (issued 01-12-2020) were used here and once again this is a very nice set.

Thank You very much Jina!

South Korea: Year of the Rat

On 10th December I got two postcards: one from South Korea and one from Germany.

The card from South Korea was printed for the Year of the Rat.

With great matching stamps:
Year of the Rat (whole set) (issued 03-12-2019)
The stamps are shimmering, embossed and partly varnished.
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Jeeyeon!

South Korea: Korean Cuisine

On 19th November I got a postcard from South Korea.

It shows various dishes of the Korean cuisine.

Stamps:
Tawny Owl (issued 01-09-2005)
Evolution of the Hanbok (from set of four) (issued 09-09-2019)

Thank You very much Jina!

South Korea: Year of the Dragon

On Tuesday I got three postcards: one from South Korea, one from the United Kingdom and one from the USA.

The card from South Korea is a maxicard about the Year of the Dragon. The stamp was issued on 1st December 2011 and glows in the dark.

Stamps:
70 years South Korean Air Force (issued 20-09-2019)
with First Day Special Postmark
State Visit of President Mohammad Zia-Ul-Haq of Pakistan (issued 06-05-1985)

Thank You very much Jeeyeon!

South Korea: Christmas card with Year of the Pig stamp

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Last Wednesday I got two postcards: one from South Korea and one from China.

The card from South Korea is a Christmas card.

With a great stamp:
Year of the Pig (from set of two) (issued 03-12-2018)
with First Day Special Postmark
Crinum asiaticum (issued 03-02-2006)

Thank You very much Park!

South Korea: Cheomseongdae

On Tuesday I got a postcard from South Korea.

It shows Cheomseongdae. Cheomseongdae is an astronomical observatory in Gyeongju. It is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia and maybe even in the World. As part of the Gyeongju Historic Areas is Cheomseongdae since 2000 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With nice stamps:
International Year of Astronomy (from set of two) (issued 15-01-2009)
Post Culture Week (from set of four) (issued 18-11-2015)

Thank You very much Anastasia!

South Korea: Banpo Bridge in Seoul

Last Saturday I got a postcard from South Korea.

It shows the Banpo Bridge in Seoul. Seoul is the capital of South Korea and also its biggest city. In 1988 Seoul hosted the Olympic Summer Games. The Banpo Bridge is a double-deck bridge over the Han River. It is especially known for its Moonlight Rainbow Fountain. 

Stamps:
Opening of the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang (whole set) (issued 09-02-2018)

Thank You very much Keiko!

South Korea: Gwangju

On Thursday I got two postcards: one from South Korea and one from Germany.

The card from South Korea shows the Yangdong Market in Gwangju. Gwangju is the sixth largest city of South Korea and is especially known for its diverse cuisine.

Stamp:
Flag of South Korea (issued 06-03-2003)
Definitive (from set of three) (issued 01-04-2017)

Thank You very much Keiko!

South Korea: map

On Monday I got three postcards: one from South Korea, one from Brazil and one from the USA.

The card from South Korea shows a map of the Korean Peninsula.

With a great stamp:
Webtoons of Korea (from set of four) (issued 10-02-2017)
with a special postmark of the Cartoon Post Exhibition
Flag of South Korea (issued 06-03-2003)
Great Tit (issued 05-06-2006)
with a special postmark showing a Goral

Thank You very much Celine!

South Korea: Korean Cuisine

On Tuesday I got three postcards: one from South Korea, my first card from Norfolk Island and one from New Zealand.

The card from South Korea shows Bajirak Kalguksu, a popular Korean noodle dish. The Korean Cuisine is largely based on rice, vegetables and meats. It evolved over centuries through a complex interaction of the natural environment and different cultural trends.

With great stamps:
Year of the Tiger (issued 01-12-2009)
Year of the Dragon (issued 01-12-2011)
Both stamps glow in the dark.

Thank You very much Jiwon!

South Korea: Christmas Greetings

Today I got two postcards: one from South Korea and one from Myanmar.

The card from South Korea is a Christmas card.

On the backside there are two special postmarks, one about the DMZ and one about the Year of the Rooster.
With a great stamp:
Crinum asiaticum (issued 03-02-2006)
Year of the Rooster (from set of two) (issued 01-12-2016)
The stamp was printed with Gold Hot Foiling, Holographic Foil and Embossing.

Thank You very much Sarah!

South Korea: Bridge of No Return

On Wednesday I got five postcards: one from South Korea, one from China, one from Slovenia, one from Germany and one from Madeira.

The card from South Korea shows the Bridge of No Return. The Bridge of No Return is located in the Joint Security Area in the Korean Demilitarized Zone. It crosses the border between North and South Korea and was used for prisoner exchanges. 

With a nice stamp:
World Conservation Congress Jeju 2012 (issued 06-09-2012)
Crinum asiaticum (issued 03-02-2006)
Amur Grape (issued 10-09-2001)

Thank You very much Henna!

South Korea: Traditional House

The last week I was in Austria and during that week nine cards arrived. I will show them in the following days.

One of them is from South Korea.

It shows a traditional Korean house.

Stamp:
Definitive (from set of two) (issued 28-10-2014)

Thank You very much Keiko!

South Korea at the Expo

At the South Korean Pavilion I bought the official postcard of the pavilion. At the South Korean Pavilion the diverse culinary practises of the country are shown. 

The text on the card means Thank You.

On the backside of the card is the official logo of the South Korean Pavilion.

South Korea: Huiujeong Pavilion

Today I got three postcards: one from South Korea, one from Germany and one from Estonia.

The card from South Korea shows the backyard of the Huiujeong Pavilion at the Changdeokgung Palace.

With nice stamps:
Stories of the Constellations-Virgo (from set of sixteen) (issued 27-02-2015)
Wild Flowers (from set of four) (issued 22-06-1992)
with a special postmark showing Yi Sun-sin

Thank You very much Soeun!

South Korea: Jongmyo Shrine

On 9th March I got five postcards: three from South Korea and two from Finland.

One of the cards from South Korea shows the Royal ancestral ritual in the Jongmyo Shrine. The Jongmyo Shrine was first built in the 14th century and after it was destroyed by fire it was rebuilt in 1608. It is the oldest royal Confucian shrine still standing and is dedicated to the memory of the Joseon kings and queens. Since 1995 is the Jongmyo Shrine on the UNESCO World Heritage List and since 2008 is the Royal ancestral ritual in the Jongmyo shrine with its music an Intangible Heritage of the UNESCO.

Stamps:
Wedding ceremonial (whole set) (issued 01-09-1984)
Fish (from set of four) (issued 08-06-1991)
Night Heron (issued 17-01-2000)

Thank You very much Claus!

South Korea: Seolleung tomb

On 9th March I got five postcards: three from South Korea and two from Finland.

One of the cards from South Korea shows the Seolleung tomb in Seoul. The Seolleung tomb is one of the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty were built from 1408 to 1966 to remember to members of the Joseon Dynasty. There are 40 tombs in 18 locations. Since 2009 are the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With a matching stamp:
Korean Food (from set of four) (issued 15-06-2001)
World Heritage (from set of two) (issued 30-06-2011)

Thank You very much Claus!

South Korea: Changdeokgung Palace

On 9th March I got five postcards: three from South Korea and two from Finland.

One of the cards from South Korea shows the Throne Hall of the Changdeokgung Palace. The Changdeokgung Palace was built in the 15th century by King Taejong and is one of the Five Grand Palaces of the Joseon kings. From 1910 to 1945 it was heavily damaged by the Japanese occupiers. Since 1997 is the Changdeokgung Palace Complex on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
Nature Conservation (from set of two) (issued 07-03-1994)
Night Heron (issued 17-01-2000)
World Heritage (from set of two) (issued 31-07-2012)

Thank You very much Claus!