In the December 1, 2024 Happenings Newsletter, I promised to follow up on the Korea National Tuberculosis Association (KNTA)’s novel approach to marking the 2024 Christmas seals, after I was able to obtain one of the “Mystery Limited Edition Christmas Seal Sheets”.
As a reminder, along with the first issued sheet of the ten seals, there was a very small pamphlet, indicating that there would be a limited edition of another sheet of 2024 Christmas seals to be issued on December 1, 2024.
With the help of AI, the Korean on the back of the the first issued sheet of ten of the 2024 South Korea Bread Barbershop theme translates as the following:
“The animation “Bread Barbershop,” loved by the entire nation, joins the 2024 Christmas Seal campaign.
Enjoy the unique and delightful daily life with the Bread Barbershop characters and the Christmas Seals.
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Christmas Seals Are Donations.
The Christmas Seal campaign, which started in 1904 in Denmark, has expanded worldwide and significantly contributed to the fight against tuberculosis.
In Korea, the campaign began in 1932 when missionary Sherwood Hall introduced it. Since the association’s establishment in 1953, the annual Christmas Seal proceeds have been used to fund tuberculosis prevention initiatives.
Purchasing Christmas Seals is the first step to giving life. By participating, you can help protect the health and smiles of everyone.
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Through Christmas Seal fundraising:
• Supporting tuberculosis patients
• Providing aid for elderly tuberculosis patients
• Research and development for tuberculosis cures
• Providing support for children with tuberculosis and families in need
• Preventative projects for tuberculosis nationwide
[QR Code]
Visit the Christmas Seal donation store.”
On December 1st, the limited edition sheet was available. This second issued sheet of ten seals is quite attractive and very festive, especially when compared to the earlier sheet of the 2024 seal campaign. I still have not determined exactly how the limited edition seals were made available. If you were a South Korean you could order directly from the KNTA’s Christmas seal site https://loveseal.knta.or.kr/christmas, and I do not know if they have yet run out of stock. South Korean dealers also had these available and advertised them on eBay. If anyone has any additional information on how these limited edition sheets were distributed/allocated, please let us know in the KSS. My thanks to Jin Hur, a KSS member and Vice-President of the Korean Philatelic Federation for obtaining these limited edition sheets for me.
The translation of the reverse side of the “limited edition” sheet from Korean into English is essentially the same as the reverse of the earlier first issued sheet of ten of the South Korea 2024 Christmas seals. Both the first issued sheet of ten of the 2024 Christmas seals and the limited edition second issued sheet were issued inside the same type of folder.
The translation of the front (Right page) and rear (Left page) of the folder using AI translation is:
Left Page:
“2023 Christmas Seal Donation Usage Summary [Total Expenditure: 2,589,325,763 KRW]”
• Research Projects on Tuberculosis
o Research on tuberculosis investigation: 256,461,684 KRW
o Discovery of tuberculosis patients: 717,081,704 KRW
o Total for patient discovery projects: 973,543,388 KRW
• Public Awareness Campaigns on Tuberculosis
o Nationwide tuberculosis awareness campaign: 1,167,300,263 KRW
• Support Projects for Tuberculosis Patients
o Projects for tuberculosis patient support: 398,254,021 KRW
Breakdown of Patient Support Projects:
• Assistance for underprivileged tuberculosis patients within the country: 58,840,394 KRW
• Tuberculosis patient happiness management: 10,094,984 KRW
• Operations for immigrant tuberculosis shelters: 43,620,000 KRW
• Green Tree Care campaign: 30,000,000 KRW
• Student happiness-sharing support: 29,725,401 KRW
• Support for elderly tuberculosis recovery: 25,973,242 KRW
• Other Projects:
o Christmas Seal fundraising campaign: 50,228,091 KRW
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Right Page:
“Join the Korea National Tuberculosis Association in the 2024 Christmas Seal Campaign!”
(Characters shown are promotional mascots for the campaign, including “WILK.”)
• Bottom text: “Tuberculosis stops here, with the Korea National Tuberculosis Association.”
The translation of the inside of the folder using AI translation is:
Left Page:
Bread Barbershop” Joins the 2024 Christmas Seal Campaign!
“An animation that everyone can enjoy, ‘Bread Barbershop,’ is participating in the 2024 Christmas Seal campaign.
Bring joy and creativity into your daily life with the quirky and lively characters from Bread Barbershop through Christmas Seals.”
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History of Christmas Seals
Christmas Seals were first issued in 1904 by Einar Holbøll, a postmaster in a small village in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The proceeds from these small Christmas Seal donations attached to holiday mail made a great impact and spread worldwide.
Today, Christmas Seals symbolize the fight against tuberculosis.
In Korea, the first Christmas Seal was issued during the Japanese colonial period in 1932, and since 1953, the Korean National Tuberculosis Association has continued to issue them annually to fund tuberculosis prevention and treatment projects.
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Right Page:
Tuberculosis Status in Korea
• Total Tuberculosis Patients: 19,540 (38.2 per 100,000 people)
• New Tuberculosis Patients: 15,640 (30.6 per 100,000 people)
• Tuberculosis Deaths (2022): 1,322
(Source: 2023 Tuberculosis Notification Annual Report, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency; 2022 Statistics on Cause of Death, Statistics Korea)
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Prevention Tips for Tuberculosis and Respiratory Infections
1. If you experience a persistent cough lasting more than two weeks, get tested for tuberculosis!
2. Wear a mask to prevent tuberculosis and respiratory infections!
3. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing!
4. Maintain social distancing during outbreaks of respiratory infections!
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“Purchasing Christmas Seals Is Not Just Buying; It’s Donating!”
The funds raised through Christmas Seals play a vital role in supporting tuberculosis prevention and treatment projects both domestically and internationally.
(Bread Barbershop characters appear as mascots.)”
