The October 2025 issue of 우표 (Woopyo), no. 717, presents itself as both a commemorative record of 필라코리아 2025 (PhilaKorea 2025) and as a continuation of philatelic scholarship spanning traditional, modern, and thematic subjects. The sheer size of this issue, surpassing one hundred pages, reflects the editorial decision to preserve in one place the award results, reports, and critical essays that might otherwise be inaccessible to philatelists outside Korea.
The issue begins with an opinion piece by 조권행 (Cho Kwonhaeng), president of the Korea Philatelic Federation, titled “필라코리아 2025! REMEMBER! FOREVER!”. Cho recalls the long preparation process, the delays caused by difficulties in securing funding and a venue, and the eventual success in hosting the exhibition at Seoul’s Magok COEX center. In his words, “To hold such an event required patience, persistence, and the combined strength of postal authorities and philatelists. Looking back, it feels as though a five-year marathon has finally concluded.” His piece offers not only institutional memory but also personal recollection, noting that he had taken part in PhilaKorea 1984 as a young postal employee and later in 1994 as a government officer, thereby placing 2025 in a broader generational continuum.
