The Korea Philatelic Federation (한국우취연합) published Chronology of Postal Offices 1876–1945 (우체관서연혁 1876~1945) in commemoration of PHILAKOREA 2025 (필라코리아 2025). It organizes, by office, the histories of the Post Office Department (우정국), post offices (우체사), temporary post offices (임시우체사), and Japanese Post Offices in Korea (在韓日本郵便局 / 재한일본우편국) that existed on our soil. Here, I整理 points that especially require explanation.
History of the Post Office Department (우정국 연혁)
On November 18, 1884, the Hanseong General Post Office (한성우정총국) and the Incheon Branch (인천분국) began operations, and on December 8 the Post Office Department (우정국) was abolished.
History of Post Offices (우체사 연혁)
1. Jin Gi-hong’s “History of Post Offices” (진기홍의 우체사연혁)
For the history of post offices, we consult well-organized materials by Jin Gi-hong (진기홍) in A Hundred Years of Korean Stamps (한국우표백년).
Post offices (우체사): Hanseong (한성), Incheon (인천), Gaeseong (개성), Suwon (수원), Chungju (충주), Andong (안동), Daegu (대구), Dongnae (동래), Gongju (공주), Jeonju (전주), Namwon (남원), Naju (나주), Pyeongyang (평양), Uiju (의주), Chuncheon (춘천), Hamheung (함흥), Haeju (해주), Hongju (홍주), Wonsan (원산), Gyeongseong (경성/鏡城), Ganggye (강계), Jinju (진주), Sangju (상주), Jeongju (정주), Gyeongheung (경흥), Samhwa (삼화), Gwangju (광주), Muan (무안), Geumseong (금성), Gangneung (강릉), Yeongbyeon (영변), Anseong (안성), Cheongju (청주), Cheorwon (철원), Andong North (안동 북), Okcheongu (옥청구), Changwon (창원), Seongjin (성진), Eunjin (은진), Gyeongju (경주), Jangheung (장흥), Seoheung (서흥), Byeokdong (벽동), Jeju (제주), Siheung (시흥), Jinwi (진위), Jongseong (종성). (48 in total)
Sir, is this book available for purchase in the United States where I live?
Dear Kenji, there is no book as such, this is an article from the Korean language Woopyo (October 2025). We are publishing English language translations of some of the articles in Woopyo, and this was one of those translations. More will be published in due course.
Thank you, Ivor. I was wondering if “Chronology of Postal Offices 1876–1945 (우체관서연혁 1876~1945)” that this Woopyo article refers to would be available for purchase. The English translation of the article is nonetheless immensely helpful, and I thank you for this. Do you happen to know the availability of this “Chronology of Postal Offices 1876–1945 (우체관서연혁 1876~1945)”?