Supporting Philatelists Since 1952
I lived in Osaka, Japan, for three years in the mid to late 1970s, spanning my middle- and high-school years. In truth, it was there that I learned most of what I know about stamp collecting. At the time, the economic gap between Korea and Japan was enormous, and the scale of the Japanese philatelic […]
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Among the sheets presented to the participating nations issued between 1951 and 1952, there is a mixture of two types: those manufactured on the same printing plate together with the stamps arranged side by side, and those manufactured from a printing plate composed solely of the sheets without any stamps. The former takes the form […]
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Foreign FIP officials who visited PHILAKOREA 2025 later sent the following sincere messages of congratulations and praise. If we had been perfect, these messages could perhaps be dismissed as something obvious. However, because this event was completed only after overcoming countless hardships and many small crises, each kind word gave us a quiet but deeply […]
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This section presents the latest philatelic developments featured in the November 2025 issue of Woopyo Magazine, covering both domestic and international news of interest to Korean collectors. The articles have been compiled and curated by Jin Hur, who regularly reports on noteworthy exhibitions, auctions, and society activities. Together they provide a snapshot of current movements […]
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The following interview first appeared in the October 2025 issue of Woopyo Magazine. Though not centered on Korean philately, it offers a rare and illuminating perspective on philately in East Asia through the experiences of a distinguished Japanese woman philatelist. In sharing her path to international recognition, this article broadens our understanding of the cultural […]
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This issue of Woopyo (October 2025) presents the latest Philatelic News, edited by Jin Hur, capturing the activities of the Korea Philatelic Federation around PHILAKOREA 2025. The section reports on board and committee meetings, publications, and international exchange events held in conjunction with the exhibition. It offers readers both an inside view of organizational decisions […]
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PhilaKorea 2025 was held during September 17–21, but the organizing committee had in fact launched into operations from the 13th–14th, and endured hard labor until the 22nd, when most of the overseas visitors departed. The reception team at the airport was handled by Vice President of the Federation Yoo Yong-Sang’s protocol team, which in effect […]
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The “Specialized Catalogue of Korean Stamps” published in 2023 presents tables concerning the issuance quantities of Korean Empire stamps, as does Mizuhara Meiso’s “Modern Postal History of Korea“. These tables reiterate previously published data. A detailed examination reveals discrepancies between the reported quantities of Plum Blossom regular stamps (이화 보통우표) and Falcon regular stamps (독수리 […]
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Here is the latest philatelic news from Korea, compiled by Jin Hur, editor in chief of KPF’s magazine Woopyo. This column was originally published in the September 2025 issue of the Korean philatelic magazine Woopyo. The main focus this month is on the exciting final preparations and special releases for the upcoming PHILAKOREA 2025 World […]
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With the grand opening of PHILAKOREA 2025 just around the corner, the excitement is palpable. In the September 2025 issue of Woopyo magazine, Jin Hur offers a unique perspective from his dual position as Head of the Collection Committee and editor-in-chief of the Korean language stamp magazine. He shares his candid, behind-the-scenes reflections on the […]
Continue Reading Published in Woopyo, the Korean‑language stamp magazine issued by the Korean Philatelic Federation, this article by Yasushi Suzuki (with translation and notes by Jin Hur) examines the so‑called “bizarre gum‑coated paper” found on Korean issues around 1983. Drawing on catalog remarks, portal records, and mint documentation, it identifies affected definitive and commemorative stamps and explains […]
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Even 130 years after their issuance, the Taegeuk Regular stamps still hold unexplored areas. Recently, fresh doubts have arisen regarding distinctions between first printings and reprints, previously accepted without question. Consequently, longstanding debates about the relationship between printing shades, paper types, and known varieties have resurfaced, generating internal and external demands for an overall reassessment […]
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This article, originally published in the August 2025 issue of Woopyo magazine, provides a comprehensive update on preparations for the upcoming PhilaKorea 2025 international philatelic exhibition. Written by Jin Hur, Secretary General of PhilaKorea 2025, the report outlines key statistics, exhibit classifications, venue logistics, and organizational priorities. It also addresses the role of Korean exhibitors […]
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This month’s Woopyo Philatelic News offers readers a concise snapshot of the most significant events, exhibitions, and organizational updates shaping Korea’s vibrant stamp community—and its connections to the wider international philatelic world—as reported in the latest issue of Woopyo.
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Through a video conference held on April 25 with the FIP, the outline of the exhibits for PHILAKOREA 2025 began to take shape. In attendance were FIP President Prakob Chirakiti, Vice President and PHILAKOREA advisor Richard Tan, and FIP Secretary General Kelly Ong. Representing Korea were the author, along with two Deputy Commissioners General Ryu […]
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Based on the outcome of the Zoom video conference with the FIP held on Friday, April 25, the fourth meeting for the selection of PhilaKorea exhibits and jury members was held on Monday, April 28, at the Korea Philatelic Federation (KPF). During this meeting, the selection of exhibits and the assignment of jury members were […]
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The following article is a translation of content originally published in the May 2025 issue of Woopyo (우표), the official monthly magazine of the Korean Philatelic Federation. It is republished here in English to help the international stamp community stay informed about recent developments in Korean philately. Covering topics such as upcoming exhibitions, catalog updates, […]
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Fifty years ago, in 1975, Spain commemorated its 125th anniversary of stamp issuance by hosting the World Stamp Exhibition “ESPANA 75” from April 4th to 13th in its capital city, Madrid. Today, such exhibitions typically last about five or six days, yet this event remarkably lasted double that duration—ten days. This particular exhibition holds significant […]
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In commemoration of the 140th anniversary of the founding of modern postal services, the PhilaKorea World Stamp Exhibition—which was originally scheduled for 2024—has been postponed and will now be held from September 17 to 21 this year (2025). It should be noted that during the FIP General Assembly held in Shanghai, China last year, the […]
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In the November 2024 issue of Woopyo, editor-in-chief Jin Hur highlights key developments in Korean philately on page 8. The article covers the initial meeting for judge selection for Philakorea 2025, international collaborations reported by the British journal Stanley Gibbons, the discovery of early Korean philatelic photographs, and the upcoming stamp exhibition at the Gimhae […]
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