Dr. Joel Lee, Author at Korea Stamp Society

Story of L’Abbe Pierre Pasquier

February 10, 2021November 11, 2020 Dr. Joel Lee1541 Comment

The Catholic Church in Korea started when Yi Sŭnghun came back from China after he had been baptized. He met Yi Pyŏk and Chŏng Yakchŏn, and together they built a faith community. The community remained viable even after small and large persecutions (about 10) during the almost 100 year long period starting with the Sinhae […]

Lee Neung-hwa, an unknown historical figure and a stamp collector in a time of turmoil

January 20, 2021January 22, 2021 Dr. Joel Lee1332 Comments

In Joseon (Korea) in the 33rd year (1896) of King Gojong‘s rule a French person, Emile Martel (1874-1949), established the French Language School in Seoul as a governmental institute in Jong-ro-gu, now known as Susong-dong (Korean: 수송동). Martel arrived in Korea in July 1894 at the age of only twenty years old. Subsequently this school […]

Beautiful Postal Cards and Postal Covers of Early Korea

May 16, 2020March 28, 2020 Dr. Joel Lee4561 Comment

Some of the rarest examples of postal history of Empire Korea, combining the images of early 20th century Korea on hand-tinted postal cards and a cover demonstrating all the stamps available at the Chemulpo, Korea post office on a single day are that of a correspondence addressed to Mrs. Charlotte K. Ober, University of Washington, […]

Entires with “TAEGEUK” of the 1st and 2nd Issued Sets

April 25, 2020March 28, 2020 Dr. Joel Lee427Leave a Comment

The Gab-sin coup d’etat (甲申政變; 갑신정변) of 4 December 1884 (Lunar calendar 10. 17.), attempted by the reformers at the opening ceremony of the post office, failed. All main figures were killed including Mr. Young-Sik Hong whose constant efforts had led to the issuing of a Royal decree to establish the Department of Post Office […]