조선우표사 Archives — Korea Stamp Society

Are the Designs of North Korea’s (DPRK) Stamps commemorating the creation of the DPRK Flag and National Emblem based On a Painting?

October 19, 2022August 21, 2022 Evgeniy Savchenko962 Comments

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) issued its first set of stamps on September 19, 1948 commemorating the establishment of the DPRK on September 9, 1948, Scott 14-15. The Scott numbers for North Korea 1 -13 are for used for the Soviet occupation era. Since those stamps were issued, North Korea has issued stamps […]

The Korea Stamp Museum in Pyongyang in 2012-2013

January 12, 2022November 20, 2021 Leo van der Velden3572 Comments

The Stamp Museum of Pyongyang is housed in a specially built three-floor building next to the well-known Koryo Hotel in downtown Pyongyang. The front of the building is designed in the shape of a stamp. In front of the building stands a bronze statue of a dove holding a postcard while flying around the earth […]

My postal experiences in the DPRK 2012 – 2013

November 23, 2021November 23, 2021 Leo van der Velden4842 Comments

From early August 2012 to the end of November 2013 I was stationed in Pyongyang (DPRK) for the World Food Program of the United Nations. Because of the limited international internet access allowed to the WFP national staff in the DPRK (mainly seconded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). There is also a WFP DPRK […]

Examples of DPRK new issue leaflet from the 1990s: when times were different

October 14, 2021October 8, 2021 Ivo Spanjersberg316Leave a Comment

For several years (starting in 2018) the KSS has been listing new stamp issues from North Korea. With these new issues the stamp issuing entity of the DPRK, the Korea Stamp Corporation (KSC), always releases a new issue leaflet. This issue shows details of the stamps, while at the same time doubling as an order […]

Are these stamps the unlisted series KSC5170-KSC5173?

April 10, 2021December 8, 2020 KSS Korea Philately Editor6132 Comments

One of our readers, Jordan, sent scans of four complete sheets of North Korean stamps asking what we know about these particular stamps. The first thing to do when answering such questions is to look through either the “Korean Stamp Catalogue 1946-2015” (if the stamps were issued before December 2015) or on the Korea Stamp […]

KSC5338-5339: 60th Anniv. of Pukchong Enlarged Meeting of the Presidium of the WPK Central Committee

April 7, 2021March 6, 2021 Ivo Spanjersberg646Leave a Comment

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 7 April 2021 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a set of a stamp and a souvenir sheet commemorating the “60th Anniv. of Pukchong Enlarged Meeting of the Presidium of the WPK Central Committee”. The text the KSC released for this issue states: “Pukchong Enlarged Meeting of the […]

KSC5334-5337: Indigenous Animals

March 24, 2021March 6, 2021 Ivo Spanjersberg657Leave a Comment

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 24 March 2021 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a set of stamps showing animals. These animals are all indigenous to the Korean peninsula. The set of four stamps come in the same value, 30 (DPRK) won each, and are available in sheets as well. At the same […]

KSC5331-5333: Natural Monuments

March 10, 2021March 2, 2021 Ivo Spanjersberg591Leave a Comment

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 10 March 2021 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a series of stamps showing natural monuments of KOrea, such as a magnolia growing on Mount Taesong and the oldest appletree in the DPRK.

KSC5321-5323: Pyongyang Golf Course

February 25, 2021February 15, 2021 Ivo Spanjersberg661Leave a Comment

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 25 February 2021 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a series of stamps and a souvenir sheet showing the “Pyongyang Golf Course, which is situated at the Thaesong lakeside at the foot of Mt Sokchon, has an 18-hole course, nine holes each in two parts with an accommodation […]

KSC5325-5326: Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea

February 20, 2021March 15, 2021 Ivo Spanjersberg769Leave a Comment

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 20 February 2021 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a set of stamps and souvenir sheets commemorating the “Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea” which was held from January 5 to 12 this year.

KSC5320: 79th Birthday of the Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il

February 16, 2021February 15, 2021 Ivo Spanjersberg621Leave a Comment

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 16 February 2021 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a stamp “to mark the 79th birthday of the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il. The stamp reflects Chairman Kim Jong Il’s birthplace in the Paektusan Secret Camp and Jong Il Peak.”

KSC5316-5319: Plants

January 20, 2021March 6, 2021 Ivo Spanjersberg589Leave a Comment

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 20 January 2021 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a set of stamps showing plants. The plants on the stamps, such as the Osmunda japonica and the Helianthus annuus, are all indigenous to the Korean peninsula. The set of four stamps come in the same value, 50 (DPRK) […]

Reader’s Question: How to order from KoreaPost and what about all these new DPRK stamps?

January 16, 2021December 8, 2020 KSS Korea Philately Editor85111 Comments

We received a message from one of our readers, Peter, who has two questions. One is on the KoreaPost international stamp sales website and the inability to actually order something through that website, a point raised quite often by both KSS members and visitors of the KSS website. The other question is on North Korean […]

KSC5300-5314: Military Parade Held in Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea

December 20, 2020February 15, 2021 Ivo Spanjersberg567Leave a Comment

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 20 December 2020 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a series of stamps titled “Military Parade Held in Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea”. As the KSC describes them, these “stamps were issued to reflect the military parade held in celebration […]

KSC5295-5298: Historical Remains

December 12, 2020November 29, 2020 Ivo Spanjersberg8151 Comment

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 10 December 2020 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a series of stamps showing “historical remains of the Korean nation” such as several bronze works.

KSC5299: Let us advance vigorously towards the Eighth Party Congress by making the flames of the 80-day campaign flare up!

November 17, 2020November 29, 2020 Ivo Spanjersberg1028Leave a Comment

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 17 November 2020 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a stamp commemorating the 19th meeting of the Political Bureau. The KSC stated: “The 19th meeting of the Political Bureau of the Seventh Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea made a crucial decision to wage an 80-day […]

KSC5291-5294: Natural History Museum

November 12, 2020November 29, 2020 Ivo Spanjersberg8822 Comments

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 12 November 2020 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a series of stamps and maxicards showing the Natural History Museum and several prehistoric animals.

KSC5286-5290: 75th Anniv. of Founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea

October 10, 2020October 1, 2020 Ivo Spanjersberg1115Leave a Comment

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 10 October 2020 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a series of stamps and cards to commemorate the “75th Anniv. of Founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea“. The KSC states “The WPK founded by the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung has strengthened and developed into an […]

KSC5282-5285: Wooden Stamps

September 30, 2020September 30, 2020 Ivo Spanjersberg15622 Comments

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 30 September 2020 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a series of stamps made out of wood. According to the KSC “the State Stamp Bureau of the DPRK has issued 4 wooden stamps reflecting the national symbols of the DPRK.” The wood from which the stamps have been […]

KSC5279-5280: Historical Relics

September 18, 2020September 30, 2020 Ivo Spanjersberg956Leave a Comment

(News from 조선우표사 / Korea Stamp Corporation) On 18 September 2020 the Korea Stamp Corporation issued a series of stamps showing “historical relics”. The KSC writes “Historical relics including Nam Gate of Taesongsan Fortress and Kwangbop Temple are the valuable treasures of the country showing the time-honoured history and brilliant culture of the Korean nation […]