The mask dancing has its origin in the ancient Shilla Dynasty and was performed by the common people as religious rite or as plays for amusement.

Hafoe Masque: The mask depicted in the 7 Won stamp is mask of a Yangban (the ruling class of the Yi/Lee Dynasty) who appears in the Hafoe shaman mask dancing. The dancing was usually performed as religious rite of worshipping the village gods enshrined in the Sungwhang-dang, Kookshin-dang and Samshin-dang in Hafoe village, Andong, Kyongsang Province and its vicinity area. With this background, the Hafoe mask dancing consequently became a play for amusement among the folks. The players all came from the commoners and they were allowed to wisecrack at the Yangban class while they wear on masks. This might well be the one and only opportunity during which they can give out vent to their mortification in everyday life. Originally, the Hafoe mask comprised a total of 12 wood-carved masks and today only 9 of them are in existence. They are designated as national cultural properties by the Government because they are of Koryo Dynasty's origin and they are the most excellent type of the masks found today.