Korea issued its first postage stamps in 1884, the 21st year of Emperor Kojong, follwing the inauguration of modern postal service. A total of 55 kinds of stamps were issued by the end of the Yi Dynasty, and stamps issued in Korea since its Liberation in 1945 total 1,110 kinds, bringing the grand total to postage stamps issued in this country up to 1,165 kinds.

Today, the number of stamp collectors throughout the world is estimated to exceed 50 million by far, and there are more than 300,000 Koreans who enjoy collecting postage stamps. Philatelic organizations numbering 2,500 are scattered throuhgout the Republic of Korea.

A special postage stamp is to be issued by the Ministry of Communications in observance of the Sixth Philatelic Week, with a painting of an attractive lady by renowned genre painter Shin Yoon-bok(1758-?) of the latter Yi Dynasty as its design.

The painting of a standing lady, drawn on a sheet of silk in light coloring, measures 114.5cm in length and 45.8cm in width and is presently preserved at Kansong Museum of Arts in Seoul.