Title : Special Postage Stamps Commemorating the "5000 Years of Korean Art" Exhibition (5th Issue) 
(View Souvenir Sheet)
Stamp Serial#
 1162 
KPC#
 C-825 
MICHEL#
 1188 
StanGib#
 1421 
Scott#
 1190 
Date of Issue
 02/20/1980 
Quantity
 6,000,000 
Denomination
 60 won 
Design
 Landscape by Kim Hong-do 
Designer
 Lee Keun-Moon 
Image Area
 49mm*33mm 
Perforation
 13 
Sheet Composition
 2Ąż5 
Paper
 White
Unwatermarked
Print
 Government Printing & Mint Agency of the Republic of korea 
Description
A Korean art exhibition under the title of "5000 Years of Korean Art" has been held in the United States, in one city after another, since May 1, 1979, and is scheduled to continue through June 30, 1981 when it will have been held in seven American cities.

The exhibition was planned to provide an opportunity for foreign people to get a new understanding of the abundant and unique artistic heritage of the Korean people. In order to celebrate the occasion, the Ministry of Communications decided to issue special postage stamps depicting some of the cultural assets equivalent to national treasures.

The following are the first set of these to be issued this year, and the 5th Issue overall:
1. Landscape by Kim Hong-do.
Together with Shin Yun-bok, who was introduced in a previous set, Kim Hong-do (1745-1815) is a well-known painter who lived in the late period of the Yi Dynasty. Although he is generally known to be a genre painter noted especially for his humble and humorous artistic touch, he also showed his superior talent in many other subjects such as landscape, figure, flower, bird, and insect. In landscape, among other, he displayed a unique style. This picture, characteristic of his unique landscape style, is painted on paper with black ink and slight color. The size is 31.5cm by 27.2cm.

2. Tortoise-Shaped Kettle.
This earthenware, 14cm high and 13.5cm long, was excavated in 1973 from the bomb of King Michu of Old Silla Kingdom, near Kyongju, the old capital of the kingdom. It is formed so peculiarly that although it looks like an animal, it is unlike any known animal. The body, supported by a conical stand instead of having legs, resembles a tortoise. The long, "S" -shapedneck resembles a dragon. The body is decorated with chains, one in the front, another in the back, and two on each side. Spiky scales project from neck, spine and tail. The kettle has its cup-shaped mouth attached to its back. Judging from its shape and decorations, this pottery was probably designed and used for a ceremonial purpose rather than for daily life.