Title : Definitive Postage Stamp
Stamp Serial#
 1848 
KPC#
 379 
MICHEL#
 1872 
StanGib#
 2039 
Scott#
 1848 
Date of Issue
 01/22/1996 
Quantity
 To be issued as required 
Denomination
 300 won 
Design
 a Skylark 
Designer
 Lee Hye-ok 
Image Area
 22mm*19mm 
Perforation
 12¨ö*13¨ö 
Sheet Composition
 10*10 
Paper
 White unwatermarked
Print
 Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation 
Description
In 1992, the Ministry of Information and Communication drew up a master plan to phase in new definitive postage stamps to replace old ones which have been in use for some time, and at the same time to upgrade the standards of Korean stamps. In accordance with this plan, An Chang-ho, who graced the 300 definitive postage stamp since it was issued on November 25, 1983, is now being replaced by a skylark.

The skylark (Alauda arvensis), belonging to the family Alaudidae, is typical of the resident birds found throughout Korea, China and Japan. Skylark inhabit river-side grass, barley, and wheet fields. It is normally about 17cm long. The brown-backed bird is generally reddish brown in color with blackish brown streaks, its color varying somewhat with season. From the crown or its head hangs an eretile tuft of feathers. It has dark brown spots on the breast. During its breeding season of April to July, it lays three to six light gray eggs with brown speckles. It feeds chiefly on grass seeds and insects. As skylarks are gradually disappearing due to accelerating environmental pollution caused by regional development and the use of pesticides, they are in urgent need of special consideration.

This new stamp is being issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications to bring the public's attention to the importance of Korea's precious living resources and conservation of natural environment, and at the same time as part of a regular change in definitive stamp designs to update and enliven the image of Korean stamps.