Goethe was not only an extremely accomplished writer, but also a natural scientist and politician, setting an example as a "whole" man who was both versatile and of fine intellect. Throughout much of his life, Goethe remained at the forefront of German Classicism, and became a prominent figure in the world's history of great minds.

The Republic of Korea and the Federal Republic of Germany have jointly issued postage stamps commemorating the 250th anniversary of Goethe's birth. Separate designs based on the portrait of Goethe by Joseph Karl Stieler were created in both Korea and Germany.

On Korea's souvenir sheet, a scene from Faust in which Mephisto and Dr. Faust are conversing with each other is also depicted on the stamp. In addition, the final couplet of Faust, "Das Ewig-Weibliche zieht uns hinan" (Eternal womanhead leads us on high), appears in the background of the sheet. At 480 won, the price of this sheet was set at the same cost as that of air mail for a standard letter between Korea and Germany.