# Republic Of Korea (South Korea)

* Meter stamps were first introduced on 1 August 1961, when a single meter came into the use of a shipping company. No other meters were installed until 1965 or 1966.
* Meter/License numbers: All meter stamps except the very first type have a license number rather than a meter number. For the first few years the license numbers were prefixed by a code representing the postal area as follows: "PSK" (Seoul), "PBK" (Busan), "PCK" (Cheonju), "PDK" (Daejeon), "PGK" (Gwangju), "PJK" (Jungbu), "PTK" (Taegu) and “PWK” (Wonju) and “KP" (Korea Post). More recently the license numbers were assigned locally, and they are often prefixed by Korean characters only or are without prefix. Some post office meters do not have a meter number at all. Prefix “IPO” is not uncommon and may identify a post office stamp, but we have no verification.
* All stamps are inscribed with a variation of “대 한 민 국 우 편”. They are grouped according to appearance:
       A – Franks with yin-yang symbol and no other illustration or with non-representative ornaments only
       B – Franks with image of the South Great Gate
       C – Franks with image of two children from a folk tale
       D – Franks with image of a pagoda
       E – Franks with commemorative image of the 1988 Olympics or some other special situation or event
       PO – Franks with Ministry of Communication symbol, generated only by machines in Post Offices
* For specialized information about the meter stamps of Korea, see Study of Meter Franking Stamps in Korea by Seung Je Kim, Busan Philatelic Club, 1996.

## GROUP A: Franks with yin-yang symbol and no other illustration or with non-representative ornaments only

A1. 1961, Universal “MultiValue” (MV). [$50]
    Upright frank with simulated perforation outer border and straight-line inner border.
    Yin-yang symbols flank two characters at bottom.
    Meter number U12158 below bottom frame line.
    TM: DC
    V/F: 0000
A2. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” series (MV).
    Horizontal frank with brick-like outer border.
    Value figures boxed with country name vertical at right and yin-yang symbol at left.
    License number below value box, with either Western or Korean characters as prefix.
    TM: SC
    V/F: ≋000
A3. Neopost “Electronic” (MV).
    Frank with simulated perforation border and Greek style ornaments at sides and bottom left.
    the License number at lower right.
    TM: DC, SC
    V/F: ≋000
NOTE: The far right character at top is “표“ rather than “편”.

## GROUP B: Frank illustrates the “Great South Gate”

B1. Pitney Bowes “R” (MV). [$50]
    Very large Great Gate in center touching both the TM and the value box.
    Country inscription is vertical at right, and the yin-yang symbol is above the value box.
    One meter known, the License number “KP1”.
    TM: SC
    V/F: ≋00
B2. Universal “MultiValue” (MV). [$50]
    Only a small portion of the right side of the Great Gate appears.
    Country inscription across top.
    Separate TM with lines at top and bottom sides.
    TM: SC
    One known, with License number KP1
    V/F: 0000
NOTE: Type B2 is most likely from the same machine that produced Type A1.
B3. Postalia “D2" and "D3” (MV).
    Open design without complete outer frame line and Greek style border at right.
    The Gate door is at the right side and the License number is at the left.
    Value box variable in size.
    TM: SC
    V/F: 000 0000
B4. Postalia “D3” (MV).
    As Type B3B but the Gate door is at the left with the License number below the value box.
    TM: SC
    V/F: 0000
B5. Postalia “MS5/WK4” (MV). [$10]
    Frank separate from town mark, with complete frame lines along left and bottom.
    Value box is nearly square.
    TM: SC, DC
    V/F: 0000
B6. Francotyp “A9000” (MV).
    Similar to Type B3 but value box and value figures are much larger.
    The gate shows two peaks at top.
                                                             A. The door of the gate has an arched top
                                                             B. The door of the gate is four equal length vertical lines
    TM: SC with widely spaced date elements
    V/F: ◆,000 ◆0,000
                                                             a. Frame design surrounding value is missing, leaving only the TM with horizontal lines
B7. Postalia “D2” (MV). [$20]
    Frank very similar to Type B6B but with smaller Postalia-style value figures.
    This stamp appears to be from a locally constructed hybrid meter.
    TM: SC
    V/F: 000
B8. Francotyp “A9000” (MV).
    Similar to Type B6 but the Gate is smaller showing only one peak at top, and the value box is not as wide.
                                                          A. With solid semi-circle in lozenge below value box, horizontal lines in field at its right
                                                          B. With solid square in lozenge below value box, empty field at its right
                                                          C. Lozenge below value box and field at its right are both empty
    TM: SC with widely spaced date elements
    V/F: 0,000 ◆,000
B9. Francotyp “A9000” (MV).
    Similar to Type B6B but the frank is not as wide with the town mark closer to the value figures.
    The date figure elements are closer together than with B6.
    TM: SC
    V/F: 0,000
B10. 1979, Francotyp “A9000” (MV). [$5]
    The bottom frame line curves up along the right side.
    The face of the gate containing the door is bricked.
    TM: SC with widely spaced date elements
    V/F: ◆0,000
B11. Hasler “F88” (MV). [$10]
    Tall frank with separate double circular TM.
    V/F: 00 000

## GROUP C: Franks contain image of two children, from a folk tale

C1. Pitney Bowes-GB “5000” series (MV).
    Country inscription vertical at right.
    Yin-yang symbol above value box.
                                                          A. Value box complete
                                                          B. Value box open at top (not shown)
    TM: large DC or SC with tall date figures
                                                       V/F: ≋000
C1.1. Pitney Bowes “5300” (MV). [Quite rare]
    Similar to Type C1 but much smaller, without yin-yang symbol.
    Korean inscription at upper left.
    TM: SC with small date figures
    V/F: ≋000
C2. Pitney Bowes “6500” (MV).
    Similar to Type C1A but TM is smaller and date figures are shorter.
    With one or two vertical lines at far right.
    TM: SC
    V/F: ≋000 ≋0.00
C3. Pitney Bowes “6500” (MV). [$5]
    Similar to Type C2 but without yin-yang symbol.
    Ornamental border across top is complete above value box.
    TM: SC
    V/F: ≋000
                                                    a. Large “PB” above the License number
C4. Pitney Bowes “6500” (MV). [$5]
    Similar to type C1.1 but much wider design and value box as with type C3.
    Without ornamental border beneath the License number.
    TM: SC
    V/F: ≋00.00
C5. Neopost "505” (MV). [Quite rare]
    Country inscription imbedded in ornaments at top.
    Yin-yang symbol is above the children.
    Without internal value box.
    Without ornamental border beneath the License number.
    TM: SC
    V/F: 0000
C6. Neopost "505” (MV). [Quite rare]
    Without internal value box as with C5 but the children image is smaller and higher, above the meter number.
    The yin-yang symbol is above the value figures.
    TM: SC
    V/F: 0000

## GROUP D: Franks with image of a pagoda

D1. Neopost “405/505” (MV). [$5]
    Country inscription at top above value figures.
    Greek style ornamental border along right and below value figures.
    the License number below value figures.
    TM: SC
                                                    A. Value figures boxed
                                                    B. Value figures with horizontal lines above and below
                                                    C. Value figures unboxed and without surrounding lines
    V/F: 0000

## GROUP E: Franks with commemorative image of the 1988 Olympic games or some other special situation or event

E1. Hasler “Mailmaster” (MV). [$5]
    Frank with simulated perforation outer border and inner value box at center right.
    Olympic rings and “’88 SEOUL/OLYMPIC GAME” across top, yin-yang symbol at right.
    Country inscription vertical outside frame line at left.
    TM: SC
                                                          A. Narrow value box with large yin-yang symbol
                                                          B. Wide value box with small yin-yang symbol
    V/F: 0000 00000
E2. Hasler “Mailmaster” (MV). [$10]
    Frank with simulated perforation outer border broken at left by triangular symbol of the Busan Philatelic Club.
    TM: SC
    V/F: 00000

## GROUP PO: Franks with logo of Ministry of Communications

The stamps shown below were generated only by machines in post offices. Several of the commercial/private use meter stamp types were also used in post offices.

#### Sub-group PO-A: Generated by mechanical meters

PO-A1. Francotyp “A9100” (MV).
    Horizontal frank with 3 horizontal lines at top left of country inscription and across the bottom.
    The bottom line curves up along the right side and is rounded at the corner.
    Value figures large and thick.
                                                    A. Without ID#
                                                    B. With ID number without prefix below logo (not shown)
                                                 TM: SC with widely spaced date elements
                                                 V/F: ◆0,000
PO-A2. Postalia “MS5” (MV).
    Similar to Type PO-A1, but value figures smaller and thinner.
    TM: SC with date elements close together
    V/F: 00000
PO-A3. Postalia “MS5” (MV).
    Similar to Type PO-A2 but value box is smaller and the frank has a Greek style border at right.
    TM: SC
    V/F: 0000
PO-A4. Hasler “Mailmaster" (MV).
    Wide frank with thick outer border and thin inner border touching TM at top and bottom.
    Country inscription breaks bottom frame lines below value box.
    TM: SC
    V/F: 00000
PO-A5. Hasler “Mailmaster” (MV).
    Rectangular frank with detatched town mark.
    Country name in Korean across top, postal logo left of the value box.
    TM: DC, SC
    V/F: 00000
PO-A6. Francotyp-Postalia "MS5/WK4" (?) (MV).
    Town mark separated from the frank as with Type PO-A5.
    Otherwise the frank more closely resembles Types PO-A1 and PO-A2.
    Value figures thin and narrow.
    TM: SC
    V/F: 0000
PO-A7. Pitney Bowes (digital).
    Horizontal rectangular frank with large postal logo.
    "KOREA POST" in English below country name in Korean.
    Extensive identification number across the bottom with "PB" prefix.
    Two columns of numbers left of the town mark
    TM: SC
    V/F: 00000
PO-A8. Pitney Bowes "A/B900” (MV).
    Similar to Types PO-A1 and PO-A2 but the town mark circle does not touch the horizontal lines of the frank.
    Horizontal lines at bottom do not extend left of the town mark.
    The value figures are larger than with PO-A2 but not as large and thick as with PO-A1.
                                                       A. Postal logo with trailing lines as on previous types
                                                       B. Postal logo without trailing lines
    TM: SC
    V/F: ≋0000

#### Sub-group PO-B: Generated by digital, computerized devices

PO-B1. Samkyung (digital).
    Stamp on self-adhesive label with light blue underprint of running horses and deer at upper left.
    The stamp has circular town mark at center and at right the country name in Korean, value figures, and ”KOREA POST”.
    V/F: W000
       a. Printed on label with light blue underprint design as shown for Types PO-B3 through PO-B5
       b. With box at left containing the old symbol for Korea Post plus smaller text at bottom stating the mail service, (Special Delivery, etc.)
PO-B2. Samkyung (digital).
    Similar to Type PO-B1 but with straight line town mark.
    The stamp has date-town mark at left and at right: country name in Korean/postage/”KOREA POST”.
                                                 A. Stamp for regular mail
                                                 B. Stamp for registered mail, with bar code across center and number below. At top left are the mail class above the town name and the date. At top center is "Country:" and the destination. At top right is the country name in Korean above the value figures and "KOREA POST".
    V/F: W000 W000= W0000= W 000=
                                                 a. Underprint design in center of label rather than upper left
                                                 b. Underprint design inverted
PO-B3. Samkyung (digital).
    Similar to Type PO-B2B but the bar code is taller and has registration number below left and date below right.
    Above the bar code at top left are the mail classification in English above the country name in Korean.
    At top center is the destination name in English above the weight.
    At top right is "KOREA POST" above the value figures.
    The bar code is found in variable widths.
                                                       A. Printed on labels with underprint in light blue or pink with simulated-perforation border and images of three early Korean postage stamps at upper left
                                                       B. Frameless underprint with image of one early Korean postage stamp at upper left, in pink
                                                 A non-registered version of this stamp no doubt exists but has not yet been seen by us.
                                                 V/F: W000= W0000=
PO-B4. Samkyung (digital).
    Similar to Type PO-B2 but text rearranged.
    At left: mail class above post office name.
    At right: "KOREA POST" / date / value figures / weight.
                                                       A. Printed on white label with running horses and deer design at upper left
                                                       B. Printed on label with light blue underprint as shown with Type PO-B3
                                                       C. Label design as C but underprint color is pink
                                                       D. Printed on white label with orange stripe along right side and Korea Post logo at lower right
                                                    V/F: W00= W000= W0000=
PO-B5. Samkyung (digital).
    All stamps have barcode, not just those for registration.
    All stamps have square 2D barcode at right.
    The date is at upper left.
    The value figures are at upper right above the postal zone.
    The sending or destination post office is identified in Korean above the barcode.
    Identification number appears below the barcode.
                                                       A. Printed on label with light blue underprint as shown with Type PO-B3
                                                       B. Label design as A but underprint color is pink (See NOTE below PO-B6)
                                                    V/F: W000= W0000=
       a. With characters "익일특급" in black block at upper left (one day special service)
       b. With the weight and size of the mailed article added below the bar code
       c. The printed 'perforations' on the stamp are thicker than normal
       d. Without value figures (see labels B and a), used on items with postage pre-applied
PO-B6. Samkyung (digital).
    Similar to PO-B5 but text and barcodes arranged differently.
    Across the top is a large alpha-numeric code(Collecting Area). Korean text at below identifies the Sorting Facility and destination Post Office.
    The date is at bottom right, and the value figures are at bottom center.
                                                       A. Printed on label with light blue underprint as shown with Type PO-B3 (not shown)
                                                       B. Label design without outer border and with single stamp ornament at upper left and Korea Post logo at bottom right, printed in pink
                                                       C. As A, label with square 2D bar code and regular bar code indicating a special service
                                                       D. As B, label with square 2D bar code and regular bar code indicating a special service
                                                       E. As C, but printed on white label with orange stripe as Type PO-B4D
                                                    V/F: W(000)0=
NOTE: The stamp shown for PO-B6B is not a true stamp but a registration label. The Korean text at bottom identifies the Sorting Facility and destination Post Office.
PO-B7. Unidentified (digital).
    Frank printed on self-adhesive label with rounded corners, used only for tracked mail.
    The stamp is dominated by a large bar code with identification number and date below. Above the bar code are the mail class a bold two-letter code and "KOREA POST" in one line above the post office name in Korean, the weight, and value figures.
    The label has diagonal "rip lines" running from corner to corner.
    V/F: W(000)0=

## GROUP PV: Digital vending machine stamp

PV1. Samkyung (digital).
    Frank quite similar to Type PO-B2A and uses the same label with underprint at upper left.
    With PV1 the town name and date are larger and at center left rather than upper left.
                                                       A. At left is town line above date. At right is KOREA POST in Korean and English with the value figures between.
                                                       B. With mail class and destination across the top
    V/F: W0000=