Korea Post Releases First Commemorative Stamps of the Year Featuring "Baby Animals"

Four types of commemorative stamps featuring images of baby animals are being released. These are the first commemorative stamps of the year.

The Korea Post Service announced on January 21 that it will issue 480,000 commemorative stamps this month, featuring images of four baby animals: 'Gaehoju', 'Neungsoni', 'Dongburegi', and 'Aedot'. The commemorative stamps will be available for purchase starting January 28 at local post offices or through the online post office.

Image of the baby animal 'Gaehoju' commemorative stamp. Provided by Korea Post Service.

On the commemorative stamps, 'Gaehoju' refers to a tiger cub, 'Neungsoni' to a bear cub, 'Dongburegi' to a calf at the age when it begins to grow horns, and 'Aedot' to a one-year-old pig.

Unlike commonly known words for baby animals such as puppy, calf, or foal, these names are not widely recognized by the general public.

However, Korean terms for baby animals have been preserved in literature and folk records. The Korea Post Service explained that the wisdom and affection of ancestors are reflected in the tradition of giving specific names to each stage of a newborn animal’s growth, carefully distinguishing the process of life as it develops.

A representative from the Korea Post Service stated, "Although the nicknames for animals used in the commemorative stamps are not frequently used in everyday life, recording and remembering them is an important practice for preserving the diversity of our culture and ecological sensitivity. We hope that through these commemorative stamps, which capture both the adorable appearance and unique names of baby animals, people will be reminded of the warmth of the Korean language and the preciousness of life."