Korea Stamp Museum
{{Short description|Postal museum in Pyongyang, North Korea}}
{{Distinguish|text=Korea Postage Stamp Museum in Seoul, South Korea}}
{{Infobox museum
| name = Korea Stamp Museum
| native_name = 조선우표박물관
| image = DPRK Pyongyang Stamp Shop outside view.JPG
| caption =
| coordinates = {{Coord|39.007461|125.736722|display=inline,title}}
| established = {{Start date|2012|04|09|df=y}}
| location = Changgwang Street, Chung-guyŏk, Pyongyang, North Korea
| type = Postal museum
| owner = Korea Stamp Corporation
}}
The Korea Stamp Museum ({{langx|ko|조선우표박물관}}){{cite web|url=https://koreastampsociety.org/2019/02/16/ksc5190a-in-commemoration-of-renovation-of-korea-stamp-museum/|title=KSC5190A: In Commemoration of Renovation of Korea Stamp Museum|work=Korea Stamp Society|last=Pieters|first=Jo|date=February 16, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2020}} is a postal museum in the Central District of Pyongyang, North Korea.{{cite magazine|year=2016|number=3|title=Stamps Showcase 70 Years of the DPRK|magazine=Pictorial KOREA|author=Choe Kwang Ho|url=http://www.naenara.com.kp/contents_e/periodic/korea/2016/03/03.pdf|page=32}}
History
The Korea Stamp Museum opened on April 9, 2012 as part of the centennial celebration of the birth of Kim Il Sung{{cite web|url=http://www.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=106094|title=北 우표발전사 볼 수 있는 '조선우표박물관'|language=Korean|website=Tongil News|date=February 18, 2014|access-date=May 16, 2020}} after being upgraded to a museum from an exhibition hall for the Korea Stamp Corporation.{{cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/2018-07/10/c_1123104663.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630025726/http://www.xinhuanet.com/2018-07/10/c_1123104663.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2020|title=通讯：朝鲜对外文化交往的名片——朝鲜邮票博物馆访问记|language=Chinese|website=Xinhua News Agency|date=July 10, 2018|access-date=May 16, 2020}} The museum closed for renovations in 2018 as part of an expansion project and reopened on February 11, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.sohu.com/a/294732697_283238|title=朝鲜邮票博物馆改建后于平壤重新开馆!|language=Chinese|website=Sohu|date=February 14, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://truyenhinhdulich.vn/diem-den/trieu-tien-mo-cua-lai-bao-tang-tem-2607.html|title=Triều Tiên: mở cửa lại bảo tàng tem|language=Vietnamese|website=truyenhinhdulich|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2020}}
Description
Located in between the Koryo Hotel{{cite book|last=Hoare|first=James|title=Historical Dictionary of Democratic People's Republic of Korea|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|date=2019|page=368}} and Pyongyang station, the Korea Stamp Museum is situated in a three floor building with awards from philatelic exhibitions housed in the ground level,{{cite magazine|year=2020|title=Korea Today|magazine=KCNA Watch|author=Kim Son Myong|url=https://kcnawatch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/03/Korea-Today-2020-03-01.pdf|page=40}} a souvenir shop on the second floor, and an exhibition hall on the third floor.{{cite web|url=https://minjok.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=general&wr_id=55746|title=<조선신보> 개건된 조선우표박물관을 방문하다|language=Korean|website=Minjok|date=March 31, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2020}} The exterior of the museum after its renovation was built to resemble a postage stamp and has a bronze statue of a dove holding a postcard while flying above the Earth located outside the building. The museum functions more as a shop than a museum to attract international tourists[http://www.comtourist.com/travel/pyongyang/pyongyang-entertainment/ Advertised as a tourist attraction on e.g. the site of COMTOURS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225025954/http://www.comtourist.com/travel/pyongyang/pyongyang-entertainment/ |date=2020-02-25 }} and [https://koryogroup.com/travel-guide/pyongyang-stamp-exhibition-north-korea-travel-guide Koryo Tours] and philatelists despite the limitations of international sanctions.{{cite book|last=Marr|first=Henry|title=North Korea|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|date=2018|page=104}}{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/07/05/north-koreas-long-history-of-attacking-america-with-anti-u-s-stamps/|title=North Korea's long history of attacking America — with anti-U.S. stamps|work=The Washington Post|last=Erickson|first=Amanda|date=July 5, 2017|access-date=May 16, 2020}}
Collection
The Korea Stamp Museum houses over 6,000 stamps, envelopes, and postcards.{{cite web|url=https://kenh14.vn/giai-ma-nhung-dia-diem-du-lich-noi-tieng-nhat-tai-trieu-tien-trong-tap-ban-ket-cua-cuoc-dua-ki-thu-2019-20190901113141604.chn|title=Giải mã những địa điểm du lịch nổi tiếng nhất tại Triều Tiên trong tập Bán kết của Cuộc đua kì thú 2019|language=Vietnamese|website=Kenh14|date=September 2, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2020}} In this collection, the museum contains relics from the ancient times and artifacts from the postal system established at the end of the Joseon dynasty,{{cite web|url=http://www.spnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=17089|title=北, 조선우표박물관 리모델링 개관|language=Korean|website=SPN News|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2020}} as well as relics since the establishment of the North Korean Postal Service including the first stamps created by the service.{{cite web|url=http://m.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=128279|title=평양의 인기 관광지, 조선우표박물관 개건 <조선신보>|language=Korean|website=Tongil News|date=March 30, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2020}} The museum also houses an album of stamps collected by Kim Jong Il.{{cite web|url=https://exploredprk.com/news/korean-stamps-museum-renovated/|title=Korean Stamps Museum Renovated|website=Explore DPRK|access-date=May 16, 2020}} The stamps displayed highlight events in the country's history, flora and fauna, and world events including the launch of Sputnik, the birth of Prince William, and the 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit.{{cite web|url=https://koryogroup.com/blog/dprk-us-singapore-summit-commemorative-stamps|title=DPRK-US Singapore Summit Commemorative Stamps|work=Koryo Tours|date=June 14, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2020}}
In popular culture
The museum appeared on the ninth episode of The Amazing Race Vietnam 2019 as the site of a task where the competing teams had to search for a commemorative stamp of Kim Jong Un's goodwill visit to Vietnam in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/amazing-race-flies-north-korea|title=The Amazing Race flies into North Korea|work=Lowy Institute|last=Vu|first=Khang|date=September 10, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2020}}
See also
{{portal|North Korea|Philately}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Pyongyang}}
{{Museums in North Korea}}
{{Tourist attractions in Pyongyang}}