History on Korean currency

Often in another country you can find a history lesson in your wallet! Korea' paper currency has much to discover about its people and culture.

The 5,000 won and 50,000 won bills (below) have a secret that cannot be found on any other forms of currency throughout the world! The special point of these bills is in the relationship between the two figures depicted; they are the only two figures to be related as mother and son! Shin Saimdang (1504-1551), featured on the 50,000 won bill, is also the only female on Korean currency, and is perhaps best well-known as being a good wife and wise mother.

(Photo Credit: Bank of Korea)

Let’s take a closer look at the pictures! The paintings on the front of the 50,000 won bill and on the back of the 5,000 won bill are different but have a similar feeling. This is because they were both painted by Shin Saimdang, who was not only known as a good wife and wise mother but also as an accomplished painter. She generally focused her paintings on plants and insects.

Of her many works, the painting of grape vines featured on the 50,000 won bill has an interesting story attached to it. As the story goes, one day at a party, a cup of tea was spilled on the skirt of a fellow party participant. When Shin Saimdang saw the girl’s eyes begin to tear us, she immediately stepped in. Using the shapes of the tea stains to create the image of large leaves on a grape vine, she astonished the people around her, who talked about this event long after.

When talking about Shin Saimdang and her son Yulgok Yi I (1536-1584), you cannot leave out Ojukheon House (above left), which is featured on the 5,000 won bill behind Yi I. Ojukheon House was named for the grove of black bamboo, ojuk in Korean, growing around the house. The house has the honor of being the birthplace of Shin Saimdang and her third son, Yulgok Yi I. The house was a filming site of the upcoming drama “Shin Saimdang, The Herstory (2016),” and as such, is expecting to draw in many tourists from overseas.

It is not included on the 5,000 won bill, but if you want to learn more about the life of Yulgok Yi I and his achievements, you should visit the Yulgok Historical Site. Here was where Yulgok lived and taught students at Jaunseowon Confucian Academy. Currently the house displays artifacts from Yi I and his mother in the Yulgok Memorial Hall. A visit here is a great way to learn more about the characters of the 5,000 and 50,000 won bills, Yulgok Yi I and his mother Shin Saimdang. â€¨â€¨

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