South Korea 1000 Won Banknote, 2007, P-54a, UNC

This 1,000 Won banknote, issued by the Bank of Korea in 2007, serves as a refined example of South Korea’s modern currency design. The obverse features a portrait of Yi Hwang, a renowned Neo-Confucian scholar of the Joseon Dynasty, alongside the Myeongnyundang lecture hall at Sungkyunkwan. This note represents the first major redesign of the denomination in over two decades, introduced to incorporate advanced security features while reducing the physical dimensions for easier handling. The reverse of the note showcases Gyesang Jeonggeodo, a celebrated landscape painting by artist Jeong Seon that depicts Yi Hwang at the Dosan Seowon academy. Intricate security elements such as a color-shifting holographic thread and a watermark portrait enhance the note’s technical sophistication. For collectors, this uncirculated note offers significant educational value by highlighting Korea’s deep intellectual heritage and its transition toward high-security modern printing standards.