Standalone Korea Coin Encyclopedia
South Korean Commemorative Coin Encyclopedia
Bank of Korea legal-tender commemorative programs from the 1971 first issue through the 2025 Liberation 80th coins, organized by program rather than thin issue pages.
대한민국 기념주화 · 大韓民國紀念鑄貨
- Official programs
- 65
- Issuance occasions
- 72
- Coin types
- 213
- Status checked
- 2026-07-31
- Publication
- Published
Canonical architecture
Program, issuance occasion, and coin type remain separate
The current Bank of Korea Korean catalog states 72 issuance occasions and 213 coin types through October 2025. Its 65 named catalog sections are modeled as programs. Those three counts describe different hierarchy levels and are not contradictory.
Official chronology
From the first 1971 program through Liberation 80th
Milestones are selected from the complete Bank of Korea chronology; the full 65-program register remains authoritative.
Five Millennia History of Korea 대한민국 반만년역사 기념주화
10th Asian Games Seoul 1986 제10회 아시아경기대회 기념주화
24th Seoul Olympic Games 제24회 서울올림픽대회 기념주화
2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan 2002 FIFA월드컵축구대회 기념주화
Korean Cultural Heritage — Changdeokgung, Hwaseong Fortress, and Hangeul 한국의 문화유산(창덕궁, 수원화성, 한글) 기념주화
PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games — First Set 2018평창동계올림픽대회 기념주화(1차분)
80th Anniversary of Liberation 광복 80년 기념주화
Browse by material
Material is independent of sale and circulation class
Gold, silver, base-metal, and bimetallic classes come from official composition rows; precious metal alone does not establish bullion or premium status.
base metal
35 coin types
bimetallic
3 coin types
gold
30 coin types
silver
145 coin types
Browse by denomination
Fifteen verified commemorative face values
Commemorative face values have their own identities and are not forced into the six-denomination circulation catalog.
50 KRW
1 coin types
100 KRW
3 coin types
200 KRW
1 coin types
250 KRW
1 coin types
500 KRW
2 coin types
1,000 KRW
22 coin types
2,000 KRW
7 coin types
2,500 KRW
1 coin types
5,000 KRW
36 coin types
10,000 KRW
40 coin types
20,000 KRW
22 coin types
25,000 KRW
6 coin types
30,000 KRW
17 coin types
50,000 KRW
48 coin types
70,000 KRW
6 coin types
Program browser
Filter the canonical program register
Each program keeps its official Korean name, editorial English and Chinese names, issue span, class, issue count, and one canonical browse relationship.
65 programs
| Program | Official Korean | Years | Class | Coin types | Study |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five Millennia History of Korea | 대한민국 반만년역사 기념주화 | 1971 | historical | 12 | Browse class |
| 30th Anniversary of Liberation | 광복30주년 기념주화 | 1975 | liberation | 1 | Browse class |
| 42nd World Shooting Championships | 제42회 세계사격선수권대회 기념주화 | 1978 | international sports | 2 | Browse class |
| Birth of the Fifth Republic | 대한민국 제5공화국 기념주화 | 1981 | state milestone | 3 | Browse class |
| Hosting of the 24th Seoul Olympic Games — First Issue | 올림픽대회유치(1차) 기념주화 | 1982 | Olympic | 3 | Browse class |
| Hosting of the 24th Seoul Olympic Games — Second Issue | 올림픽대회유치(2차) 기념주화 | 1983 | Olympic | 3 | Browse class |
| Bicentennial of Catholicism in Korea | 천주교전래 200주년 기념주화 | 1984 | cultural heritage | 2 | Browse class |
| 10th Asian Games Seoul 1986 | 제10회 아시아경기대회 기념주화 | 1986 | Asian Games | 5 | Program study |
| 24th Seoul Olympic Games | 제24회 서울올림픽대회 기념주화 | 1987–1988 | Olympic | 32 | Program study |
| Daejeon International Exposition | 대전세계박람회 기념주화 | 1993 | international organization | 6 | Browse class |
| 50th Anniversary of Liberation | 광복50주년 기념주화 | 1995 | liberation | 2 | Browse class |
| 50th Anniversary of the United Nations | 유엔창설50주년 기념주화 | 1995 | international organization | 1 | Browse class |
| 50th Anniversary of the Republic of Korea | 정부수립50주년 기념주화 | 1998 | state milestone | 1 | Browse class |
| New Millennium | 새천년 기념주화 | 2000 | state milestone | 1 | Browse class |
| 50th Anniversary of the Bank of Korea | 한국은행 창립50주년 기념주화 | 2000 | institutional | 1 | Browse class |
| ASEM Seoul 2000 | ASEM2000 기념주화 | 2000 | conference | 1 | Browse class |
| 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan | 2002 FIFA월드컵축구대회 기념주화 | 2001–2002 | international sports | 14 | Program study |
| 14th Asian Games Busan 2002 | 제14회 아시아경기대회 부산2002 기념주화 | 2002 | Asian Games | 6 | Browse class |
| 60th Anniversary of Liberation | 광복60년 기념주화 | 2005 | liberation | 1 | Browse class |
| APEC 2005 Korea | 2005년 APEC 정상회의 기념주화 | 2005 | conference | 1 | Browse class |
| Designation of Hangeul Day as a National Holiday | 한글날 국경일 제정 기념주화 | 2006 | national anniversary | 1 | Browse class |
| Traditional Folk Game Series — Talchum (Mask Dance) | 전통민속놀이(탈춤) 기념주화 | 2007 | cultural heritage | 1 | Browse class |
| 60th Anniversary of the Republic of Korea | 대한민국 건국60년 기념주화 | 2008 | state milestone | 1 | Browse class |
| Traditional Folk Game Series — Ganggangsullae | 전통민속놀이(강강술래) 기념주화 | 2008 | cultural heritage | 1 | Browse class |
| Traditional Folk Game Series — Yeongsan Juldarigi | 전통민속놀이(영산줄다리기) 기념주화 | 2009 | cultural heritage | 1 | Browse class |
| UNESCO World Heritage — Jongmyo Shrine | 유네스코 세계유산(종묘) 기념주화 | 2010 | cultural heritage | 1 | Browse class |
| G20 Seoul Summit | 서울 G20 정상회의 기념주화 | 2010 | conference | 1 | Browse class |
| IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011 | 2011대구세계육상선수권대회 기념주화 | 2011 | international sports | 1 | Browse class |
| UNESCO World Heritage — Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes | 유네스코 세계유산(제주 화산섬과 용암동굴) 기념주화 | 2011 | cultural heritage | 1 | Browse class |
| Seoul Nuclear Security Summit | 서울 핵안보정상회의 기념주화 | 2012 | conference | 1 | Browse class |
| Yeosu Expo | 여수 세계박람회 기념주화 | 2012 | international organization | 6 | Browse class |
| 2012 World Conservation Congress | 2012 세계자연보전총회 기념주화 | 2012 | environmental | 1 | Browse class |
| UNESCO World Heritage — Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple | 유네스코 세계유산(석굴암과 불국사) 기념주화 | 2012 | cultural heritage | 1 | Browse class |
| Sungnyemun Gate Restoration | 숭례문 복구 기념주화 | 2013 | cultural heritage | 1 | Browse class |
| Successful Launch of Naro Rocket | 나로호 발사 성공 기념주화 | 2013 | science and technology | 1 | Browse class |
| Korean Cultural Heritage — Changdeokgung, Hwaseong Fortress, and Hangeul | 한국의 문화유산(창덕궁, 수원화성, 한글) 기념주화 | 2013 | cultural heritage | 3 | Browse class |
| 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014 | 제17회 인천아시아경기대회 기념주화 | 2014 | Asian Games | 6 | Browse class |
| Pope Francis's Visit to Korea | 교황 방한 기념주화 | 2014 | cultural heritage | 2 | Browse class |
| Korean Cultural Heritage | 한국의 문화유산 기념주화 | 2014 | cultural heritage | 3 | Browse class |
| 7th World Water Forum | 제7차 세계물포럼 기념주화 | 2015 | conference | 1 | Browse class |
| 70th Anniversary of Liberation | 광복 70년 기념주화 | 2015 | liberation | 3 | Browse class |
| 6th CISM World Games Korea | 2015 경북문경 세계군인체육대회 기념주화 | 2015 | international sports | 1 | Browse class |
| Korean Cultural Heritage — Gyeongju and Baekje Historic Areas | 한국의 문화유산(경주역사유적지구, 백제역사유적지구) 기념주화 | 2015 | cultural heritage | 2 | Browse class |
| Korean Cultural Heritage | 한국의 문화유산 기념주화 | 2016 | cultural heritage | 2 | Browse class |
| PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games — First Set | 2018평창동계올림픽대회 기념주화(1차분) | 2016 | Olympic | 11 | Browse class |
| Korean National Parks — Jirisan and Bukhansan | 한국의 국립공원(지리산, 북한산) 기념주화 | 2017 | environmental | 2 | Browse class |
| PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games — Second Set and Paralympic Winter Games | 2018평창동계올림픽대회 기념주화(2차분) 및 2018평창동계패럴림픽대회 기념주화 | 2017 | Olympic | 12 | Browse class |
| Korean National Parks — Deogyusan, Mudeungsan, and Hallyeohaesang | 한국의 국립공원(덕유산, 무등산, 한려해상) 기념주화 | 2018 | environmental | 3 | Browse class |
| Centennial of the March First Movement and Korean Provisional Government | 3·1운동 및 대한민국임시정부 수립 100주년 기념주화 | 2019 | national anniversary | 5 | Browse class |
| 18th FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019 | 2019광주FINA세계수영선수권대회 기념주화 | 2019 | international sports | 1 | Browse class |
| 100th National Sports Festival | 제100회 전국체육대회 기념주화 | 2019 | international sports | 1 | Browse class |
| Korean National Parks — Songnisan, Naejangsan, and Gyeongju | 한국의 국립공원(속리산, 내장산, 경주) 기념주화 | 2019 | environmental | 3 | Browse class |
| Korean National Parks — Woraksan, Gyeryongsan, Hallasan, and Taeanhaean | 한국의 국립공원(월악산, 계룡산, 한라산, 태안해안) 기념주화 | 2020 | environmental | 4 | Browse class |
| Korean National Parks — Sobaeksan, Taebaeksan, Dadohaehaesang, and Juwangsan | 한국의 국립공원(소백산, 태백산, 다도해해상, 주왕산) 기념주화 | 2021 | environmental | 4 | Browse class |
| Korean National Parks — Gayasan, Byeonsanbando, and Odaesan | 한국의 국립공원(가야산, 변산반도, 오대산) 기념주화 | 2022 | environmental | 3 | Browse class |
| 25th World Scout Jamboree Saemangeum 2023 | 2023 새만금 「제25회 세계스카우트잼버리」 기념주화 | 2022 | international organization | 2 | Browse class |
| Successful Launch of Nuri Rocket | 누리호 발사 성공 기념주화 | 2022 | science and technology | 2 | Browse class |
| Korean National Parks — Seoraksan, Chiaksan, and Wolchulsan | 한국의 국립공원(설악산, 치악산, 월출산) 기념주화 | 2023 | environmental | 3 | Browse class |
| Suncheonman International Garden Expo 2023 | 2023 순천만 국제정원박람회 기념주화 | 2023 | national anniversary | 2 | Browse class |
| Four Seasons of Korea's Mountains | 한국 명산의 사계 기념주화 | 2023 | environmental | 4 | Browse class |
| Key Industries and Economic Development in Korea | 한국의 주력산업과 경제발전(반도체, 조선) 기념주화 | 2024 | science and technology | 2 | Browse class |
| 100 Years of the Korean Census | 한국의 센서스 100년 기념주화 | 2025 | institutional | 2 | Browse class |
| 30th Anniversary of Elected Local Autonomy | 민선 지방자치 30주년 기념주화 | 2025 | institutional | 2 | Browse class |
| APEC 2025 Korea | 2025년 APEC 정상회의 기념주화 | 2025 | conference | 2 | Browse class |
| 80th Anniversary of Liberation | 광복 80년 기념주화 | 2025 | liberation | 2 | Browse class |
Coin-type register
Representative official coin types
Face value is not issue price. Issued quantity is not authorized, manufactured, distributed, sold, proof, set, or overseas quantity. Unknown fields stay unavailable.
13 coin types
| Program and type | Official Korean heading | Issue | Face value | Material / composition | Specification | Issued quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five Millennia History of Koreakr-comm-p01-i001 | 25,000원화세종대왕 초상/국장 | 1971-03-02 | 25,000 KRW | goldGold (90%), Cu(10%) | 96.8 g · 60 mm | 325official-issued-quantity-pieces |
| Five Millennia History of Koreakr-comm-p01-i007 | 1,000원화한국동란 참전16개국 용사상/국장 | 1971-03-02 | 1,000 KRW | silverSilver (100%) | 56.02 g · 55 mm | 4,050official-issued-quantity-pieces |
| 10th Asian Games Seoul 1986kr-comm-p08-i001 | 이만원화성화주자 / 아시안게임마크 및 무궁화 | 1986-03-21 | 20,000 KRW | silverSilver(90%), Cu(10%) | 28 g · 38 mm | Unknownnot-stated-on-official-catalog-record |
| 24th Seoul Olympic Gameskr-comm-p09-i001 | 오만원화거북선 / 국가휘장 및 무궁화 | 1987-02-07 | 50,000 KRW | goldGold(92.5%), Silver(3%), Cu(4.5%) | 33.626 g · 35 mm | Unknownnot-stated-on-official-catalog-record |
| 24th Seoul Olympic Gameskr-comm-p09-i003 | 만원화마라톤 / 국가휘장 및 무궁화 | 1987-02-07 | 10,000 KRW | silverSilver(92.5%), Cu(7.5%) | 33.62 g · 40 mm | Unknownnot-stated-on-official-catalog-record |
| 24th Seoul Olympic Gameskr-comm-p09-i006 | 이천원화권투 / 국가휘장 및 무궁화 | 1987-02-07 | 2,000 KRW | base metalNi(100%) | 17 g · 33 mm | Unknownnot-stated-on-official-catalog-record |
| 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japankr-comm-p17-i001 | 삼만원화축구의 역사 / 2002 FIFA월드컵™ 엠블럼 | 2001-05-25 | 30,000 KRW | goldGold(99.9%) | 31.1 g · 35 mm | Unknownnot-stated-on-official-catalog-record |
| 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japankr-comm-p17-i003 | 만원화광주경기장과 축구동작 / 2002 FIFA월드컵™ 엠블럼 | 2001-05-25 | 10,000 KRW | silverSilver(99.9%) | 31.1 g · 35 mm | Unknownnot-stated-on-official-catalog-record |
| 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japankr-comm-p17-i007 | 천원화마스코트와 축구공 / 2002 FIFA월드컵™ 엠블럼 | 2001-05-25 | 1,000 KRW | base metalCu(89%), Zn(5%), Sn(1%), Al(5%) | 12 g · 32 mm | Unknownnot-stated-on-official-catalog-record |
| Korean Cultural Heritage — Changdeokgung, Hwaseong Fortress, and Hangeulkr-comm-p36-i001 | 창덕궁인정전 자경전 꽃담과 영산홍 | 2013-12-27 | 50,000 KRW | silver은(99.9%) | 19 g · 33 mm | 10,100official-issued-quantity-thousand-pieces |
| PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games — First Setkr-comm-p45-i001 | 삼만원화고로쇠 썰매, 설피(雪皮) / 대회 엠블럼 | 2016-11-18 | 30,000 KRW | gold금(99.9%) | 31.1 g · 35 mm | 3,500official-issued-quantity-thousand-pieces |
| PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games — First Setkr-comm-p45-i003 | 오천원화 Ⅰ쇼트트랙 스피드 스케이팅 / 대회 엠블럼 | 2016-11-18 | 5,000 KRW | silver은(99.9%) | 15.55 g · 33 mm | 16,000official-issued-quantity-thousand-pieces |
| 80th Anniversary of Liberationkr-comm-p65-i001 | 은화 Ⅰ태극기, 독립운동가에서 미래세대에 이르는 인물들의 행진 / 광복 80년 공식 엠블럼 | 2025-10-15 | 70,000 KRW | silver은(99.9%) | 19 g · 35 mm | 7,500official-issued-quantity-thousand-pieces |
Legal status and distribution
Legal tender rarely means ordinary circulation
Bank of Korea commemoratives are legal tender, while the Bank's own history notes that they are rarely used to buy goods. Exchange value remains the face value. Proof manufacture, collector sale, par issue, premium issue, set inclusion, and actual circulation are therefore independent facts.
| Layer | What it proves | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Legal tender | Bank of Korea coin and face value | Everyday circulation or current value |
| Proof | Manufacturing presentation when issue-specific | Separate denomination or circulation |
| Par issue | Face value plus incidental costs | Bank exchange at a teller window |
| Premium issue | Special-law financing sale above face | Gold or silver by itself |
Quantities and original prices
Definitions travel with every number
The official catalog's issued quantity is preserved in pieces. The 2019 centennial record separately documents maximum volume, single and set allocations, domestic and international shares, applications, and a lottery. It states a face-plus-cost price formula; no inaccessible amount is invented and no original price becomes market value.
Quantity
Authorized, planned, manufactured, issued, distributed, sold, proof, set, and overseas fields never substitute for one another.
Original price
Recorded only from an official amount or formula and labeled by single coin or set.
Market value
Outside Phase 5; no dealer, auction, or investment claims.
Grading and authentication
Identify the exact issue before evaluating condition
Compare program, batch, denomination, date, composition, weight, diameter or non-round dimensions, edge, official Korean heading, and both designs. For proofs, separate hairlines, haze, spots, handling, capsule or case friction, and cleaning from circulation wear. Packaging and certificates support provenance but cannot authenticate a coin alone.
| Check | Method | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Metal and dimensions | Use the exact Bank of Korea type row | Tolerance needs issue-specific evidence |
| Design | Read Korean subject, denomination, date, and orientation together | One photograph cannot certify authenticity |
| Proof surfaces | Inspect mirrors, frost, hairlines, haze, spots, and cleaning | Proof is not a grade |
| Packaging | Match case, capsule, certificate, and included coins | Packaging is a separate product object |
Evidence conflicts
Current Korean issuer evidence controls
The shorter English Bank catalog and the older 2022 Bank essay remain useful, but they do not override the current Korean catalog's scope. Counts, translated titles, sales classes, quantity semantics, and image use all retain their recorded evidence boundaries.
| Field | Resolution | Publication impact |
|---|---|---|
| catalog counts | Store 65 program records, 72 issuance-event records, and 213 issue records as separate hierarchy levels. | Counts may be shown only with their level labels. |
| official language catalog parity | The Korean catalog controls canonical identity and count; English is a terminology cross-check. | Localized names are editorially normalized and retain the official Korean name. |
| catalog currency | Use the current catalog with a checked date; retain the essay for methodology, not current count. | Every current total carries the 2026-07-31 status-check date. |
| quantity | Preserve issuedQuantity and keep every other quantity field null unless separately sourced. | No missing quantity becomes zero and no issued total becomes a sales total. |
| institutional role | Store issuer, producer, sales operator, and event entity separately. | KOMSCO medals and products are excluded unless linked to a Bank of Korea coin ID. |
| proof and circulation | Proof finish, legal tender, collector distribution, and actual circulation are independent fields. | No Phase 5 issue is labeled circulating without issue-specific official evidence. |
| official image reuse | Archive exact source files and use deterministic processing only; keep all public paths blocked until sample approval. | No Phase 5 source reference is installed as public art in this batch. |
Continue browsing
Related Korea encyclopedia routes
All routes retain independent evidence and publication gates.
The canonical hierarchy of 65 Bank of Korea program sections, 72 issuance occasions, and 213 coin types.
south distribution browser Premium South Korean Commemorative CoinsOfficially documented premium event programs, kept distinct from par issues, face value, proof finish, and market value.
south theme browser National Anniversaries and State MilestonesRepublic, government, institutional, and long-horizon historical anniversary programs, without merging liberation into a generic label.
south theme browser Liberation Anniversary Commemorative CoinsThe 30th, 50th, 60th, 70th, and 80th Liberation anniversary programs, framed with Korean historical institutions.
south theme browser Olympic Commemorative CoinsSeoul hosting, Seoul 1988, and PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic legal-tender coin programs.
south theme browser Asian Games Commemorative CoinsSeoul 1986, Busan 2002, and Incheon 2014 Asian Games programs with issue and sale classes kept separate.
south theme browser International Sports Commemorative CoinsWorld Cup, shooting, athletics, swimming, military, and national sports programs outside the Olympic and Asian Games lenses.
south theme browser Cultural Heritage and Landscape CommemorativesFolk traditions, UNESCO sites, Korean cultural heritage, national parks, and mountain programs.
south theme browser International Organizations and EventsUN, ASEM, APEC, G20, expositions, conservation, water, security, and scout-event programs.
south theme browser Science, Technology, and InstitutionsBank of Korea, launch-vehicle, industry, census, and local-autonomy programs.
south boundary guide Commemorative Coins, Sets, and Mint ProductsBoundary guide separating legal-tender coin identities from sets, packaging, certificates, KOMSCO medals, and commercial products.
south program study Seoul 1986 Asian Games Commemorative CoinsFive Bank of Korea coin types for the 10th Asian Games, with official design, material, dimensions, and issued quantities.
south program study Seoul 1988 Olympic Commemorative CoinsFive issuance batches and 32 official coin-type records across gold, silver, nickel, and copper-nickel denominations.
south program study 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan Commemorative CoinsTwo Bank of Korea issuance batches and 14 Korean coin-type records, without assigning Korean identity to Japan's companion program.
Sources
Institutional evidence for this page
Source links support the stated scope; they do not license unsourced varieties, market values, or image reuse beyond recorded terms.
Commemorative Coins — Republic of Korea historical catalog
official-issuer-catalog · 2026-07-31
Open sourceCommemorative Coins
official-issuer-english-cross-check · 2026-07-31
Open sourceThe Past and Present of Bank of Korea Commemorative Coins
official-methodology-and-history · 2026-07-31
Open sourceCurrency Reproduction Guidelines
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Open sourceUnknown issue prices, quantity definitions, sales, sets, finishes, circulation use, attributions, and image identity remain unavailable. They never become zero, a market price, or a confident claim.