The 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Korea and Brazil

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Brazil. Over the past half a century, the two countries have engaged in very active exchanges and cooperation in various areas such as the economic, social, and cultural fields. In celebration of this 50th anniversary, Korea Post and its Brazilian counterpart ECT (Empresa Brasileira de Correios e Telegrafos) are issuing a set of joint stamps featuring bridges, hoping that through these bridges, the two countries located at the opposite sides of the globe can connect together and take a leap forward with each other.

Opened in October 2009, the Incheon Bridge is 18.5km long. Is the longest bridge in Korea and World’s No. 6 in length. The bridge is composed of various types of bridges such as cable-stayed bridge, arch bridge, viaduct, and extra-dosed bridge. The main tower is 238.5m high, and the cable-stayed section of the bridge extends 800 meter to become the 5th longest cable-stayed bridge in the world. Connecting Incheon International Airport with Songdo International City in Incheon, the bridge is expected to contribute to balanced regional development of Korea and to serve as a gateway that connects Korea with the world.

Octavio Frias de Oliveira Bridge is highly lauded as a beautiful bridge in architectural and aesthetic terms. The main towers that cross in an X shape support two curved roads. Opened in 2008 as a cable-stayed bridge, it is 1,600m long and 138m high. Connecting Journalist Roberto Marinho Avenue with the Rio Pinheiros Highway, the bridge significantly contributes to reducing traffic congestion in the region by accommodating 8,000 or so vehicles per hour, and is largely responsible for transforming the region into a tourist attraction.

Stamp Issue: 2009-10-30

Korean Bridge Series (4th)

In this fourth segment of the Korean Bridge series, such representative suspension and truss bridges of Korea as Gwangan Bridge, Seongsu Bridge, Seongsan Bridge, and Yeongjong Bridge are featured. A suspension bridge has two main towers at each end, between which cables hang. A truss bridge is shored up by a web of triangles composed of timbers or steel rods.



(1) Gwangan Bridge
Gwangan Bridge lies across the sea between Namcheon-dong, Suyeong-gu and U-dong, Haewundae-gu of Busan city. It was completed in 2002 as a double-deck bridge combining the features of a suspension bridge as well as a truss bridge. Of its total length of 7,420m, the suspension-bridge section extends 900m. This is the longest among all suspension bridges in Korea, thus launching a new era in Korea's bridge construction methods. Boasting beautiful illumination comprising about 100,000 different colors, the Bridge provides a splendid sight. The bridge is 18~25m wide.

(2) Seongsu Bridge
Linking Seongsu-dong and Apgujeong-dong of Seoul, Seongsu Bridge is 1,160m long. To relieve the traffic congestion of Seoul, the Bridge was completed in 1979 as a truss-bridge, becoming the 11th bridge built over Han River. Since its disastrous collapse in 1994, two rounds of restoration work were conducted. In 1997, the Bridge was reopened with 4 lanes that only directly linked North to South, with no ramps to enter from adjoining roads. In 2004, the Bridge width was expanded from 19.4m to 35m, becoming an 8-lane bridge.

(3) Seongsan Bridge
Boasting excellent representative beauty through the representation of harmony between half-moon-shaped Oriental curvature and lineal beauty, Seongsan Bridge was completed in 1980 as the 12th bridge over Han River. Linking Mangwon-dong and Yanghwa-dong of Seoul, the Bridge connects to Seobu Trunk Road and Gyeongin Highway. As a result, much traffic crosses over the Bridge. As a truss bridge, the Bridge is 1,415m long and 27m wide and has 6 lanes.

(4) Yeongjong Bridge
Shaped after traditional eaves of time-honored Korean houses, Yeongjong Bridge links Gyeongseo-dong (Jang Island) and Unbuk-dong (Yeongjong Island) of Incheon City. The Bridge was completed in 2000 after 60 months of construction that started in 1995. As the exclusive link to Incheon International Airport, the Bridge has two decks which are used for both general traffic and railroad conveyance. The Bridge is 36.1m wide and 4,420m long, 550m of which comprise the suspension bridge section and 2,250m for the truss bridge section.

Stamp Issue: 2007-09-28

Korean Bridge Series (3rd)

In this third series of Korean bridges, such representative cable-stayed bridges of Korea as the Olympic Bridge, Seohae Bridge, Jindo Bridge, Changseon-Samcheonpo Bridge are introduced. Utilized when the distance between bridge columns is lengthy, cable-stayed bridges present a beautiful appearance shored up by cables hanging from the main tower.



(1) Olympic Bridge
In commemoration of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Game, the Olympic Bridge was completed in 1990, linking Guui-dong, Gwangjin-gu and Pungnap-dong Songpa-gu. At the center of the Bridge stands its 88m-high main tower that symbolizes the 1988 Seoul Olympic Game. At each side of the main tower are 12 hanging cables, with the number of cables totaling 24, meant to symbolize the 24th Olympic Games held in Seoul. The Bridge is 30m wide and 1.47km long, of which the cable-stayed section of the bridge extends 300m.

(2) Seohae Bridge
Its supports shaped like the Seohae Bridge links Pyeongtaek city, Gyeonggi Province and Dangjin county, South Chungcheong Province. Opened in 2000, this Bridge is emerging as the gateway to the West Sea commerce that will lead the era of Northeast Asian trade. As the largest cable-stayed bridge in Korea, its main towers are 182m high and the distance between each is 470m, allowing a 50,000-ton vessel to pass between them under the Bridge. The Bridge is 31.41m wide and 7.31km long, of which the cable-stayed section of the bridge is 990m.

(3) Jindo Bridge
Laid across the Wooldolmok Straits (also called Myeongryang Straits), which is famous for Admiral Yi Sunshin¡'s sweeping victory over the Japanese forces, the Jindo Bridge links Jindo county and Haenam county in South Jeolla Province. This Bridge was constructed using as its inspiration the Joseon naval forces and the womenfolks performing during the Japanese invasion of Korea. Opened in 1984 as the nation's first cable-stayed bridge, this Bridge has now become a twin bridge, as the second Jindo Bridge was added in 2005. The two Jindo Bridges are both 484m long, with their width being 11.7m and 12.5m, respectively.

(4) Changseon-Samcheonpo Bridge
Opened in 2003, the Changseon-Samcheonpo Bridge links Namhae county and Sacheon city in South Gyeongsang Province. Comprised of four sub-bridges (the Samcheonpo Bridge, Choyang Bridge, Neukdo Bridge and Changseon Bridge) and harmonized with the superb scenic beauty of Hallyeohaesang National Maritime Park, the Bridge presents a magnificent spectacle. Of the four sub-bridges, only the Samcheonpo Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge. Changseon-Samcheonpo Bridge is 3.4km long (Samcheonpo Bridge section being 436m) and 14.5m wide.

Stamp Issue: 2006-09-26

Korean Bridge Series (2nd)

The second part of the Korean Bridge series presents postage stamps with arch bridges, including Hangang Bridge, Expogyo (Bridge), Tongyeong Bridge, and Banghwa Bridge.
Built from as early as 4000B.C., arch bridges have architecturally ideal structures, as arches dissipate loads effectively. Not only that, arch bridges have long been popular for their beauty. Historic literature shows that Koreans also built arch bridges from the 8th century including Cheongungyo (Bridge) and Baegungyo (Bridge) at Bulguksa temple.



(1) Hangang Bridge
Hangang Bridge, also known as a "pedestrian bridge" as it was mostly used by people and carriages, was built in 1917 as a gateway from the center of Seoul to Noryangjin in the southern part of the city. As traffic increased, the bridge was reconstructed as an arch bridge in 1937. In 1982, an identical bridge was built next to it, constituting twin bridges. Length: 841m Width: 20m

(2) Expogyo (Bridge)
Expogyo (Bridge) was built in 1993 over Gapcheon stream stretching from Daejeon city center to Yuseong city in time for the successful hosting of the 1993 Daejeon International Expo. A red and a blue arch cross above the bridge, symbolizing the Great Absolute of Yin and Yang. Also, 100 cables were installed in the shape of a folding fan to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Korea's first participation in an International Exposition. Length: 330m Width: 18m

(3) Tongyeong Bridge
Tongyeong Bridge, which links Dang-dong and Misu-dong over Chungmu canal, was opened to public in 1998. Over the span of its 149-meter long arch, 196 lights were installed, which reflect a rugby ball shape of lights over the canal at night, in a feast of lights along with green lighting. Length: 591m Width: 20.7 m.

(4) Banghwa Bridge
Banghwa Bridge, completed in 2000, was designed to be reminiscent of the landing and taking off of planes. This 27th bridge over the Han River links Banghwa-dong in Gangseo-gu, Seoul and Goyang City in Gyeonggi-do. The total length of the bridge is 2, 559 meters, which is the longest of the bridges over the Han River. With a width of 31.11m and 6 lanes in both directions, the bridge greatly improves the flow of traffic to and from the airport.

Stamp Issue: 2005-09-23

Korean Bridge Series (1st)

The Korea Post will issue the "Korean Bridge Series" during the next five years to introduce the beauty of Korean bridges. In the first stamps of the series, old bridges that give a hint of the wisdom and artistic sense of Korea's ancestors are introduced.



(1) Jincheon Nongdari Bridge
(Tangible Cultural Asset No. 28 of Chungcheongbuk-do Province) Located at Segeumcheon Stream in Jincheon, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, the bridge is quite unique as it is constructed of small pebbles assembled as if they were the scales of a fish. Presumed to have been built in the late Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), the original length of the bridge is estimated to have been more than 100 meters. Now, however, the bridge is 93 meters long and only 25 piles among the original 28 remain. With a width of more than 1 meter, the bridge remains intact until this day, having withstood the harsh summer monsoon seasons even though no lime or other adhesive building material was used in construction, indicating how advanced scientific methods of construction were at the time.

(2) Seungseongyo Bridge
(Treasury No. 400) Situated at Seonamsa Buddhist Temple in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do Province, the Seungseongyo Bridge is a granite structure built in the shape of an arch. Constructed during the Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1910), the foundation of the bridge is made of natural rocks, and the construction is sophisticated enough to withstand powerful floods. When constructing the bridge, long carved rocks were connected with each other to create a rainbow-shape arch, which forms a complete half circle. And at the center of the bridge, a rock is carved in the shape of a dragon's head that protrudes to the below, creating an ornamental effect and adding beauty to the bridge.

(3) Geumcheongyo Bridge
Located at Changdeokgung Royal Palace, which is registered as UNESCO's World Cultural Asset, Geumcheongyo Bridge was constructed in 1411 (11th year of King Taejong's reign during the Joseon Dynasty) and is the oldest stone bridge among those remaining in Seoul. Standing 12.9 meters long and 12.5 meters wide, two arches are built from the foundation rocks in the stream bed. A rock carved in the shape of a mythical unicorn lion is located on the south side of the foundation rock, and that of a turtle is installed on the north side. Behind the carved rocks where the arches meet, is a carving of the face of a ghost, which is meant to chase away demons.

(4) Jeongotgyo Bridge
(Historical Asset No. 160) Located at Seongdong-gu, Seoul is the Jeongotgyo Bridge (also known as the Salgojidari Bridge) which was a major transportation route linking Hanyang (the capital city of the Joseon Dynasty) and the southeastern region. The bridge, the biggest of its kind built during the early Joseon Dynasty, is made of 64 rock pillars. To reduce the resistance of the water, the rock pillars were cut into diamond shapes. Unfortunately, parts of the bridge were damaged due to torrential rains during the 1920s. The bridge was restored in the 1970s; however, its appearance does differ from that of the original.

Stamp Issue: 2004-09-24