Detail

In Korea there is a proverb that says, “Share even just one bean.” This shows our beautiful tradition of sharing even the most insignificant thing with neighbors. Such established social regimes and customs as “farmers’ cooperative group” (Dure) and “work in turn for the benefit of one another” (Pumahsi) where people provide labor for each other during peak farming season are still actively practiced. In the west, there has also been the tradition called “noblesse oblige” where those with high social status voluntarily fulfill their ethical obligations through public service, contribution or donation. This culture of sharing has passed down to today. From one of the world’s wealthiest men contributing all of his assets to just causes, to leading conglomerates operating charitable organizations, a kimbap (rice rolled in dried laver) selling granny in her 80s contributing the money she earned through her hard work all her life into a scholarship fund, and to our warm-hearted neighbors, who, though not well-off, help out those in need. All these examples show the beauty of “sharing.” Sharing is not giving out one’s possessions, as is usually thought, but sharing it and using it together with others. Sharing is not for the benefit of other people but for myself, my neighbors, and my community where I live with others. The power of the sharing is indeed strong; the little I share with others comes back manifold as a miracle of abundance for everyone. All around us are senior citizens who live alone, young girls/boys who are the head of a family, and neighbors who suffer from illness and poverty. Thinking of the real meaning of the word “sharing,” the works of Kim Han-Yun and Jorge Barreto De Lacerda of Brazil, which were awarded prizes in the 2006 International Postage Stamp Design Contest, are issued as stamps. The new stamps are issued as fragrance stamps with sweet scents of chocolate and pine.