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`In the cource of carrying out the Gabo reforms a little more than 100 years ago, the Joseon dynasty keenlly felt the need for a modern education system to enlighten the Korean people. Accordingly, King Gojong, on February 2, 1895, issued an adict upholding education as one of the pillars of the nation, noting that the nation`s future prosperity depended on the education of its people. The ensuing years witnessed elementary and other schools sprouting up in great numbers, in line withe the royal edict. Following in the spirit of this edict, the King went on to promulgate the Royal Edict No. 11 on April 4, 1899, the third year of his ``Gwangmu`` (martial brilliance) reign, creating a new system of a government-run middle school. Under the edict, Korea`s first four-year public middle school opened its doors on October 3, 1900, after a year and a half of preparations. Rechartered as Kyunggi High School, this public middle school has produced over 40,000 graduates who have made great contributions to every sector of Korean society in the past 100 years. The Ministry of Information and Communication is issuing a commemorative stamp in celebration of the 100th anniverary of the inauguration of the public secondary education system and in the hopes that this occasion will serve to further boost the development of korean secondary education. The commemorative stamp features Article One of the Middle School Regulations, Education Ordinance and the former Kyunggi High School Building at Hwa-dong.`