Detail

`In 1992,the Minstry of Information & Communication drew up a master plan for redesigning of definitive postage stamps to replace the former ones, which had been in use for a long time. Acoording to this plan, the ministry has scrapped the former design, Chomsongdae (astronomical observatory, National Treasure No.31) which has been used from March 15, 1983 and chosen the Chineses Lantern as the subject of the new 70 won definitive postage stamp. The Chinese Lantern (Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetti (Mast.)Hort.) is a perennial plant and it grows in Korea, China and Japan. This 40 to 90cm-tall plant has oval-shaped, irregularly serrated leaves. The light-yellow flowers are in bloom between June and July. After the flowers bloom, the calyx grows to a length of 4 to 5cm and assumes an egg shape surrounding the berry. Upon ripening, this calyx turns red and the berry is spherical shape with a diameter of about 1.5cm. When the berry finally ripens and turns red, children take out all of the contens inside including the seeds through a hole at the top and use it as a whistle. Futhermore, the roots and berries themselves are knwn to medical value. The Ministry of information & Communication has redesigned and issued these definitive postage stamp on a regular basis in hopes that it would upgrade the image of Korean postage stamps and pave the way for the advanced philatelic culture.`