10000 South Korean Won Banknote (1973 Issue)

10,000 Won (Issued 1973)

The 1973 issue of the 10,000 Won banknote arrived during a pivotal period of South Korea’s rapid economic transformation, commonly known as the Miracle on the Han River, when the country’s export-led industrialisation programme was driving sustained growth and modernisation across all sectors of public life. The Bank of Korea’s issuance of this high-denomination note reflected the increasing monetary demands of a growing economy and a population experiencing rising living standards for the first time in a generation. Its withdrawal in subsequent decades marked the close of an era in Korean banknote design defined by classical portraiture and traditional architectural imagery. For those holding this note today, it represents a tangible record of Korea’s mid-twentieth-century monetary history.

On the front, the dominant feature is a dignified portrait of King Sejong the Great, the revered fourth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty and the creator of the Korean Hangul alphabet, rendered in fine intaglio engraving and positioned slightly left of centre against a pale lilac and cream background. The portrait shows an elderly, bearded figure wearing a traditional Korean royal hat known as a翼善冠 (익선관), with the engraving capturing fine detail in the facial features, robes, and headdress. To the right of the portrait, the denomination is printed in large Hangul characters reading 만 원, with the issuing authority 한국은행권 (Bank of Korea) displayed prominently above in bold Korean script, and a further line reading 한국은행 beneath. A red circular official seal of the Bank of Korea appears to the right of centre. To the far right of the note, a delicate engraved vignette depicts a cluster of flowering plants, rendered in fine line work with a warm brown tone. The serial number 가사 0811434 나 appears twice — once in the upper left and once along the lower centre — printed in dark ink. The bold numeral denomination 10000 appears in the lower left corner in a dark brown, and is repeated in the lower right corner in a lighter tone. Ornate guilloché scrollwork borders frame the lower left and left-centre portions of the note, with intricate geometric patterning providing both decorative and security functions. The overall colour palette blends pale violet, warm brown, and cream tones across the note’s surface.

The reverse is printed primarily in warm brown and cream tones and is dominated by a detailed architectural engraving of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the grand royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty located in central Seoul. The engraving captures the sweeping rooflines of the main throne hall, Geunjeongjeon, set within its broad ceremonial courtyard, with tiered stone terraces and ancillary buildings visible to either side. Mountains rise softly in the background behind the palace complex, rendered in lighter tonal engraving. To the upper left, the text THE BANK OF KOREA is printed in clear serif capitals, and the denomination 10000 appears in the upper right corner. On the lower left, a large guilloché rosette surrounds the bold numeral 10000, framed by ornate scrolling border patterns that extend across the left margin. The denomination 10000 WON is printed in bold serif type along the lower centre of the note. A circular decorative element appears in the lower right corner, providing additional visual balance. The paper shows a fine texture consistent with the cotton-based security paper typical of the period.

Exchange foreign coins and notes with no fuss: Webuyallcurrency.com accepts this 10,000 Won banknote and other old or withdrawn South Korean Won banknotes, paying out for everything together in a single transaction.

• Indicate the quantity of 10,000 Won Won banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Turn forgotten South Korean Won banknotes into money: Webuyallcurrency.com lets you exchange foreign coins and notes — even withdrawn ones — as part of one clear transaction, no specialist knowledge required.

Other South Korean Won you can exchange: 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 2000.