5000 South Korean Won Banknote (2006 Issue)

5,000 Won (Issued 2006)

Yi I, known by his pen name Yulgok and celebrated as one of the greatest Confucian scholars of the Joseon Dynasty, is the central figure of the 5,000 Won banknote issued by the Bank of Korea in 2006. A philosopher, writer, and statesman of the sixteenth century, Yi I remains one of the most revered intellectual figures in Korean history, his legacy deeply embedded in the nation’s cultural and educational identity. His presence on this denomination reflects the Korean tradition of honouring scholars and thinkers on its currency, reinforcing the values of learning and civic virtue. The note forms part of the Bank of Korea’s modern Won series, which introduced refined security features and updated design elements from the early 2000s onwards.

On the front, the portrait of Yi I dominates the right-hand side of the note, rendered in fine intaglio engraving that captures his dignified expression, traditional Joseon-era black official hat, and dark robes with precision and depth. His beard is depicted in careful detail, and the engraving gives the portrait a sculptural, three-dimensional quality characteristic of high-quality banknote printing. The overall colour palette of the front is warm, combining soft peach, salmon, and light terracotta tones across the background. To the left of the portrait, a detailed vignette depicts a traditional Korean building, identifiable as Ojukheon, the historic house in Gangneung associated with Yi I’s birth, rendered in brown and olive tones with architectural precision. Above this building, a cluster of bamboo — another symbol closely associated with Yi I and Confucian virtue — is illustrated in green and gold tones. The Korean characters 오천원, meaning “five thousand won,” appear prominently in the upper centre of the note in bold brown typography, with the issuing authority’s name 한국은행 (Bank of Korea) printed in Korean script at the top. The large numeral “5000” appears in bold brown at the lower left. The serial number AC 0245616 C is printed twice in dark brown — once at the upper left and once at the lower right — in a clean sans-serif typeface. A circular Bank of Korea emblem is visible near the top centre, and a security thread is embedded vertically through the note. The signature of the Bank of Korea Governor appears alongside an official seal in the lower central area, accompanied by small Korean text identifying the issuing authority. Microprinting and fine guilloché patterns fill the background, providing additional layers of security across the peach and cream field.

The reverse of the note presents an elegant and botanically detailed composition centred on a scene of flowering plants, rendered in a palette of muted greens, lilac, brown, and soft gold against a background of overlapping geometric diamond patterns in pale tones. Two large round fruits — watermelons depicted in a naturalistic style — sit prominently at the lower left, their surfaces rendered in warm brown with visible texture. Surrounding them are detailed illustrations of flowering plants with small blue and purple blossoms, slender stems, and delicate foliage. A butterfly is visible near the upper left of the composition, and a grasshopper or cricket appears near the lower centre of the botanical scene, adding further naturalistic detail to what appears to be a scene drawn from a traditional Korean ink painting. Flowering plants with pink and lavender blooms occupy the right side of the reverse, rendered with botanical accuracy and fine colour gradation. The text “Bank of Korea” is printed in English across the upper centre of the note in clean serif typography, accompanied by the Bank of Korea circular emblem to its left and a second security feature emblem to its right. The denomination “5000” appears in bold numerals at the lower right, and the text “5000 won” is printed vertically along the left edge. Fine guilloché latticework fills the background behind the botanical composition, and the lower left carries small Korean text identifying the printer.

Sell foreign coins and banknotes the simple way: this 5,000 Won banknote can be exchanged through Webuyallcurrency.com together with other current South Korean Won banknotes, all settled in a single transaction.

• Indicate the quantity of 5,000 Won Won banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

If you have leftover currency to exchange, Webuyallcurrency.com accepts South Korean Won banknotes and a wide range of other foreign coins and notes, paying out for the lot in a single straightforward transaction.

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