BOK Selects Four Historic Figures for New Banknotes

Activists Kim Koo and Ahn Chang-ho, who led the independence movement under the Japanese colonial rule, female artist Sinsaimdang, and scientist Jang Young-sil, have been selected as the final candidates to be featured on Korea’s 50,000-won or 100,000-won banknotes scheduled to debut in early 2009, according to sources.

Yu Gwan-soon, a female independence fighter who was speculated as one of the most likely female models, failed to make the list.

“Among the four candidates, the independent activists Kim Koo and Ahn Chang-ho are competing with each other, while Sinsaimdang, a representative figure for women, and Jang Young-sil, a representative figure for scientists, are competing against each other as well, “ said a member of the Banknote Design Advisory Committee established by the Bank of Korea (BOK) Sunday.

“Yu Gwan-soon, who was included among the 10 potential models at the 2nd round of the screening process, was not selected because she does not have a notable historic achievement to her credit, and because too many independence fighters have already been selected as final candidates,” the official said.

“Although Sinsaimdang’s son, Confucian scholar Yi I, is featured on the 5,000-won banknote, many view that featuring both a son and a mother on banknotes is a fresh idea since it is almost unprecedented in the world. That’s why she was selected as a representative figure for women,” he added.

Meanwhile, many experts believe that Kim has a better chance of being selected as the final model for a new banknote than Ahn.

The BOK will announce the two historic figures to be featured on either the 50,000-won or 100,000-won banknotes from the four final candidates by the end of this month.

ssoo@donga.com