The largest unit of currency in South Korea is the 50,000 won banknote, which has an image of Shin Saimdang. Shin Saimdang was an artist who excelled in poetry and painting and is regarded as being representative of outstanding Korean women. She is particularly well-known in her role as a good wife and wise mother. She is the first woman in history to appear on a Korean banknote. She was selected to promote equality of the sexes and women’s active participation in society (Source: http://www.stamplove.co.kr/contents/history.html).
Shin Saimdang was chosen in spite of opposition by some feminists who criticized the choice of someone representative of the good wife and wise mother as being contrary to contemporary thinking. It is also said that she resembles South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye.
What is interesting is that Shin Saimdang’s son Yoolkok Lee, Yi appears on the 5,000 won banknote. South Korea is said to be the only country in the world with banknotes that have images of both a mother and her son. This is certainly wonderful.
The smallest unit of currency is the 10 won coin. It is engraved with an image of the Dabotap pagoda, which is designated as National Treasure No. 20. Dabotap is a stone pagoda representative of pagodas of the Unified Silla Period. It is located in the grounds of the temple of Bulguksa in the city of Gyeongju. This city is a popular destination for elementary and junior high school students on school excursions in South Korea, so any student who was born and raised in the country has probably actually seen the Dabotap pagoda. The 10 won coin was issued in a new size and color in 2006.
The 50,000 banknote is equivalent in value to the 5,000 yen banknote. The 10 won coin and the 1 yen coin are also about the same in value.
Incidentally, since the 50,000 won banknote was issued, an increasing number of people now tuck money in with bouquets of flowers that are given as a present on special occasions in South Korea.