Guidelines for the Reproduction of Bank of Korea Notes and Coins

by Bank of Korea

The Bank of Korea owns the copyright of Bank of Korea notes and coins. The making, importing, exporting or selling of things similar to Korean currency for the purpose of uttering is subject to punishment pursuant to the Criminal Act.

The reckless reproduction of Korean currency may encourage counterfeiting and forgery, and undermine the integrity of the national currency. In this light, the Bank of Korea, like all other central banks around the world, has been doing their utmost to set desirable practices for currency reproductions.

Reproducing the currency in confirmity with the Guidelines for the Reproduction of Bank of Korea Notes and Coins does not require permission of the Bank of Korea. However, those who wish to reproduce the currency outside the scope of the Guidelines should contact Issue Policy Team, the Bank of Korea (tel: 02-759-4598, Fax: 02-759-4600) concerning their proposal.

Please note that any violation of the Guidelines may be the subject of civil or criminal prosecution pursuant to the Copyright Act.

Section 1

The purpose of Guidelines for the Reproduction of Bank of Korea Notes and Coins is to set desirable practices for the reproduction of Bank of Korea notes and coins (hereafter "the currency") in order to discourage any attempts at counterfeiting and forgery that may arise from indiscreet reproductions in advertising or illustrations, and to maintain the integrity of the national currency.

Section 2

"Reproduction" shall mean any tangible or intangible image that uses all or part of the currency issued, or to be issued by the Bank of Korea, or parts of its individual design elements, such as color, dimensions and use of letters or symbols, which may resemble or give the general impression of currency, irrespective of:

1. the size of the image; or
2. the technique(s) or material(s) used to produce it; or
3. whether or not elements or illustrations have been added to the image that do not originate from the currency; or
4. whether or not the design of the currency, such as letters or symbols has been altered.

Section 3

Reproduction shall be permitted only when the following criteria are met. Nonetheless, illustration and electronic reproduction of coins may be allowed in any manner provided that the reproduction meets the following general requirements as specified D.

A. Imitations

1. Imitations are permitted only for purposes of education, research, news reporting, or judicial trial.
2. The size of imitations must be either at least 200 percent or at most 50 percent of the respective banknote while maintaining that banknote's length-to-width ratio.
3. Imitations shall be manufactured of a material clearly different and distinguishable from the material used for banknotes.
4. Imitations of coins shall be manufactured only of such non-metallic materials as paper, fabric and others, and must not be of the same weight as genuine coins.

B. Illustrations

1. The size of illustrations must be either at least 150 percent or at most 75 percent of the respective banknote while maintaining that banknote's length-to-width ratio. This also applies to partial reproductions and individual design elements.
2. Illustrations must be one-sided.
3. All negatives, plates, positives, digitized storage medium, and graphic files used in printing the illustrations shall be destroyed and/or deleted after their final use.

C. Intangible reproductions

1. Intangible reproductions made available electronically on websites or on other similar means must meet the requirements specified in 2. and 3. below, and the resolution of the electronic reproduction in its original size is not to exceed 72dpi (dots per inch).
2. The word "SPECIMEN" or "보기" shall be marked on either the obverse or the reverse of any part, excluding the portrait, of the reproduction and must be plainly distinguishable but inseparable from the reproduction.
3. The length of the word "SPECIMEN" or "보기" shall be at least 50 percent of the length of the reproduction and the height of the word "SPECIMEN" or "보기" is to be at least 15 percent of the height of the reproduction, and must be in a non-transparent color contrasting with the dominant color of the respective banknote. This also applies to partial reproductions.

D. General requirements

1. Reproductions are prohibited that might undermine the integrity of the national currency through modifications to them, addition of advertising to them, or their distortion, mutilation.
2. Reproductions shall not be used for commercial advertising that may encourage obscenity, violence, extravagance or gambling, or in the advertising of photocopiers and scanners that might be used to counterfeit or forge banknotes.

Section 4

Those who wish to reproduce the currency in ways other than those prescribed in Section 3 must submit in advance to the Bank of Korea a written request, containing the following information, to obtain prior approval for the intended reproduction. The Bank of Korea may grant the request provided the request is recognized as complying with the purpose stipulated in Section 1 above.

1. the name(s), national identification number(s)/business registration number(s), and address(es) of the users of the currency design
2. purpose of the reproduction and where and how long it will be made use of
3. the graphic design and size of the design to be used
4. the number of reproductions in the case of imitations
5. other details requested by the Bank of Korea when it deems them necessary

Section 5

The approval of the Bank of Korea specified in Section 4 is valid for 12 months after the date when the approval is sent. Application for an extension of the term of validity must be made to the Bank of Korea no later than one month prior to the expiry date.

Section 6

The Bank of Korea may give warnings to or call for corrective action to be taken against any reproductions of the currency by ways other than those prescribed in Sections 3 and 4 above. If appropriate measures are not taken after such warnings or request for corrective action, the Bank of Korea may accuse those of civil and criminal liabilities pursuant to the Copyright Act.

Source

• Guidelines for the Reproduction of Bank of Korea Notes and Coins, Bank of Korea