What does a banknote printer do in a cashless society? In Korea, it’s making art prints
- The state-run mint in South Korea is showing a new use for its printing technology – art reproductions – in readiness for a cashless future
![Replicated images of paintings created by the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation on display at the Currency Museum in Daejeon, South Korea. The state-run mint is showing new uses for its technology as it faces a cashless future. Photo: Courtesy of KOMSCO](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/07/31/671995c3-3777-4e1d-8f62-545ab30478b0_af64aaf4.jpg?itok=rh6wfoOd&v=1722413908)
By Yi Whan-woo
The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp (KOMSCO) is stepping up efforts to leverage decades of expertise in printing technology by transforming into a business entity that also delves into the realm of art and other forms of creative cultural content.
The country’s sole manufacturer of banknotes and coins, KOMSCO, announced on July 30 a special exhibition of replicated images of masterpiece paintings from Korea and abroad.
The exhibition runs until September 1 at KOMSCO’s Currency Museum in Daejeon, South Korea, and features images reproduced using the company’s intaglio printing know-how.
It is KOMSCO’s first art exhibition aimed at introducing the intaglio printing method.
From Korea, the images include ones by 18th-century painters from the Joseon dynasty, such as Portrait of a Beauty by Shin Yun-bok. Among the images of Western paintings are Cafe Terrace at Night by Vincent van Gogh from 1888 and Woman with a Parasol – Madame Monet and Her Son by Claude Monet from 1875.
![A replicated image of Portrait of a Beauty, an 18th century painting, is displayed at the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation’s special exhibition that highlights its printing technology. Photo: Korea Times A replicated image of Portrait of a Beauty, an 18th century painting, is displayed at the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation’s special exhibition that highlights its printing technology. Photo: Korea Times](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/07/31/64ac51a0-cbb4-4cfa-bde3-0e538808967a_44ffb278.jpg)
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