In cartoons and movies, wolves are often shown to be rough, fierce and mean. However, wolves can be nice and warm animals. They live in tight-knit family groups and the male wolf generally allows the female wolf or puppies to eat first after a kill. Also, the male wolf sometimes lures away predators to protect his pack when it is in danger. Likewise, in many respects wolves can be seen as being warm and devotional animals.

There have been many wolves throughout Korea's past, but nowadays they have been driven out due to population pressure, war and industrialization. Wolves were designated as an endangered animal in 1998 and are now protected nationally. 


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Korea Post publishes a special series of stamps commemorating the protection of endangered wolves.



Earlier this year, Korea Post issued a special series of postage stamps commemorating wolves in Korea. The picture was drawn in watercolors so it is quite elaborate and realistic. Also, the wolves on the stamps are shown to be mild and nice, giving them a friendly air. In addition, the stamps have a slight gilt and are lustrous, making them valuable collector pieces.

Designer Kim So-jeong who created this series of endangered animal stamps said, “The reason why wolves are now an endangered species is because of reckless exploitation of natural resources and human development. People shouldn’t hunt wolves. I wish society's image of wolves would change and that people would be more interested in protecting endangered animals.”