10 000 Won Soccer

Issued for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, South Korea's first hosting of the Summer Games — a moment the government had pursued aggressively since the late 1970s, partly to signal the country's transformation from war-damaged recipient of foreign aid into an industrialized nation. The Seoul Games were also the first since 1972 to see near-universal participation, ending the tit-for-tat boycotts that had gutted the Moscow and Los Angeles editions.

KM#77 is one of several denominations in the official Olympic silver program; the 10,000 Won face value placed it well above everyday circulation, making it a de facto collector piece from the moment of issue.