Korean Post Office and Shipping Guide for International Students

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At some point during your time in South Korea, you will need to send something home — a package of Korean snacks for your family, documents for a visa application, or a box of personal belongings at the end of the semester. You might also receive packages from home: comfort foods, documents, or gifts. Understanding how Korean postal and shipping services work will save you time, money, and the frustration of a package lost to unclear customs regulations.

This guide covers Korea Post (우체국), private courier services, international shipping options, customs rules, and practical tips for sending and receiving packages as an international student.

Korea Post (우체국): Your Go-To for Everything

Korea Post is the national postal service and the most accessible shipping option. With over 3,400 post office locations nationwide — including small branches in virtually every neighborhood — a post office is never more than a few minutes away.

Services Overview

Post Office Hours

• Standard branches: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Large branches (major cities): Some open Saturday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Airport post offices: Extended hours, including weekends
• Closed: Sundays and national holidays

Sending Packages Home: International Options

EMS (Express Mail Service) — Fast and Tracked

EMS is the premium international shipping service offered by Korea Post. It is fast, fully tracked, and insured.

Delivery times:

EMS Pricing (as of 2026):

Maximum weight: 30 kg per package.

Insurance: EMS shipments include basic insurance. Additional insurance up to 6,000,000 KRW can be purchased.

K-Packet — Budget International Shipping

K-Packet is Korea Post's economy international shipping service for smaller packages:

• Maximum weight: 2 kg
• Maximum dimensions: Length + width + height ≤ 90 cm, longest side ≤ 60 cm
• Delivery time: 7–20 business days (slower than EMS)
• Tracking: Available but less detailed than EMS
• Cost: 30–50% cheaper than EMS for eligible packages

K-Packet Pricing examples:

K-Packet is ideal for sending small gifts, documents, and lightweight items home when speed is not critical.

International Parcel Post (국제소포) — For Heavy Packages

For packages over 2 kg that do not justify EMS pricing:

• Surface mail (선편): The cheapest option, but takes 1–3 months. Good for heavy items you are not in a rush to receive. Books, winter clothes, and non-urgent personal items.
• Air parcel (항공소포): Faster than surface (7–15 days) but cheaper than EMS. A good middle ground.

Surface mail pricing example (2 kg to US): ~11,000 KRW Air parcel pricing example (2 kg to US): ~28,000 KRW

Sending a Package: Step by Step

1. Pack your items securely. Post offices sell boxes and packing materials, but it is cheaper to bring your own.

2. Visit the post office with your package, passport or ARC, and the recipient's full address.

3. Fill out the customs declaration form (CN22 for packages under 2 kg, CN23 for larger packages). You must list:

   • Contents description (in English)
   • Value of each item (in KRW or USD)
   • Weight
   • Whether it is a gift, commercial shipment, or personal item

4. Choose your shipping method (EMS, K-Packet, air parcel, or surface).

5. Pay at the counter. Cash, debit card, and credit card accepted.

6. Keep your receipt. It contains the tracking number.

Tracking Your Package

Track your international package at:

• Korea Post website: www.epost.go.kr (English available)
• EMS tracking: ems.epost.go.kr
• Or use the 우체국 app (Korea Post app)

Customs Rules: What You Can and Cannot Send

Prohibited Items (Cannot Send from Korea)

• Narcotics and controlled substances
• Weapons (including replica weapons, airsoft guns)
• Counterfeit goods (fake designer items)
• Pornographic materials
• Live animals and plants (without proper permits)
• Currency exceeding $10,000 USD equivalent without declaration
• Flammable or hazardous materials (aerosols, lithium batteries over certain sizes, chemicals)

Restricted Items (May Require Permits or Documentation)

• Food items: Processed food is generally OK; fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat products are restricted or prohibited in many countries
• Traditional Korean medicine (한약): Some herbal medicines may be restricted at the destination
• Electronics: Lithium batteries must be properly labeled and may be restricted for air shipment
• Alcohol: Limited quantities allowed; check destination country limits
• Cosmetics: Generally OK but may be subject to destination country import limits

Customs Value and Duties

When your package arrives in the destination country, the recipient may need to pay import duties and taxes based on the declared value:

• Personal gifts under a certain value (varies by country: $800 USD in the US, ~$50 USD in many Asian countries) are often duty-free
• Higher-value items are subject to the destination country's tariff rates
• Under-declaring value is technically illegal and can result in fines or package seizure

Tip: Mark packages as "gift" when appropriate, but always declare a reasonable value. Customs officers are experienced at identifying under-valued declarations.

Private Courier Services

For domestic shipping and some international routes, private couriers offer alternatives to Korea Post:

Domestic Couriers

Domestic couriers are incredibly efficient in Korea. Most deliveries arrive the next business day, and tracking is real-time through each company's app or website.

How to send via domestic courier:

• Drop off at a convenience store (CU, GS25, and 7-Eleven partner with CJ Logistics and others)
• Schedule a pickup through the courier's website or app
• Drop off at a courier depot (택배 대리점)

International Couriers

International couriers are more expensive than Korea Post EMS but offer:

• Door-to-door pickup and delivery
• More detailed tracking
• Customs brokerage assistance
• Faster delivery for some destinations

When to use international couriers: Important documents, urgent shipments, or heavy commercial packages. For personal student shipping, Korea Post EMS or K-Packet is almost always more cost-effective.

Receiving Packages from Home

What to Tell Your Family

When someone sends you a package in Korea, they need:

1. Your full name (exactly as it appears on your ARC)
2. Your Korean address in both Korean and English
3. Your Korean phone number (the courier will call for delivery)
4. Accurate customs declaration — contents and value

Customs on Incoming Packages

Korea Customs has specific rules for packages entering the country:

• Personal packages under $150 USD total value: Generally duty-free
• Packages over $150 USD: Subject to Korean customs duties (typically 8–20% depending on the item category) plus 10% VAT
• Food items: Subject to inspection; some fresh food is prohibited
• Medication: Personal-use quantities (up to 3 months' supply) of non-controlled medications are usually fine. Prescription medications should be accompanied by a doctor's letter.

Delivery Process

International packages typically arrive through:

1. Korea Post (for standard international mail/EMS): Delivered to your door or held at your local post office for pickup
2. Private courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS): Delivered to your door; you may need to pay customs duties to the courier at delivery
3. Customs hold: If customs has questions about your package, you may receive a notice to submit additional documentation (e.g., proof of purchase, identification). This usually happens for packages over $150 USD or packages containing restricted items.

Sending Your Belongings Home (End of Semester)

When your study period ends, shipping personal belongings home is often cheaper than paying airline excess baggage fees:

Strategy: Ship Heavy, Fly Light

• Ship by surface mail (1–3 months ahead): Books, winter clothes, kitchen items, non-fragile personal items. Surface mail is cheap (~11,000–20,000 KRW for 2 kg) but slow.
• Ship by EMS or air parcel (1–2 weeks ahead): Moderate-weight items you will need soon after arrival.
• Carry on the flight: Electronics, documents, valuables, essentials.

Cost Comparison: Shipping vs. Airline Excess Baggage

For heavy loads (multiple boxes), Korea Post surface mail is significantly cheaper than airline excess baggage fees, though you will wait 1–3 months for delivery.

Packing Tips for International Shipping

• Use sturdy boxes. Double-walled corrugated boxes are best. Post offices sell them, but moving companies and online stores (Coupang) often have cheaper options.
• Wrap fragile items in bubble wrap and fill empty spaces with packing paper or clothing.
• Do not mix food and non-food items in the same box — customs inspections for food can delay the entire package.
• Label boxes clearly on multiple sides with the recipient's name, address, and phone number.
• Keep a packing list of each box's contents for your own reference and for customs declarations.

Useful Korean Postal Vocabulary

For more information on managing daily life in Korea, check our Korean Addresses Guide and First Week Survival Guide.

Final Thoughts

Korea's postal and shipping system is efficient, affordable, and well-organized. For most international student needs — sending gifts home, mailing documents, or shipping belongings at the end of the semester — Korea Post's EMS and surface mail services provide the best balance of cost and reliability. For domestic shipping, the convenience store drop-off system with couriers like CJ Logistics makes sending packages almost effortlessly easy.

The key to smooth shipping is preparation: know the customs rules for your destination country, declare values accurately, pack securely, and give yourself enough time, especially for surface mail. And always keep your tracking numbers — in a world of 3,400 post offices and millions of daily deliveries, that little receipt is your lifeline.

Need personalized advice? Chat with Dr. Admissions →