How to Send A Package at the Korea Post Office
Did you over do it with the shopping and can't fit your new things in your luggage? We'll teach you how to send it back home!
It's an absolute nightmare when you come to Korea and buy too much and you don't have enough room in your luggage. Experiences travelers choose to send them home by EMS or international freight at the Korean Post Office. Today, we will show you how you can send a parcel home, hoping to give you shopaholics a sense of relief. If you compare the additional baggage fee from your airline to the cost of sending a parcel, the latter is the smarter choice.
Korea Post Office
First of all, find a nearby post office. It is easy to find as they have Korea Post written on a red sign. If you can't find one walking around, ask the front desk of your hotel or your host where the post office is. Or if you want to find it on your own, get on the Naver Maps App and type in 우체국.
The business hours for sending a parcel at the Korea Post Office are usually from 09:00 to 16:30. Each post office might have different times, but to be safe, get there by at least 16:00. The post office is closed on the weekends and on national holidays.
After entering the post office, look for a counter that says International Mail or Postal Delivery. Most post offices are small and may have only one counter for several duties. If they know you are a foreigner, they will most likely be willing to help you, so don't be nervous.
Things to Keep In Mind
You have to pack your stuff in a cardboard box. The post office will not accept paper bags or shopping bags. Ask if your host has an extra cardboard box or get one at the post office.
There are a total of six sizes. There are measurements of the boxes like in the picture above so choose what size you need and pay for it when you pay for the post services. There are instances where they ask you to pay for the box first (you will have to queue twice if this happens) but this rarely happens.
Some post offices have a packing corner where you can pay someone to help you pack your things. It is much faster to do it yourself, but if you need help, use the services.
To send a package from Korea, you will need to fill in a return address. If you don't live in Korea, please write the address of your hotel or the address of a friend who lives in Korea in Korean or English.
The maximum weight limit for luggage is generally 30 kg, though it may change depending on the country.
If you exceed the maximum weight, the delivery may be refused or additional charges may be incurred, so be mindful about the weight of your parcel.
Shipping Fees
General EMS Postage (Document Papers)
It is relatively fast to send documents through EMS. As for what you will have to fill out in the form, refer to the picture above or ask an employee on-site.
International Airmail Special Transportation Fee By Country (revised on July 14, 2022)
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, airfare rates have increased and an additional fee will be charged for postal packages.
| Country | Additional fee per kg (KRW) | Additional fee per 100g (KRW) |
| Taiwan | 2,600 | 260 |
| Vietnam | 1,400 | 140 |
| Japan | 1,000 | 100 |
| China | 1,000 | 100 |
| Hongkong | 1,000 | 100 |
| Thailand | 1,700 | 170 |
| United States of America | 6,700 | 670 |
| Singapore | 2,900 | 290 |
| United Kingdom | 5,900 | 590 |
| Philipines | 2,100 | 210 |
*If your country is not on the list above, click here for a full list of countries.
Weight (kg) | Taiwan | Vietnam | Japan | China | Hongkong | Thailand | USA | Singapore | UK | Philipines |
0.3 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 19,000 | 15,000 | 24,000 | 12,500 | 30,500 | 15,000 |
0.5 | 17,000 | 17,000 | 22,000 | 22,000 | 21,000 | 17,000 | 26,000 | 14,500 | 32,500 | 17,000 |
0.75 | 17,500 | 17,500 | 23,000 | 23,500 | 22,000 | 18,500 | 29,500 | 16,000 | 34,500 | 18,000 |
1 | 18,500 | 18,500 | 24,000 | 25,000 | 23,000 | 19,500 | 33,000 | 17,500 | 36,500 | 19,000 |
1.25 | 19,500 | 19,500 | 26,000 | 26,500 | 24,000 | 20,500 | 36,500 | 19,000 | 38,500 | 20,000 |
1.5 | 20,500 | 20,500 | 27,000 | 28,500 | 25,000 | 21,500 | 40,000 | 20,500 | 40,500 | 21,500 |
1.75 | 21,000 | 21,000 | 29,500 | 30,000 | 26,000 | 22,500 | 43,500 | 22,000 | 42,000 | 22,500 |
2 | 22,000 | 22,000 | 31,500 | 31,000 | 27,000 | 23,500 | 47,000 | 23,500 | 44,000 | 23,500 |
*Price in KRW
*If your country is not listed above, click here and look for your country's name in Korea to check the price.
Keep in mind that these prices are for sending general documents, so the maximum weight limit is 2kgs. The size must also comply with the post office regulations. If you exceed the weight limit, it will be counted as a non-document parcel. The prices above do not include handling fees and insurance cost, it is purely an estimate of postage costs. The final price will be calculated on-site at the post office.
General EMS Postage (Non-documents)
If the documents exceed 2kg, or it contains food, clothing, and other special items, they will be sent as non-document parcels. The price is higher and is measured by weight so it is more complicated.
Weight (kg) | Taiwan | Vietnam | Japan | China | Hongkong | Thailand | USA | Singapore | UK | Philipines |
5 | 31,000 | 31,000 | 43,000 | 42,000 | 37,000 | 36,500 | 88,000 | 37,500 | 65,500 | 35,500 |
7 | 37,500 | 37,500 | 50,000 | 48,500 | 43,000 | 44,000 | 115,500 | 47,000 | 80,500 | 42,500 |
10 | 49,000 | 49,000 | 60,000 | 58,500 | 54,000 | 58,500 | 156,000 | 61,000 | 105,500 | 55,000 |
13 | 60,500 | 60,500 | 70,500 | 68,500 | 66,000 | 72,500 | 197,000 | 75,000 | 131,000 | 67,500 |
15 | 68,000 | 68,000 | 76,500 | 75,000 | 74,000 | 82,000 | 251,000 | 84,500 | 147,500 | 76,000 |
17 | 75,500 | 75,500 | 82,500 | 82,500 | 81,500 | 91,500 | 292,000 | 93,500 | 164,500 | 84,500 |
20 | 87,000 | 87,000 | 91,500 | 94,000 | 93,500 | 105,500 | 332,500 | 107,500 | 189,500 | 97,000 |
25 | 106,000 | 106000 | 106,500 | 115,500 | 113,500 | 132,000 | 387,000 | 131,000 | 231,500 | 118,000 |
30 | 125,000 | 125,000 | 121,500 | 132,500 | 133,000 | 153,500 | 427,500 | 154,000 | 273,000 | 139,500 |
*Price in KRW
*If your country is not listed above, click here and look for your country's name in Korea to check the price.
A lot of factors are taken into calculation for the final price of a parcel. The shipping times will vary depending on what country you are sending the parcel to. There can be delays so keep that in mind.
General International Parcel Delivery
General International Parcel Delivery is a cheaper option than the options above, but it will take more time.
Weight (kg) | Taiwan | Vietnam | Japan | China | Hongkong | Thailand | USA | Singapore | UK | Philipines |
5 | 28,000 | 30,500 | 28,500 | 35,000 | 31,000 | 33,500 | 71,000 | 30,000 | 51,000 | 33,000 |
10 | 43,000 | 50,000 | 42,000 | 52,000 | 46,000 | 50,500 | 128,000 | 44,500 | 86,000 | 48,000 |
15 | 58,000 | 65,500 | 55,000 | 67,000 | 61,500 | 70,500 | 185,500 | 59,500 | 121,000 | 63,000 |
20 | 73,000 | 84,500 | 68,000 | 82,000 | 76,500 | 90,500 | 242,500 | 74,500 | 156,000 | 78,000 |
*Price in KRW
*If your country is not listed above, click here and look for your country's name in Korea to check the price.
Banned Items
The following items are prohibited by the Korean government from being sent by EMS: live animals, meat products, dairy products, fruits, seeds, antiques, non-alcoholic beverages, camphor guns, gambling items, jewelry, sugar, tea, concentrates, tobacco and its products, alcohol, etc.
In addition, food with a date of production and date of expiration must be under 10 kg, and there are some restrictions on clothing. For more detailed information, check the customs regulations of your country.
It may sound like a scary process, but if you follow the steps above, you'll be done in no time and your parcel will soon be flying across the ocean to your home! Don't be intimidated by the forms and send your parcel away!
We hope your parcel arrives safely back into your arms! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com! You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!