Sending parcels in & from Korea

Tips — customs, batteries, cheapest options

• 편의점택배 is the cheap domestic defaultFor everyday domestic parcels, a convenience-store drop (CU/GS25) beats home-pickup 택배 on price, and 반값택배 (store-to-store, recipient collects) is cheapest of all if speed isn't critical.
• US: EMS is back — but you prepay the dutyKorea Post suspended US-bound EMS in Aug 2025 after the US dropped its $800 de-minimis exemption, then resumed it on 22 Sep 2025 under DDP: the sender prepays the US duty at the counter and fills the CN22/CN23 with an HS code + country of origin. Since 24 Jul 2026 the duty is at least 12.5% (US §301 forced-labour tariff), or the item's own tariff rate where that is higher — Korea Post sends you to kita.net to look a product up. Personal gifts totalling under $100 are still duty-free. The rate has changed repeatedly, so confirm at ems.epost.go.kr or the counter before packing.
• Lithium batteries = red flagKorea Post's standard EMS refuses lithium batteries without exception — even built into a phone or tablet; a removable battery must come out and only the device goes. Ask at the counter whether EMS Premium takes your item to your destination, or use a private courier and declare the battery.
• Customs form: CN22 vs CN23International parcels need a customs declaration, chosen by value: CN22 for contents up to 300 SDR, CN23 above that. List each item's quantity, category, and honest value — under-declaring to dodge duty risks seizure or a fine on the recipient.
• Weight + box size both matterRates jump at weight brackets and oversize boxes get dimensional-weight charged. A slightly smaller/lighter box can drop a price tier — weigh at home if you can before choosing the method.
• Counter beats kiosk for foreignersConvenience-store kiosks are Korean-only; the post-office counter has a human who fills the label for you. For a first international shipment, the 우체국 counter (or DHL/FedEx in English) is the least error-prone.
• Prohibited / restricted itemsNo cash, lithium loose batteries, perishables, aerosols, or many liquids; food + cosmetics have destination-country limits. Check the destination's customs rules — the EMS site lists prohibited items by country. One live example: since 29 Jul 2026 Korea Post refuses US-bound mail containing goods under US quota / anti-dumping duty — sugar, canned tuna, citrus, peanuts and peanut butter, beef, infant formula, chocolate, cheese, milk and condensed milk, ice cream and other dairy, animal feed, plus some chemicals, nickel and zinc. Non-food items on that list can still go by EMS Premium; the foods cannot be mailed at all for now.
• Keep the tracking numberKeep the 송장번호 (tracking number) — 13 digits at Korea Post, 10 or 12 at CJ대한통운. Domestic: the carrier's site or app; international: ems.epost.go.kr and the destination post's tracker. Screenshot it at drop-off.