CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
The purpose of this Decree is to provide for the matters necessary for using and handling postal items exchanged between and among the Republic of Korea and foreign countries in accordance with international conventions on postal services.
| Article 2 (Relationship to Other Statutes or Regulations) |
Except as provided in international conventions on postal services (hereinafter referred to as “international conventions”) and this Decree, statutes or regulations governing domestic postal services shall apply to the handling of postal items dispatched from the Republic of Korea to a foreign country (hereinafter referred to as “outbound postal items”) and postal items that arrive in the Republic of Korea from a foreign country (hereinafter referred to as “inbound postal items”).
CHAPTER II CATEGORIES AND COVERAGE OF INTERNATIONAL POSTAL ITEMS
| Article 3 (Categories of International Postal Items) |
| (1) | International postal items exchanged between and among the Republic of Korea and foreign countries (hereinafter referred to as "international postal items") shall be categorized as follows: |
| 4. | Any other postal items publicly notified by the Minister of Science and ICT, as deemed necessary. |
| (2) | The terms and conditions of use of the postal items in paragraph (1) 4, procedures for handling them, and other necessary matters shall be determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Science and ICT. |
| Article 4 (Coverage of Letter-Post Items) |
| (1) | Letter-post items shall be classified into documents and goods. |
| (2) | The following postal items shall be handled as documents: |
| 2. | A postal item for a person with a visual impairment; |
| 3. | Printed matter produced into multiple identical copies; |
| 4. | A special bag sent to the same addressee at the same address, which contains a newspaper, periodical, book, product guide, etc. and weighs not more than 30 kilograms; |
| (3) | Any postal items weighing not more than two kilograms except for those specified in the subparagraphs of paragraph (2) (hereinafter referred to as "small packets") shall be handled as goods. |
| Article 5 (Postcards and Aerograms) |
| (1) | Postcards and aerograms shall be classified into those issued by the Government or those made by any person other than the Government. |
| (2) | A franking impression may be printed on postcards and aerograms issued by the Government. |
| (3) | The original form of a postcard or aerogram issued by the Government shall not be altered. |
| (4) | Postcards and aerograms made by any person other than the Government shall meet the dimensions for postal items publicly notified by the Minister of Science and ICT pursuant to Article 15 (1). |
| (5) | A franking impression shall not be printed on postcards and aerograms made by any person other than the Government. |
| (6) | Any postcards and aerograms made in violation of paragraph (4) shall be deemed the letters specified in Article 4 (2) 1. |
| Article 6 (Coverage of Parcel-Post Items) |
Items except for letter-post items under Article 4 shall be handled as parcel-post items.
| Article 7 (Coverage of Express Postal Items) |
| (1) | Documents and goods to be promptly delivered overseas shall be handled as express postal items; and the handling of such postal items shall be recorded. |
| (2) | The terms and conditions of use of the express postal items specified in paragraph (1), procedures for handling them, and other necessary matters shall be determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Science and ICT. |
| Article 8 (Additional Services for International Postal Items) |
Additional services for international postal items shall be categorized as follows:
| 1. | Registered mail (limited to letter-post items); |
| 4. | Any other services determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Science and ICT, among services internationally provided. |
CHAPTER III POSTAL CHARGES
| Article 9 (International Postal Charges) |
| (1) | International postal charges and fees for using international postal services (hereinafter referred to as “international postal charges, etc.”) shall be determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Science and ICT, within the scope stipulated by international conventions. |
| (2) | Matters not stipulated by international conventions concerning international postal charges, such as those for additional services provided for in Article 8 shall be determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Science and ICT. |
| Article 10 (Payment of International Postal Charges) |
International postal charges, etc. may be paid by any of the following means:
| 5. | Electronic money or electronic payment using the information and communications networks. |
| Article 11 (Separate Payment or Deferred Payment of International Postal Charges) |
| (1) | International postal charges, etc. for outbound postal items may be paid by separate payment or deferred payment in accordance with practices for handling domestic postal items. <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021> |
| (2) | The marking of separate payment or deferred payment of international postal charges, etc., post offices that accept such payments, and other matters shall be determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Science and ICT. <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021> |
[Title Amended on Jan. 5, 2021]
| Article 12 (Reduction of International Postal Charges) |
| (1) | International postal charges, etc. may be partially reduced. |
| (2) | The categories, volume, conditions, range of discounts, etc. for the postal items applicable for the reduction of international postal charges, etc. pursuant to paragraph (1), shall be determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Science and ICT, within the limits stipulated by international conventions. |
| Article 13 (International Reply Coupons) |
| (1) | An international reply coupon sold in a foreign country shall be exchanged for a postage stamp equivalent to the postal charge publicly notified pursuant to Article 9 (1), at any domestic post office. <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021> |
| (2) | No international reply coupons sold within the Republic of Korea shall be exchangeable at domestic post offices. <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021> |
[Title Amended on Jan. 5, 2021]
| Article 14 (Dispatch of International Postal Items) |
| (1) | A person who intends to dispatch any of the following international postal items shall directly submit such item to a post office: Provided, That postal items specified in subparagraphs 1 and 8 may be collected from a sender’s location at the sender’s request: <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021> |
| 1. | Parcel-post items or express postal items; |
| 2. | Postal items that require additional services specified in Article 8; |
| 4. | Postal items containing articles subject to customs clearance; |
| 5. | Postal items for which international postal charges, etc. are paid by separate payment or deferred payment under Article 11; |
| 6. | Airmail postal items for a person with a visual impairment; |
| 7. | Postal items eligible for partial or full exemption from postal charges under international conventions or Article 12; |
| 8. | Postal items specified in Article 3 (1) 4. |
| (2) | A person who intends to dispatch any international postal item, other than the post items specified in the subparagraphs of paragraph (1), may place it in a mailbox. |
| Article 15 (Dimensions, Packing, and Descriptions on External Surface of Postal Items) |
| (1) | A person who intends to dispatch any international postal item pursuant to Article 14 shall meet the requirements regarding the dimensions and packing of outbound postal items as well as descriptions on the external surface thereof, determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Science and ICT. |
| (2) | Where any postal item fails to meet the standards publicly notified under international conventions or paragraph (1), the Minister of Science and ICT may require the sender to submit it after supplementing the insufficiency; or may refuse to handle it as a postal item. |
| (3) | A sender shall be fully liable for the damage or missing of any content of a postal item, or for the damage on other items, or for any other damage incurring in the course of transmission and delivery of the postal items due to inappropriate packing by the sender. |
| Article 16 (Weight of Attachments) |
The weight of tags and documents attached to an outbound postal item shall be included in the calculation of the weight of such postal item: Provided, That the weight of postage stamps, a waybill, and documents attached for customs clearance, shall not be included in the weight of a postal item.
| Article 17 (Certificates of Receipt of Postal Items) |
| (1) | Where a sender dispatches a postal item subject to recorded handling, he or she may be issued a certificate of receipt, or copy of the waybill, of the postal item as well as a receipt; and may request a post office which has received the postal item to issue a certificate of receipt, or certified copy of the waybill, of the postal item, within one year following the date of dispatch. |
| (2) | Where a sender requests the issuance of a certificate of receipt, or certified copy of the waybill, of a postal item pursuant to paragraph (1) after dispatching the postal item, the sender shall present a receipt of the postal item; and shall present prima facie evidence of the dispatch if he or she is unable to present the receipt. |
| (3) | A sender who dispatches a large quantity of postal items subject to recorded handling may be required to fill in a receipt form of postal items for plural entries in advance and to present the form along with the postal items. <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021> |
| (4) | A certificate of receipt of a postal item received via the Internet or by other electronic means may be issued electronically. |
| Article 18 (Alteration of Descriptions on External Surface of Outbound Postal Items or Request for Return) |
A sender of an international postal item may request the competent post office to alter or correct any description on the external surface of the postal item or to return the postal item. In such cases, the sender shall pay international postal charges, etc. publicly notified pursuant to Article 9 (1).
| Article 19 (Handling of Outbound Postal Items with Unpaid International Postal Charges) |
| (1) | Where international postal charges, etc. for an outbound postal item are not fully paid, the head of the post office which has received such postal item shall notify the sender of the unpaid international postal charges, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "unpaid charges") and shall dispatch the postal item after collecting the unpaid charges. |
| (2) | Where it is impracticable to collect unpaid charges due to an incorrect address or name of a sender or any other cause, the relevant postal item shall be dispatched, with the letter “T” indicating that postal charges therefor are unpaid (hereinafter referred to as “T”) and the amount of the unpaid charges written on the upper part of the surface of the postal item. |
| Article 20 (Temporary Suspension of Postal Services in Country of Destination) |
Postal items that have not been dispatched due to the temporary suspension of postal services in the partner country shall be dispatched as soon as postal services in the country are resumed.
| Article 21 (Articles Prohibited from International Postal Services) |
| (1) | The Minister of Science and ICT shall determine and publicly notify articles deemed inappropriate to be handled as postal items (hereinafter referred to as "prohibited items"), such as pornography, explosives, firearms, swords, narcotics, and toxic chemicals. |
| (2) | The Minister of Science and ICT may refuse to handle as a postal item, any article publicly notified pursuant to paragraph (1). |
| Article 22 (Exceptionally Permitted Dangerous Goods) |
| (1) | Notwithstanding Article 21, dangerous goods exceptionally permitted by international conventions may be handled as postal items. |
| (2) | The terms and conditions of use of the postal items specified in paragraph (1) and procedures for handling them shall be determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Science and ICT. |
| Article 23 (Delivery of Inbound Postal Items) |
| (1) | Except as provided in international conventions and this Decree, inbound postal items shall be delivered in accordance with practices for delivering domestic postal items: Provided, That the period for storing postal items kept for delivery shall be 30 days. |
| (2) | Where a postal item that fails to meet the dimensions prescribed by international conventions or a postal item containing any article prohibited from postage, which is posted from a foreign country, arrives in the Republic of Korea, the postal item may be delivered to the relevant addressee, if no provisions concerning the seizure or return of such postal item exist in other statutes or regulations. |
| Article 24 (Delivery of Postal Items Cleared from Customs) |
| (1) | An international postal item subject to procedures for customs clearance may be stored in the post office responsible for customs clearance; and the head of such post office may dispatch a guide on customs clearance for international postal items (hereinafter referred to as "guide"), to the relevant addressee. |
| (2) | Upon receipt of a guide under paragraph (1), an addressee shall pay taxes imposed and customs clearance agency fees within the period for storage specified in Article 25 to claim the relevant postal item. |
| Article 25 (Period for Storage) |
The period for storage of an inbound postal item shall be 15 days following the date the head of the post office responsible for customs clearance dispatches a guide: Provided, That the period may be extended by up to 45 days at an addressee’s request or if deemed necessary by the head of the post office responsible for customs clearance due to the procedures for customs clearance or any other unavoidable cause.
| Article 26 (Delivery of Inbound Postal Items with Unpaid International Postal Charges) |
An inbound postal item marked “T” shall be delivered after the amount of unpaid charges converted into the currency of the Republic of Korea is collected from the addressee.
| Article 27 (Redirection of International Postal Items) |
Unless a sender prohibits redirection, an inbound postal item may be redirected within the Republic of Korea in accordance with practices for redirecting domestic postal items.
| Article 28 (Delivery of Postal Items Subject to Tracked Delivery) |
A postal item subject to tracked delivery (referring to a postal item delivered without a signature or seal affixed thereto although the handling process from its receipt to delivery is recorded) shall be delivered in accordance with practices for delivering registered domestic postal items, but the signature or seal of a person who receives the postal item shall be omitted.
| Article 29 (Affixation of Signatures or Seals to Advice of Delivery) |
| (1) | A person who receives an inbound postal item delivered with a request for an advice of delivery shall affix his or her signature or seal to the advice of delivery. |
| (2) | If it is impracticable to affix a signature or seal pursuant to paragraph (1) due to any unavoidable cause, the head of the post office that delivers the relevant postal item shall certify the delivery thereof. |
| Article 30 (Handling of Departed Contents from International Postal Items and Those Items That Addresses Refuse to Receive) |
| (1) | Any departed contents from an international postal item of which addressee is unidentifiable shall be handled as follows: |
| 1. | The head of a post office who finds such postal item shall post, for one month, the details thereof at a place or on the bulletin board in the post office, where the general public can be easily informed thereof, and retain the postal item; |
| 2. | Where no rightful owner claims the delivery of the postal item during the posting period specified in paragraph (1), the postal item shall be handled by applying mutatis mutandis the procedures under Article 36 (2) and (3) of the Postal Service Act. |
| (2) | Where the addressee of an inbound postal item subject to customs clearance completely (limited to postal items that cannot be returned or redirected) or partially renounces claim to the postal item, such postal item shall be handled by applying mutatis mutandis the procedures under Article 36 of the Postal Service Act. |
| (3) | Postal items returned from a foreign country shall be handled as follows: |
| 1. | Where a letter-post item is delivered to the sender, the main clause of Article 23 (1) and Article 23 (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis: Provided, That a registered letter-post item shall be delivered after the amount equivalent to charges for domestic registered mail is collected; |
| 2. | A parcel-post item shall be delivered to the sender after a return charge and other charges are collected; |
| 3. | A postal item that cannot be returned due to an incorrect address of the sender or any other unavoidable cause and a postal item that the sender refuses to accept on the grounds of destruction, deterioration, etc. of its contents, shall be handled by applying mutatis mutandis the procedures under Article 36 of the Postal Service Act. |
CHAPTER VI CUSTOMS CLEARANCE
| Article 31 (Customs Clearance of International Postal Items) |
| (1) | Any international postal items, except for those specified in Article 4 (2) 1, 5, and 6, shall undergo customs clearance: Provided, That the postal items specified in Article 4 (2) 1, 5, and 6 may also undergo customs clearance, if deemed necessary by the head of the post office responsible for customs clearance or the head of the competent customs office. |
| (2) | An employee of the competent post office or employee of a business entity entrusted with customs clearance by the post office shall be present while the procedures for customs clearance are performed under paragraph (1). <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021> |
| (3) | The head of the post office responsible for customs clearance may permit the addressee of a postal item to be present during the procedures for customs clearance, only when the head deems his or her presence particularly necessary. <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021> |
| (4) | An inbound postal item which fails to undergo procedures for customs clearance within the period for storage specified in Article 25 due to a cause attributable to the addressee, shall be handled in a manner similar to that for an undeliverable postal item. |
| Article 32 (Payment of Presentation-to-Customs Charges) |
| (1) | The addressee of a postal item cleared from customs shall pay a presentation-to-customs charge as specified in subparagraph 1, 4, or 5 of Article 10. |
| (2) | Any of the following international postal items shall be exempt from presentation-to-customs charges: |
| 1. | A postal item dispatched by a prisoner of war or by a civilian detained due to war; |
| 2. | A postal item for a person with a visual impairment; |
| 3. | A postal item addressed to a diplomatic mission in the Republic of Korea or a diplomat working for such diplomatic mission, or to an international organization similarly treated or an employee of such international organization; |
| 4. | A postal item addressed to the Head of the State; |
| 5. | A postal item relating to postal services and other similar items, recognized by the Minister of Science and ICT; |
| 6. | Any other postal items exempt from customs duty. |
| Article 33 (Measures Following Objection against Customs Duty) |
| (1) | Where the addressee of an inbound postal item who has filed an objection, request for examination, or request for trial with the head of a customs office under the Customs Act, intends to withhold the return of the postal item or any relevant disposition, the addressee shall promptly notify the head of the post office responsible for customs clearance of his or her intention. |
| (2) | No period from the date an objection, request for examination, or request for trial is filed under the Customs Act to the date a decision thereon is made, nor the period required to notify such decision (five days from the date of the decision), shall be included in the calculation of the period of storage specified in Article 25. |
| Article 34 (Measures Following Application for Tax Exemption for Re-Export or for Transfer to Bonded Areas) |
| (1) | Where the addressee of an inbound postal item has filed an application for tax exemption for re-exporting the postal item or for transferring the postal item to a bonded area with the head of the competent customs office, the addressee shall notify the head of the post office responsible for customs clearance of such fact. |
| (2) | In the case of paragraph (1), Article 33 (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis. |
| Article 35 (Request for Tracking and Tracing) |
A sender or addressee may make request tracking and tracing an outbound or inbound postal item, within six months following the date the postal item is dispatched: Provided, That a request for tracking and tracing an express postal item shall be made within four months.
| Article 36 (Refund of International Postal Charges) |
| (1) | A sender may request the Minister of Science and ICT to refund any of the following international postal charges, etc.: |
| 1. | Where international postal charges, etc. are overcharged due to negligence of a post office: International postal charges, etc. excessively collected; |
| 2. | Where a post office fails to provide additional services due to negligence after receiving international postal charges, etc. applicable to an international postal item subject to additional services: Additional service fees; |
| 3. | Where an aerogram has been dispatched by surface mail: The difference between the charge for the aerogram and the minimum charge for an ordinary letter by surface mail to the relevant area; |
| 4. | In cases of the loss, total theft, destruction, etc. of a registered postal item, a parcel-post item, or an insured registered postal item or parcel-post item: International postal charges, etc. already paid: Provided, That registration fees or insurance premium shall be excluded; |
| 5. | In cases of the loss, theft, damage, etc. of an express postal item or an insured express postal item: International postal charges, etc. already paid: Provided, That insurance premium shall be excluded; |
| 6. | Where it is found, through an investigation conducted upon request for tracking and tracing, that the loss of a postal item or similar damage has occurred due to negligence of a post office: Tracking and tracing charges; |
| 7. | Where a postal item on which the correct address and name of the addressee are written is returned to a sender by negligence of a post office: International postal charges, etc. already paid; |
| 8. | Where a letter-post item sent to a foreign country without additional services is damaged while a post office is handling it: International postal charges, etc. already paid. |
| (2) | Where an outbound postal item, for which international postal charges, etc. have been fully paid, is returned to the sender because the postal item is subject to an export embargo under other statutes or regulations or due to any other unavoidable cause, the remainder after deducting from the international postal charges, etc. an amount equivalent to domestic postal charges and fees for returning the postal item, shall be refunded at the sender’s request: Provided, That no refund shall be made if it is deemed to be attributable to the sender’s intentional act or gross negligence. |
| (3) | International postal charges, etc. refundable pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) may be paid in cash: Provided, That where a sender has paid international postal charges, etc. by credit card, etc. pursuant to subparagraph 4 of Article 10, the card transaction may be canceled in lieu of the refund. |
| (4) | A refund of international postal charges, etc. shall be claimed within one year following the date of dispatch. |
| (5) | International postal charges, etc. for a postal item not returned due to seizure under other statutes or regulations of the country of destination or any other similar ground shall not be refunded. |
ADDENDA <Presidential Decree No. 28781, Apr. 3, 2018>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Decree shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
Article 2 (Transitional Measures concerning Postal Items That Have Arrived)
A postal item which has already arrived or has been received as at the time this Decree enters into force shall be handled under the previous provisions.
Article 3 Omitted.
Article 4 (Relationship with Other Statutes or Regulations)
Any citation of the previous International Postal Regulations, or of any provisions thereof, in any other statute or regulation as at the time this Decree enters into force, shall be deemed a citation of this Decree or the corresponding provisions of this Decree in lieu of the previous International Postal Regulations or any provisions thereof, if such corresponding provisions exist herein.
ADDENDUM <Presidential Decree No. 31380, Jan. 5, 2021>
This Decree shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation. (Proviso Omitted.)