Sending Mail and Packages in Korea: Post Office Phrases
Written and reviewed by Jun and Jin, native Korean speakers
Published · How we write & review
After this page, you can send a package or letter at a Korean post office and understand what the clerk asks you.
10-second answer
The short answer
The Korean post office is 우체국 (ucheguk). Walk in and say 소포 보내려고요 (sopo bonaeryeogoyo, "I'd like to send a package") or 이거 미국으로 보내주세요 (igeo migugeuro bonaejuseyo, "please send this to the US"). The clerk will ask 내용물이 뭐예요? (naeyongmuri mwoyeyo, "what's inside?") and 빠른우편으로 하실 거예요? (ppareunupyeoneuro hasil geoyeyo, "do you want express mail?") — knowing these two questions in advance makes the whole visit painless.
Quick check — did that land?
1. How do you say "I'd like to send a package"?
Key Vocabulary
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 우체국 | ucheguk | Post office |
| 소포 | sopo | Package, parcel |
| 편지 | pyeonji | Letter |
| 등기 (우편) | deunggi (upyeon) | Registered mail (tracked, signature required) |
| 빠른우편 | ppareun-upyeon | Express mail |
| 국제우편 | gukje-upyeon | International mail |
| 송장 | songjang | Shipping invoice / customs form |
| 우표 | upyo | Stamp |
| 박스 / 상자 | bakseu / sangja | Box |
| 운송장 번호 | unsongjang beonho | Tracking number |
See also: Renting an Apartment in Korea
What to Say When You Walk In
소포 보내려고 하는데요.
sopo bonaeryeogo haneundeyo.
I'd like to send a package.
The standard opening line — -려고 하는데요 softens it into "I'm trying to..."
이거 미국으로 보내주세요.
igeo migugeuro bonaejuseyo.
Please send this to the US.
Swap 미국 for any country name — 영국 (UK), 캐나다 (Canada), 호주 (Australia).
등기로 보내주세요.
deunggiro bonaejuseyo.
Please send it as registered mail.
등기 adds tracking and a delivery signature — worth it for anything important.
빠른우편으로 해주세요.
ppareun-upyeoneuro haejuseyo.
Please make it express mail.
Costs more but arrives noticeably faster, domestic or international.
박스는 여기서 살 수 있어요?
bakseuneun yeogiseo sal su isseoyo?
Can I buy a box here?
Most post offices sell standard-size shipping boxes on-site.
Questions the Clerk Will Ask You
| Question | Meaning | How to Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 내용물이 뭐예요? | What's inside? | Name the item(s): 옷이에요 (it's clothes), 책이에요 (it's books) |
| 빠른우편으로 하실 거예요? | Do you want express mail? | 네, 빠른우편으로 해주세요 / 아니요, 일반으로 해주세요 (regular, please) |
| 무게 재볼게요. | I'll weigh it. | No answer needed — just wait, they'll tell you the price |
| 송장 작성해 주세요. | Please fill out the customs form. | For international packages — content, value, and sender/receiver info |
International packages need a 송장
Any package leaving Korea requires a customs declaration form (송장) listing the contents and their value. Staff usually hand you one to fill out on the spot — declaring the contents as "gift" (선물) or "personal item" can affect customs handling, so answer honestly.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Confusing 소포 and 편지
소포 is a package; 편지 is a letter. If you just need a stamp for a letter, ask for 우표, not 소포 service.
Mistake #2 — Skipping 등기 for valuables
Regular mail (일반우편) has no tracking. For anything you'd be upset to lose, always ask for 등기.
Mini Quiz
2. What does the clerk mean by 내용물이 뭐예요?
3. What does 등기 add to regular mail?
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
Another practical errand every foreign resident runs into early — same counter-phrase pattern as the post office.
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