Sending a parcel abroad from Korea: EMS and international air parcel rates, weight limits and what you need
Numbers checked against the official source on 2026-10-19
From Korea, an EMS parcel (non-document) of 1 kg costs ₩46,000 to the United States, ₩28,500 to Japan and ₩20,000 to China on Korea Post's official EMS rate table, and a 2 kg parcel costs ₩68,500, ₩35,500 and ₩26,500. The slower international air parcel is cheaper at the same weight (1 kg: ₩28,000 to the United States, ₩18,000 to Japan). The maximum weight depends on the destination: the Korea Post lookup gives 30 kg for the United States and Japan and 20 kg for Australia. Korea Post counts the larger of actual weight and volume weight (length × width × height in cm ÷ 6,000).
Read this before comparing the tables
- EMS non-document table: the page says these rates include the additional transport surcharge.
- EMS document table and air parcel table: the page says these rates exclude the additional transport surcharge and any extra-service fees. The surcharge differs by country, mail type, transport route and weight, and Korea Post points to its rate calculator for the full estimate. So a parcel price in the air-parcel table is lower than what you will pay at the counter by the surcharge, and the EMS and parcel columns are not like-for-like.
- Home pick-up: asking for EMS pick-up adds a visit fee of ₩3,000 per visit for one item and ₩1,000 per extra item, up to ₩5,000.
EMS, non-document items (parcels)
| Destination | 0.5 kg | 1 kg | 2 kg | 5 kg | 10 kg | 20 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 39,000 | 46,000 | 68,500 | 128,500 | 233,500 | 441,000 |
| Japan | 26,000 | 28,500 | 35,500 | 43,500 | 63,500 | 98,500 |
| China | 17,500 | 20,000 | 26,500 | 39,000 | 60,500 | 103,000 |
| Australia | 33,500 | 40,500 | 55,000 | 81,000 | 136,500 | 252,000 |
| United Kingdom | 39,500 | 44,500 | 55,500 | 91,000 | 163,000 | 307,000 |
| Germany | 43,500 | 50,000 | 60,500 | 88,500 | 150,500 | 278,500 |
| Canada | 30,000 | 36,000 | 49,500 | 89,500 | 166,500 | 327,500 |
| Singapore | 14,000 | 16,500 | 22,500 | 38,500 | 65,500 | 117,500 |
International air parcel (ordinary parcel by air)
| Destination | 0.5 kg | 1 kg | 2 kg | 5 kg | 10 kg | 20 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 23,500 | 28,000 | 37,000 | 71,000 | 128,000 | 242,500 |
| Japan | 17,000 | 18,000 | 21,000 | 28,500 | 42,000 | 68,000 |
| China | 17,000 | 19,500 | 23,500 | 35,000 | 52,000 | 82,000 |
| Australia | 18,500 | 21,000 | 28,500 | 52,000 | 91,500 | 170,000 |
| United Kingdom | 26,000 | 30,500 | 34,000 | 51,000 | 86,000 | 156,000 |
| Germany | 19,500 | 23,000 | 29,500 | 50,000 | 84,500 | 152,500 |
| Canada | 23,000 | 27,000 | 35,000 | 59,000 | 99,500 | 180,000 |
| Singapore | 16,500 | 18,000 | 21,000 | 30,000 | 44,500 | 74,500 |
The air-parcel table on the page runs from 0.5 kg to 20 kg in 0.5 kg steps for 20 named countries plus four zone groups. The surface-mail (ship) parcel table is organised by zone and is not reproduced here because we did not read the page that maps each country to its zone.
EMS, documents (up to 2 kg)
| Destination | 0.5 kg | 1 kg | 2 kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 26,000 | 33,000 | 47,000 |
| Japan | 22,000 | 24,000 | 31,500 |
| China | 22,000 | 25,000 | 31,000 |
| Australia | 22,500 | 28,500 | 41,000 |
| United Kingdom | 32,500 | 36,500 | 44,000 |
| Germany | 30,000 | 34,500 | 43,000 |
| Canada | 28,500 | 32,500 | 41,000 |
| Singapore | 14,500 | 17,500 | 23,500 |
For documents the table covers 0.3 kg to 2 kg (here 0.5, 1 and 2 kg). Goods are non-documents: for anything other than paper documents use the non-document table above.
Maximum weight, size and delivery details by country
| Destination | Max weight | Max size | Delivery days (documents) | Customs declaration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 30,000 g | Length up to 1.5 m; length + girth up to 2.75 m | 4 | Attach to all |
| Japan | 30,000 g | Length up to 1.5 m; length + girth up to 3 m | 3 | Attach to all |
| Australia | 20,000 g | Length up to 1.05 m; length + girth up to 2.45 m | 4 | Attach to all |
- If the weight that applies (the larger of actual and volume weight) is over the country's limit, the item cannot be sent. Volume weight may also limit you to the maximum size.
- Delivery times for non-documents are longer, because customs clearance days are added (receipt day and public holidays are not counted).
- The page notes that EMS to the United States has a customs duty-free limit of US$100 and customs clearance allowed up to US$2,500.
What you need and how to send
- Check the destination's rules in the Korea Post destination lookup: weight and size limits, and the lists of banned and restricted goods. For the United States the page bans food, processed meat, instant noodles, tobacco, lottery items, seeds and similar goods, and restricts cosmetics, medicines and supplements; it also says kimchi can be sent only in a metal can filled to 70% or less.
- Pack and measure. Weigh the parcel and measure it; the price uses the larger of the real weight and length × width × height (cm) ÷ 6,000.
- Fill in the address label. Documents or printed matter use the label with the customs sign CN22; goods and valuables use the label with the customs declaration CN23. For commercial goods the page says to attach a commercial invoice and any trade papers so that clearance is easier. Write the postcode and apartment number completely: the page warns that a missing or wrong one can delay the item or send it back.
- Declare contents truthfully. The page warns that sending banned or restricted goods, or filling in the customs declaration falsely or incompletely (contents, price, number, weight, HS code), can lead to return, seizure or disposal without prior notice, with no trace or compensation.
- Hand it over at a post office, or book a home pick-up (the rate page lists the visit fee above). The Korea Post call centre is 1588-1300 on weekdays 09:00 to 18:00, closed on Saturdays and holidays.
Ask at the counter whether a passport or ID is required for sending. If you are sending food, check our quarantine page for what Korea itself restricts, and note that the destination country's rules apply on arrival.
Common questions
How much does it cost to send a 1 kg parcel from Korea to the United States?
On Korea Post's EMS table a 1 kg non-document parcel costs ₩46,000 and includes the transport surcharge. The ordinary international air parcel table shows ₩28,000 for 1 kg to the United States, but that figure excludes the surcharge and extra-service fees.
What is the maximum weight for EMS?
It depends on the destination. The lookup shows 30,000 g for the United States and Japan and 20,000 g for Australia. The EMS non-document table itself runs up to 30 kg.
Does Korea Post charge for volume weight?
Yes. It charges for the larger of the actual weight and the volume weight, which is length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6,000.
No revision date is printed on the rate tables; all pages were read on 2026-10-19. The rate cells are copied from the tables as printed; only a sample of destinations and weights is shown. Not covered: ship (surface) parcels, EMS Premium, K-Packet, contract customers and tax or duty at the destination.
Official sources
- Korea Post (ePOST) EMS — EMS rate table, documents and non-documents — EMS document table (default tab) and non-document table (tab 'non-document'); surcharge note, volume weight, pick-up fee; no revision date (read on 2026-10-19) (checked 2026-10-19)
- Korea Post (ePOST) EMS — international parcel rate table — air parcel and surface parcel tables, notes on surcharge and volume weight (checked 2026-10-19)
- Korea Post (ePOST) EMS — destination lookup (United States, Japan, Australia) — maximum weight and size, delivery days, prohibited goods, customs notes per destination (checked 2026-10-19)
- Korea Post (ePOST) EMS — service overview — address labels CN22 and CN23, commercial invoice, call centre 1588-1300 (checked 2026-10-19)
Prices change. If an official page shows a different number from this page, the official page wins — and please tell us so we can fix it.