Domestic postal rates in Korea are rising for the first time in five years. The standard postage for a 25g standard-size letter is being adjusted from 430 won to 500 won.
The Korea Post Office Agency under the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) said standard domestic postage for a 25g standard-size item will increase by 70 won, from 430 won to 500 won, starting Monday. It marks the first postal rate adjustment since 2021, five years ago.
Under the adjustment, standard-size postage rises from 400 won to 470 won for items up to 5g, from 430 won to 500 won for items over 5g and up to 25g, and from 450 won to 520 won for items over 25g and up to 50g. Non-standard postage for items up to 50g is being adjusted from 520 won to 590 won. Each weight tier increases by 70 won.
The Korea Post Office Agency explained that the rate adjustment was driven by widening losses caused by declining mail volume and rising costs. As digital transformation accelerates, the use of mail such as letters is decreasing, while the cost of maintaining the nationwide post office network and delivery and transport networks continues to rise. Losses in the postal business expanded from 165.9 billion won in 2024 to 311.6 billion won in 2025.
The agency said, "This rate adjustment is at a minimum level that takes into account the burden on households and the impact on prices, and even after the increase, Korea's domestic postal rates remain low compared with major OECD countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia, Germany and France."
