According to changes in the United States' tariff policy, the acceptance of international mail to the U.S. at post offices will be gradually suspended. However, it is possible to send international mail to the U.S. using private courier services for which the recipient pays the tariff.
The Korea Post of the Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 21st that, starting from the 25th, it will stop accepting all items except documents exempt from tariffs for international air parcels to the U.S. and will cease accepting mail on the 26th. This measure will take effect from midnight (local time) on the 29th, when the U.S. government's tariff policy changes are applied.
The U.S. has exempted tariffs on items worth $800 or less imported from abroad, but starting from the 29th, all international mail except for documents and letters will require declaration and a 15% tariff. Korea Post explained that the obligation to declare and pay tariffs on all items to the U.S. poses challenges for processing under the current international mail system, leading to the decision to suspend acceptance.
However, using the 'EMS Premium' service, which is a private partnership product, items can be sent regardless of U.S. tariff policies. The EMS Premium service, operated by private courier companies, allows these companies to handle customs clearance and tariffs are applied to the recipient. This service is only available for acceptance at post offices, and fees may be higher in some segments compared to the existing EMS service.
Korea Post plans to establish a response plan to minimize public inconvenience. Additionally, it urged users planning to send mail to the U.S. to accurately describe the value and purpose of the items and prepare the necessary customs documents.