Starting today, post office counters will stop accepting airmail parcels bound for the United States, and from tomorrow, the 26th, all items sent via Express Mail Service (EMS) — except for documents exempt from customs duties — will also be suspended.
The measure takes effect for mail arriving in the United States from 12:00 a.m. (local time) on the 29th, when the U.S. government’s revised customs policy goes into force. From then on, all international mail to the U.S., except for documents and letters, will be subject to declaration and a 15 percent tariff. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s state-run postal service has suspended most shipments to the United States after Washington moved to impose customs declarations and duties on all small parcels, raising costs and disrupting cross-border trade.
On Monday, the Korea Post stopped accepting low-cost airmail parcels bound for the United States. Beginning Tuesday, even its standard Express Mail Service (EMS) parcels — except for documents and letters — will no longer be processed. The only remaining option is EMS Premium, a service run in partnership with UPS, which is often more expensive for lightweight goods.
The change follows a U.S. policy shift ending the de minimis exemption that allowed items valued under $800 to enter duty-free. Starting August 29, nearly all inbound packages will be subject to declaration and a 15 percent duty.
At Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Post Office on Monday morning, the scene was calm but tinged with anxiety. “I often send electronics for resale to the U.S.,” said one customer. “Now I worry not only about higher fees but whether couriers will accept them at all.”
A notice posted at the Gwanghwamun Post Office in Seoul announces the suspension of mail services to the United States. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
While EMS Premium can be cheaper for parcels over 4.5 kilograms, smaller packages face a surcharge of about 10 percent. Compounding the problem, private couriers typically refuse food, kimchi, or high-value goods, cutting off a significant channel for South Korean exporters and individuals.
The disruption has also unsettled businesses catering to America’s growing base of K-culture fans, who order Korean snacks and merchandise through online “reverse direct purchases.”
To ease the transition, Korea Post said it would offer a ₩10,000 ($7.40) discount on EMS Premium shipments through the end of September. Officials added they are working with U.S.-approved customs brokers to restore a service with comparable pricing and speed within one to two months.
Until then, Korean senders are being urged to prepare invoices and declare goods accurately, as even small packages will face scrutiny.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
