How to Ship a Lost Item Home for Less Than Express
International express typically costs three to five times what EMS does. Published rates for six countries, 0.5 to 5 kg, and what pickup plus EMS adds up to.
International express typically costs three to five times what Korea Post EMS does for the same small parcel. One dated example: 1 kg to the United States costs ₩46,000 by EMS, against ₩160,800–177,100 at published retail international express rates, before the fuel surcharge (rates read on 6 October 2026).
EMS, EMS Premium and express: the published rates
United States
0.5 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩39,000
- EMS Premium
- ₩43,800
- Published express rate*
- ₩145,500–₩159,400
1 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩46,000
- EMS Premium
- ₩54,100
- Published express rate*
- ₩160,800–₩177,100
2 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩68,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩73,300
- Published express rate*
- ₩191,400–₩212,700
5 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩128,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩109,400
- Published express rate*
- ₩281,200–₩309,100
Japan
0.5 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩26,000
- EMS Premium
- ₩37,400
- Published express rate*
- ₩132,200–₩147,300
1 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩28,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩42,500
- Published express rate*
- ₩145,100–₩167,600
2 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩35,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩56,600
- Published express rate*
- ₩166,500–₩191,800
5 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩43,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩86,300
- Published express rate*
- ₩225,200–₩258,400
China
0.5 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩17,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩33,400
- Published express rate*
- ₩132,000–₩140,700
1 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩20,000
- EMS Premium
- ₩38,700
- Published express rate*
- ₩144,400–₩160,300
2 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩26,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩48,900
- Published express rate*
- ₩164,800–₩180,500
5 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩39,000
- EMS Premium
- ₩66,900
- Published express rate*
- ₩209,400–₩230,300
Taiwan
0.5 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩22,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩33,400
- Published express rate*
- ₩125,700–₩140,700
1 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩25,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩38,700
- Published express rate*
- ₩136,700–₩160,300
2 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩32,000
- EMS Premium
- ₩48,900
- Published express rate*
- ₩158,700–₩180,500
5 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩45,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩66,900
- Published express rate*
- ₩205,200–₩229,300
France
0.5 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩31,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩43,800
- Published express rate*
- ₩144,900–₩166,800
1 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩36,000
- EMS Premium
- ₩54,100
- Published express rate*
- ₩165,600–₩203,800
2 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩45,000
- EMS Premium
- ₩73,300
- Published express rate*
- ₩207,000–₩260,000
5 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩73,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩109,400
- Published express rate*
- ₩333,900–₩403,900
Spain
0.5 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩27,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩43,800
- Published express rate*
- ₩144,900–₩166,800
1 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩33,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩54,100
- Published express rate*
- ₩165,600–₩203,800
2 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩45,500
- EMS Premium
- ₩73,300
- Published express rate*
- ₩207,000–₩260,000
5 kg
- Korea Post EMS
- ₩85,000
- EMS Premium
- ₩109,400
- Published express rate*
- ₩333,900–₩403,900
| Destination | Weight | Korea Post EMS | EMS Premium | Published express rate* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 0.5 kg | ₩39,000 | ₩43,800 | ₩145,500–₩159,400 |
| 1 kg | ₩46,000 | ₩54,100 | ₩160,800–₩177,100 | |
| 2 kg | ₩68,500 | ₩73,300 | ₩191,400–₩212,700 | |
| 5 kg | ₩128,500 | ₩109,400 | ₩281,200–₩309,100 | |
| Japan | 0.5 kg | ₩26,000 | ₩37,400 | ₩132,200–₩147,300 |
| 1 kg | ₩28,500 | ₩42,500 | ₩145,100–₩167,600 | |
| 2 kg | ₩35,500 | ₩56,600 | ₩166,500–₩191,800 | |
| 5 kg | ₩43,500 | ₩86,300 | ₩225,200–₩258,400 | |
| China | 0.5 kg | ₩17,500 | ₩33,400 | ₩132,000–₩140,700 |
| 1 kg | ₩20,000 | ₩38,700 | ₩144,400–₩160,300 | |
| 2 kg | ₩26,500 | ₩48,900 | ₩164,800–₩180,500 | |
| 5 kg | ₩39,000 | ₩66,900 | ₩209,400–₩230,300 | |
| Taiwan | 0.5 kg | ₩22,500 | ₩33,400 | ₩125,700–₩140,700 |
| 1 kg | ₩25,500 | ₩38,700 | ₩136,700–₩160,300 | |
| 2 kg | ₩32,000 | ₩48,900 | ₩158,700–₩180,500 | |
| 5 kg | ₩45,500 | ₩66,900 | ₩205,200–₩229,300 | |
| France | 0.5 kg | ₩31,500 | ₩43,800 | ₩144,900–₩166,800 |
| 1 kg | ₩36,000 | ₩54,100 | ₩165,600–₩203,800 | |
| 2 kg | ₩45,000 | ₩73,300 | ₩207,000–₩260,000 | |
| 5 kg | ₩73,500 | ₩109,400 | ₩333,900–₩403,900 | |
| Spain | 0.5 kg | ₩27,500 | ₩43,800 | ₩144,900–₩166,800 |
| 1 kg | ₩33,500 | ₩54,100 | ₩165,600–₩203,800 | |
| 2 kg | ₩45,500 | ₩73,300 | ₩207,000–₩260,000 | |
| 5 kg | ₩85,000 | ₩109,400 | ₩333,900–₩403,900 |
*Lowest–highest of three published retail international express rate guides, before the fuel surcharge and VAT. EMS and EMS Premium: Korea Post's published tables (non-document). Read on 2026-10-06; rates change.
For parcels of up to 2 kg, the cheapest published express rate is roughly three to five times the EMS rate on every lane in the table, and more to China and Japan. The express figures are before the fuel surcharge, which is added on top and changes every week.
EMS Premium: the same courier network, at Korea Post's rate
EMS Premium is Korea Post's premium international service, delivered in partnership with FedEx (Korea Post, EMS Premium service page, read on 6 October 2026). It reaches 204 countries, with tracking. The parcel travels on FedEx's network, but you pay Korea Post's published EMS Premium rate — shown in the table above, well below the published retail express rates.
Phones, laptops, cameras and anything else with a lithium battery go by EMS Premium. Everything else usually goes by standard EMS, which is cheaper still and takes about one to two weeks.
Why express costs more
International express is built for business parcels that must arrive in two or three days: door-to-door pickup, a dedicated air network, customs brokerage. A recovered lost item has usually been sitting in an office for days or weeks already, so a few extra days of transit rarely matter — the price does. EMS and EMS Premium are priced by public tables you can read before you send anything.
What it costs with us, in total
Somebody has to collect the item first. Here is our Standard pickup fee plus the EMS or EMS Premium rate, against the published express rate for the same parcel — shown only where our total is the lower one.
Phone or wallet (0.5 kg, EMS Premium)
Our pickup + EMSPublished express rate*
- United States
- ₩103,800₩145,500–₩159,400
- Japan
- ₩97,400₩132,200–₩147,300
- China
- ₩93,400₩132,000–₩140,700
- Taiwan
- ₩93,400₩125,700–₩140,700
- France
- ₩103,800₩144,900–₩166,800
- Spain
- ₩103,800₩144,900–₩166,800
Laptop (2 kg, EMS Premium)
Our pickup + EMSPublished express rate*
- United States
- ₩133,300₩191,400–₩212,700
- Japan
- ₩116,600₩166,500–₩191,800
- China
- ₩108,900₩164,800–₩180,500
- Taiwan
- ₩108,900₩158,700–₩180,500
- France
- ₩133,300₩207,000–₩260,000
- Spain
- ₩133,300₩207,000–₩260,000
Bag or suitcase (5 kg, EMS)
Our pickup + EMSPublished express rate*
- United States
- ₩188,500₩281,200–₩309,100
- Japan
- ₩103,500₩225,200–₩258,400
- China
- ₩99,000₩209,400–₩230,300
- Taiwan
- ₩105,500₩205,200–₩229,300
- France
- ₩133,500₩333,900–₩403,900
- Spain
- ₩145,000₩333,900–₩403,900
| Item | Destination | Our pickup + EMS | Published express rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone or wallet (0.5 kg, EMS Premium) | United States | ₩103,800 | ₩145,500–₩159,400 |
| Japan | ₩97,400 | ₩132,200–₩147,300 | |
| China | ₩93,400 | ₩132,000–₩140,700 | |
| Taiwan | ₩93,400 | ₩125,700–₩140,700 | |
| France | ₩103,800 | ₩144,900–₩166,800 | |
| Spain | ₩103,800 | ₩144,900–₩166,800 | |
| Laptop (2 kg, EMS Premium) | United States | ₩133,300 | ₩191,400–₩212,700 |
| Japan | ₩116,600 | ₩166,500–₩191,800 | |
| China | ₩108,900 | ₩164,800–₩180,500 | |
| Taiwan | ₩108,900 | ₩158,700–₩180,500 | |
| France | ₩133,300 | ₩207,000–₩260,000 | |
| Spain | ₩133,300 | ₩207,000–₩260,000 | |
| Bag or suitcase (5 kg, EMS) | United States | ₩188,500 | ₩281,200–₩309,100 |
| Japan | ₩103,500 | ₩225,200–₩258,400 | |
| China | ₩99,000 | ₩209,400–₩230,300 | |
| Taiwan | ₩105,500 | ₩205,200–₩229,300 | |
| France | ₩133,500 | ₩333,900–₩403,900 | |
| Spain | ₩145,000 | ₩333,900–₩403,900 |
Our Standard pickup fee (₩60,000) plus the EMS rate (EMS Premium for phones and laptops), shown only where it is below the lowest published express rate.
At airports our pickup fee is lower ($45 / ₩40,000), and paying in advance takes 10% off the pickup fee. Shipping is passed on at the actual cost, without a markup.
How it works
- Tell us online where the item is and roughly what it is.
- We prepare the authorization letter in Korean and English. You sign it and add a copy of your ID.
- We collect the item in person and weigh it. You see the exact shipping cost before it ships.
- We ship it by EMS, or by EMS Premium for anything with a lithium battery.
Not sure where the item is? Start with how to get a lost item home from Korea, or the airport lost property guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is EMS slower than express?
Usually by a few days. Express typically takes three to five days; standard EMS about one to two weeks, depending on the country and its customs. EMS Premium travels on FedEx's network.
Can phones and laptops be shipped?
Yes: items with a lithium battery go by EMS Premium. Loose power banks often cannot be shipped at all.
Do I pay customs duty?
Duty and taxes are set by the receiving country, whichever service carries the parcel.
Why not just book express myself?
You can, if the item has already been collected and is ready to ship. The step people get stuck on is usually the collection, not the shipping — that is the part we do. Sources, read on 6 October 2026: Korea Post 2026 EMS rate table (non-document); Korea Post EMS Premium rate table (non-document) and EMS Premium service page (partnership with FedEx); three published retail international express rate guides. Express rates exclude fuel surcharge and VAT. Rates change; we confirm the actual cost before anything ships.
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