What address system does Korea use?

Since 2014–2015 Korea uses the road-name address system (도로명주소): a road name plus building number, with a 5-digit postal code. The old lot-based (지번) system is deprecated for mail.

How many digits is a Korean postal code?

Five digits (e.g. 04524). The old 6-digit codes are obsolete — always use the current 5-digit postcode.

In what order do I write a Korean address?

For international shipping, largest to smallest in English: recipient name, building/unit, road-name address, district, city/province, 5-digit postcode, then 'South Korea'.

Do I write the address in English or Korean?

English (Roman letters) is fine for international carriers and Korean couriers can read it; adding the Korean (Hangul) version helps last-mile couriers. The postcode is the key routing field.

What's an example of a correct address?

Hong Gil-dong, 101-dong 1502-ho, 123 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06234, South Korea. Phone: 010-1234-5678. PCCC: P-XXXXX-XXXXX-X.

Do apartments need building and unit numbers?

Yes. Korean apartments use dong (building) and ho (unit), e.g. 101-dong 1502-ho. Missing dong/ho is a frequent redelivery cause.

Is a phone number required?

Effectively yes. Korean couriers text delivery updates and call for access; a valid 010-xxxx-xxxx mobile is essential. Customs also match it to the PCCC.

Where do I find a Korean postcode?

Search the road-name address on the Korea Post postcode finder (epost.go.kr) or Naver Map. Ask your recipient to confirm their exact 5-digit code.

Does the address affect customs?

Indirectly — a clear recipient name, phone and PCCC on the paperwork keep clearance smooth. The physical label drives last-mile delivery after customs.

Can ShipKorea format the address for me?

Yes — give us the details on WhatsApp +91 78003 20078 and we'll structure the label and paperwork correctly for both customs and the Korean courier.

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How to Write a South Korean Address Correctly (2026): Road-Name Format, 5-Digit Postcodes & Examples

A wrongly formatted Korean address is a top cause of failed deliveries. This guide shows the modern road-name format, the 5-digit postcode, and exactly what to put on the label — with examples you can copy.

15 June 2026 6 min read

By ShipKorea.in Editorial Team·Reviewed by India–Korea logistics specialists

How to Write a South Korean Address Correctly (2026): Road-Name Format, 5-Digit Postcodes & Examples

Key takeaways

Korea uses a road-name address system (도로명주소) with a 5-digit postal code since 2015.
Write it largest-to-smallest for international post: recipient, building/unit, road address, city/district, postcode, 'South Korea'.
Always include the recipient's mobile number and PCCC — Korean couriers and customs need both.
A correct postcode and phone number prevent the most common last-mile failures.

Quick answer — the format that actually delivers

Modern Korean addresses use the road-name system (도로명주소) with a 5-digit postcode. For a parcel from India, write it largest-to-smallest in English — recipient, building and unit, road-name address, district (gu), city or province, the 5-digit postcode, then 'South Korea' — and always add the recipient's 010 mobile and PCCC. Get the postcode and phone right and last-mile delivery rarely fails.

The road-name system in 30 seconds

Korea switched from lot-number (지번) to road-name (도로명) addresses in 2014–2015. A road-name address is a street name plus a building number, e.g. '123 Teheran-ro'. Use this, not the old lot number, on your label.

The 5-digit postcode is the routing key

Korea moved to 5-digit postcodes (e.g. 04524) at the same time. Old 6-digit codes are obsolete. The postcode is the single most important field for sorting — confirm it with your recipient or on epost.go.kr / Naver Map.

Apartments: dong and ho matter

Most Koreans live in apartment complexes addressed by dong (building) and ho (unit): '101-dong 1502-ho'. Leaving these off is a leading cause of redelivery. Include the complex name if there is one.

A copy-ready example

Hong Gil-dong / 101-dong 1502-ho / 123 Teheran-ro / Gangnam-gu / Seoul 06234 / South Korea / 010-1234-5678 / PCCC P-XXXXX-XXXXX-X. Swap in your recipient's details in the same order and your label is customs- and courier-ready.

Phone number and PCCC belong on every shipment

Korean couriers rely on SMS and calls to complete delivery, so a working 010 mobile is essential. Customs match the phone and recipient name to the PCCC. Missing any of the three is what turns a smooth parcel into a held one.

How ShipKorea gets it right for you

Give us the recipient's details once and we structure both the shipping label and the customs paperwork correctly — road-name address, 5-digit postcode, dong/ho, phone and PCCC — and we'll query anything that looks off before pickup. Related: PCCC personal customs code, how to send a parcel to Korea, track your parcel to Korea.