I am leaving Korea and need to ship my personal belongings to another country?

Shipping personal belongings out of Korea has three main options depending on volume and budget. For small amounts (1 to 5 boxes), Korea Post EMS or sea mail (선편) is cheapest. EMS (5 to 7 days delivery) costs about 60,000 to 100,000 won per 10kg box to most countries. Sea mail (1 to 2 months) is roughly 30 percent the EMS cost. Both have a 30kg per box max, so heavy items like books need multiple boxes. Pack in standard cardboard boxes available free at Costco or 5,000 won each at Daiso, with the post office providing customs forms and labels.

For mid-volume (10 to 30 boxes or one room of furniture), use international moving companies like Yamato Korea, Helps Moving, or Dongbang Express (English-friendly). They offer door-to-door service including packing materials, professional packing if needed, customs clearance, and delivery to your destination address. Cost runs 1.5 to 4 million won depending on volume and destination, with US East Coast around 2.5 million won for a small one-bedroom apartment shipped by sea (6 to 10 weeks transit). Air shipping costs 3 to 5x more but arrives in 1 to 2 weeks.

For full apartment relocations, established international movers like Allied Pickfords, Crown Worldwide, and Asian Tigers serve corporate expats and families with white-glove service from 5 million won upward. They handle furniture disassembly, customs documentation, insurance, and storage if needed. Free quotes are standard, so get 3 to 4 quotes for comparison. Booking 4 to 6 weeks ahead of your move date locks in better rates.

Key logistics: Korea Post requires you to be the sender with your ARC, so handle this before ARC cancellation. Some items are restricted: any food (most countries refuse), batteries (especially lithium, separate documentation needed), liquids (alcohol, perfume in checked luggage only), and prescription medications (require certificates). Customs duties at the destination are your responsibility. Most movers offer insurance at 3 to 5 percent of declared value, worth it for sentimental or fragile items. The Korea International Movers Association (kima.or.kr) lists licensed movers. For furniture you don't want to ship, Daangn Market and Karrot let you sell to neighbors quickly, and the Yongsan Foreign Goods Mart has bulletin boards for international handovers between leaving and arriving expats.