Korean Job Discussion Forums

ghost · Joined: 06 Dec 2006 Location: Many congenial places

Folks - sorry, I am out in the sticks, and it is difficult to access a post office. So I just get someone to buy stamps for me.

How much is the basic postage rate (ordinary letter/normal weight) to the UK and France?

Also do you need to write the destination in Hangul characters, and more important, do you need to have the mail which is sent to you written in Hangul characters, as I assume most of the postal workers might have trouble reading western characters?

Thanks for the feedback.

Ghost

Hapkido-In · Joined: 24 Jun 2006

Dunno about Europe, but it's about 600 won for letters to Canada. I can't imagine it being more than 1,000 won for Europe. When I was in Europe and mailed a letter to Korea it was less than 1 Euro.

As for the address, no. You do not need to write it in Korean when you are sending it over seas. Also you don't need to address your letters in Korean when you are sending them to Korea. It's ok to use English. I'd also imagine that Chinese and Japanese would work as well, though I have never tried it.

I'd venture to say that Korea has a rather efficient international postal service.

newintown · Joined: 01 Jan 2007

i send letters home to the UK every week, and postage per letter is usually between 500-600 won, depending on weight. they weigh every letter, and work it out from there.
i have only good things to say about the korean postage service. mail sent on a monday reaches the UK by friday - amazing!
i've received all mail sent to me, bar one letter, which i hold royal mail in UK responsible for. they're atrocious.

ghost · Joined: 06 Dec 2006 Location: Many congenial places

Thanks for the feedback.

Do any of you use calling cards for the UK? I bought a calling card near Osan Air Base, and the card does not work.

ghost

newintown · Joined: 01 Jan 2007

i've found the cards to be a rip off. you think you're getting a good deal - 500mins for 13 000won or whatever, but in my experience the time deducts at twice the rate (i think you pay a charge each time?)
get a headset for your computer & use skype.
its unbelievably cheap. 2p a minute to UK landlines & 14p a minute to mobiles.
you just need to buy credit with a credit card or penpal account.
you can also send texts to phones which is a nice way to keep in touch.