'Post Office Masks' to be Sold from 11 AM Tomorrow at '1,000 Won per Pack' (Update)

At least 80 Sets of Gukdang Sold
Sold at 5,000 Won per Set

On the 28th, as the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection increases, residents are purchasing masks at Munsan Post Office in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung, Paju aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] The sale of 'Post Office Masks' will resume tomorrow (the 2nd). They can be purchased from 11 a.m. at 1,406 post offices in the Daegu and Cheongdo areas, as well as in island and mountainous regions. It is expected that at least 70 people per post office will be able to buy masks. The price is 5,000 KRW per set (5 masks). Despite the exponential increase in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), concerns of local residents who had difficulty obtaining masks are expected to be somewhat alleviated.

Sales start at 11 a.m. on the 2nd... 1,000 KRW per mask

On the 28th, as the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection increases, residents are lining up to purchase masks at Munsan Post Office in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Jinhyung Kang, Paju aymsdream@

The Korea Post has started selling masks from the 27th of last month to help residents who have difficulty purchasing health masks. In urban areas, masks can be purchased at about 24,000 pharmacies nationwide.

The masks sold tomorrow will be available from 11 a.m., moved earlier from the previous 2 p.m. Korea Post stated, "We advanced the sales time so that customers visiting the post office can purchase masks as soon as possible."

However, some post offices have slightly different sales times depending on mask supply conditions. In Jeju area, sales start at 5 p.m. Island regions will sell masks depending on their arrival. Part-time post offices working in the afternoon will sell from 2 p.m.

Each person can buy up to 5 masks. The price is 1,000 KRW per mask, so one set costs 5,000 KRW. This is 200 KRW more per mask than the masks sold on the 28th of last month. Korea Post explained, "The sales price may vary daily depending on the supply price."

Since the 27th of last month, Korea Post has been selling masks at prices lower than the market price starting with the Daegu and Cheongdo areas as an emergency measure against COVID-19.

Up to 420 people can purchase at Daegu Post Office, etc.
About 70 people per post office in towns and townships expected to purchase

On the 28th, as the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection increases, a resident trying to purchase a mask at Munsan Post Office in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, turns away after seeing the notice that the waiting numbers are sold out. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung, Paju aymsdream@

Korea Post is prioritizing the supply of masks to the Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas, which are severely affected by COVID-19.

Tomorrow, a total of 700 sets will be distributed to main post offices such as Daegu Post Office. This means 700 people can purchase masks at Daegu Post Office. Grade 5 post offices like Namdaegu Post Office will have 680 sets, and neighborhood post offices will sell 250 sets.

The sales volume has significantly increased compared to the initial sales on the 28th of last month. At that time, main post offices like Daegu Post Office sold 420 sets. Grade 5 post offices sold 340 sets, and grade 6 sold 180 sets.

The number of masks sold at 1,406 town and township post offices nationwide has also increased by 10 sets per post office. Starting tomorrow, 80 sets will be sold per post office.

Korea Post will announce the sales volume of each post office starting tomorrow. The headquarters stated, "The total sales volume can be checked on the website, and each post office will notify their own sales quantity locally." The total sales volume tomorrow is 650,000 masks, which is 100,000 more than on the 28th of last month.

A Korea Post official said, "We are making every effort to stabilize mask supply," and asked for understanding that sales may end early in some areas due to shortages. Korea Post plans to also sell masks online through Post Office Shopping once supply stabilizes with increased health mask supply volume.

For details such as sales post offices, please check with Korea Post headquarters, the Internet Post Office website, or the Post Office call center.