KCS "Allow Bulk Mask Shipments to Overseas Resident Families"

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Even under the policy of banning mask exports, it will become possible to send bundled masks to family members living overseas.

The Korea Customs Service announced that starting from the 1st, it will allow the bundled shipment of health masks to multiple family members residing abroad.

So far, the government has applied the export of masks intended for overseas Koreans as an exception to the 'mask export ban' in consultation with related ministries.

By verifying direct lineal ascendants and descendants such as grandparents, parents, children, and spouses through resident registration certificates and family relation certificates, sending masks via international mail (EMS) has been permitted since the 24th of last month.

However, until now, masks could only be sent as separate mail items per recipient, which imposed the burden of paying postage fees individually when sending to multiple family members simultaneously.

Accordingly, the Korea Customs Service will now allow, as before, that when family relationships are confirmed, masks can be received bundled at one location instead of being sent separately to each recipient.

Meanwhile, according to Korea Customs Service statistics, from the 24th to the 30th of last month, a total of 216,000 masks intended for overseas family members were received by mail and sent to about 27,000 overseas Koreans in 33 countries worldwide.

This accounts for approximately 0.35% of the total supply of 61.11 million public masks announced by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety during the same period.

A Korea Customs Service official stated, “To ensure the safety of overseas Koreans from the globally spreading COVID-19, we will continuously monitor the status of health mask shipments,” and added, “We plan to consult with related agencies on necessary improvements in the future, considering the domestic mask supply situation.”