Expansion of Autonomous Driving Unmanned Post Offices for Automatic Mail Delivery and Reception

Korea Post Headquarters to Begin at Korea University Sejong Campus from the 14th

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Autonomous unmanned post offices that deliver mail on university campuses without postal workers and accept mail at desired times and locations will be expanded.

The Ministry of Science and ICT's Postal Service Headquarters will expand the operation of the 'Autonomous Unmanned Post Office' at Korea University Sejong Campus starting from the 14th.

The autonomous unmanned post office delivers campus mail without postal worker assistance. It also automatically arrives at the university at any desired time for anyone to submit mail.

Initially, the scope of autonomy will be expanded to most areas within the university, and the service will be available to anyone including students, faculty and staff, resident companies, and nearby residents. In addition to the regular scheduled service operating on a predetermined timetable, a customized service that finds customers via the optimal route upon demand has also been introduced.

For the first time, the service where autonomous post office vehicles deliver campus mail to one location without postal worker assistance, which was previously delivered individually by postal workers to buildings, has been applied.

To submit mail at the autonomous unmanned post office, users must pre-register via the post office app, scan the issued registration barcode at the kiosk, and when the locker opens, place the mail inside. Recipients can check the vehicle's estimated arrival time and authentication number provided by the post office app, enter the authentication number at the unmanned post office kiosk, which will automatically open the locker to receive the mail.

The bulk delivery service without postal worker assistance is also provided. Bulk delivery is a service where mail is delivered to one location by the post office when there is a large volume of mail to be delivered centered on collective buildings. Bulk delivery staff verify that the quantity of bulk delivery mail in the locker matches the quantity registered in the unmanned post office system before receiving the mail. However, dormitory mail is still delivered by postal workers for safety reasons.

From the end of June, smart postal services using autonomous unmanned post offices will be provided on general roads near Sejong Post Office targeting apartment complexes and public institutions. The service is planned to be expanded to the autonomous driving pilot district and smart village areas in the sub-center of Sejong City in the second half of this year.