Korea Elected as Universal Postal Union Postal Operations Council Member for the Second Consecutive Term

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] South Korea has been elected as a member of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Postal Operations Council (POC) for the second consecutive term.

According to the Korea Post, at the 27th UPU Congress held on the 27th of last month in Abidjan, C?te d'Ivoire, South Korea was elected as a member of the Postal Operations Council (POC), securing a seat for the second consecutive term.

The UPU Postal Operations Council (POC), along with the Council of Administration (CA), is one of the two main bodies of the UPU that handle operational and technical matters related to international postal services. It consists of 48 member countries serving four-year terms. The council makes key decisions regarding international postal policies, finances, and operations on behalf of the 192 member countries. South Korea did not run for the CA election due to the three-term limit rule.

The regional group to which South Korea belongs (South Asia and the Pacific) had 20 countries competing for 11 vacant seats, resulting in a fierce contest. South Korea secured 90 votes out of 158 participating member countries and was elected. Since its first election as a council member at the 21st Seoul Congress in 1994, South Korea has served as a council member six times in total: 1994-98, 1999-2003, 2004-07, 2008-12, 2016-20, and 2021-25.

An official from Korea Post stated, "Our re-election as a council member is the result of active support negotiations by overseas diplomatic missions and Korea Post, reaffirming the whole-of-government will and cooperation for South Korea's election," and added, "Over the next four years, as a member of the Postal Operations Council, we plan to actively participate in discussions on international standards and postal rates to improve the quality and pricing of international postal services."