[News Terms] From Mokjo-ham to Eco-ham... The Evolution of Mailboxes

Mailboxes will be transformed into 'ECO Mailboxes' for the first time in 40 years. The existing mailboxes could only accommodate letters. The 'Eco Mailbox' features a larger size and a bigger slot to allow for registered mail and small parcels. The new mailbox can hold small parcels with a total edge length of up to 60cm (size of Post Office Box No. 2, 27cm×18cm×15cm). In addition to regular mail, registered mail can also be accepted. To use this service, users must pay the fee in advance on the post office website or app, write the 'pre-registration number' on the parcel or mail, and then deposit it into the mailbox. Furthermore, a separate eco bin has been provided to separately collect coffee capsules and expired medicines. Expired medicines must be sealed in a dedicated collection bag or a regular bag and labeled 'Expired Medicines' on the outside. Coffee capsules should have the used coffee grounds separated from the capsule, and only the aluminum capsules should be placed in the dedicated collection bag. The material of the mailbox, which was previously plastic, will also be changed to steel plates. The Korea Post Service plans to install about 90 new mailboxes by the end of this year, prioritizing areas such as Jongno-gu and Gangnam-gu in Seoul, as well as 22 main post offices throughout Seoul.

Mailboxes have been loved by the public as a medium that connects people’s emotions through letters. The first mailbox appeared in 1898. Mailboxes were introduced when the Korean Empire established the Postal Bureau and adopted a modern postal system. Around the 1900s, Korean mailboxes were wooden rectangular boxes with locks. After the Japanese colonial period, the current red cylindrical mailboxes were distributed. In Japan, mailboxes were initially black, but due to confusion where people mistook the character for 'toilet' and issues with visibility at night, the color was changed to red starting in 1901. After liberation, the red color was maintained and sometimes combined with green. Also, as rapid economic growth occurred, the demand for postal services increased, leading to larger mailboxes.

Having faithfully served as the 'Messenger of the People,' the number of mailboxes nationwide increased to about 57,000 in 1995. About 30 years ago, mailboxes were a landmark on the streets, with media customers often complaining that 'mailboxes are inconveniently far away' or 'there are not enough mailboxes.' However, with the advancement of information and communication (IT) technology and the development of alternative communication methods such as email, the number has decreased to 8,066 today.

A 'Slow Mailbox' was also introduced, where letters (postcards) deposited can be received one year later. The 'Slow Mailbox' started in 2009 at the Yeongjong Bridge Memorial Hall. Currently, there are about 324 nationwide. The 'Slow Mailbox' is an analog emotional postal service designed to awaken the aesthetics of slowness in the fast-paced digital era, provide a space for emotion and healing, and deliver special memories to visitors for a pleasant experience. People can write messages they usually cannot say, words of encouragement, expressions of love, or stories for family, lovers, close friends, or themselves, put them in the mailbox, and receive them one year later.