Korean customs postal-code match for the PCCC
A correct customs code is no longer enough on its own. Since February 2, 2026 the Korea Customs Service also checks that the delivery postal code on the order is one the recipient registered with their code. This page explains the rule for stores shipping to Korea.
Short answer
From February 2, 2026 Korea Customs compares three things with the personal customs clearance code (PCCC): the recipient's name, phone number and the delivery postal code. Before, only name and phone were checked. The postal code entered at the shop must match an address the recipient registered in UNI-PASS — up to 20 addresses can be registered — for the parcel to clear without delay.
What changed and why
The Korea Customs Service announced the stronger identity check on January 14, 2026, to stop people using someone else's code. Someone who steals a code, name and phone number usually still has to write the address where they will actually receive the parcel — so the postal code exposes the mismatch.
Per the announcement, the check was applied first to codes newly issued or changed (including a new code) on or after November 21, 2025. The official announcements we found do not say exactly what happens to a parcel whose postal code does not match; they say a match is needed to clear without delay.
What the customer can do: register delivery addresses
The recipient can register up to 20 delivery addresses with their code — home, office, a parent's home. In UNI-PASS (https://unipass.customs.go.kr/csp/persIndex.do) or the 모바일 관세청 app: 개인통관고유부호 → 조회/재발급/해지 → identity verification → 수정 (edit). A customer who receives parcels at more than one place should add each address before ordering.
Changing the phone number or address starts a new one-year validity for the code (2026 rule).
What a store should check on Korea orders
- The shipping address has a 5-digit Korean postal code (우편번호) — the current format since 2015; an old 6-digit code (e.g. 123-456) should be corrected.
- The recipient name and phone number on the order are the customer's own — the ones registered with the code, not a gift buyer's or a forwarder's.
- The code is in the PCCC format: the letter P followed by 12 digits.
- If a customer asks why a parcel was held although the code is right, point them to the registered addresses first.
Message you can send a customer
"Hello, your order is shipping to Korea. Since February 2026 Korea Customs checks that the delivery postal code matches an address registered with your personal customs clearance code. If you are receiving this parcel at an address you have not used before (an office or family home), please add it in UNI-PASS (개인통관고유부호 → 조회/재발급/해지 → 수정) or the 모바일 관세청 app before it arrives. You can register up to 20 addresses."
FAQ
When did the postal-code check start?
February 2, 2026. The Korea Customs Service announced it on January 14, 2026, and applied it first to codes issued or changed on or after November 21, 2025.
What does customs compare?
The recipient's name, phone number and delivery postal code against the information registered with the personal customs clearance code. Before February 2026 only name and phone were compared.
How many addresses can be registered with one code?
Up to 20 delivery addresses, so a recipient can receive parcels at home, at work or at a family member's home.
What happens if the postal code does not match?
The official announcements say the postal code must match a registered address for the parcel to clear without delay; they do not describe the exact procedure. The fix is for the recipient to register the delivery address with their code.
Can the store register the address for the customer?
No. Only the code holder can edit their registration in UNI-PASS after identity verification. The store can only ask the customer and make sure the order uses the correct 5-digit postal code.
Does adding an address change the code's expiry?
Yes. Under the 2026 rules, changing the phone number or address starts a new one-year validity from the day of the change.
How to get a Korean customs ID number (PCCC) →
SL Korea PCCC Guard for Shopify
Checks every order shipped to Korea for a code in the right format, a Korean phone number and a 5-digit postal code, tags the order and emails the customer when something is missing or invalid. Format check only — no UNI-PASS lookup, so it cannot see the customer's registered addresses.
About the app →