Post Offices in Korea – December 1906

The primary intent in creating this list of post offices is to aid philatelists and researchers in the identification of postmarks used in Old Korea during the Japanese period. For the average Western philatelist not familiar, or somewhat familiar with Chinese characters, reading cancels or postal addresses can be a daunting task. This task is even more difficult given the paucity of reference material other than those written in Korean or Japanese. The current work contains 412 names but by 1922, there were slightly over 600 post offices in Korea, so much work is needed to make the list complete.

The Korean Postal Map and list of post offices was first published in an unnamed Japanese source. Unfortunately only the map was obtained without the accompanying text.

A modern postal system was established in Korea beginning in 1884; this list is pretty comprehensive showing post office locations as of the end of 1906. Post offices established as part of the Korean system are indicated by a circle ○. Post offices established by the Japanese authorities are indicated by either a white triangle △ or a black triangle ▲. The locations almost cover the entire map so it would be too confusing to include information about post office openings and closings.

The Korean system includes Communications Department offices, temporary post offices and receiving agencies. The Japanese system includes postal receiving agencies, post and telegraph receiving agencies and regular and military branch offices. In conducting research one often encounters the Japanese reading for a place name without reference to the Korean pronunciation. Both the Korean and Japanese readings for each place name are included along with the Hanja to help reduce confusion.

One aim in compiling this list of post offices is to expand the number of place names to include later additions to the postal system and to add an example cancellation from each post office.

Postal map of Korea

The source of the names is this map, shown here in two parts. The coordinates on this map can be used to locate the name in the list below.

List of post offices

Below is the list of post offices as of December 1906. The different columns can be sorted in alphabetical order, for instance to locate a specific name in hanja by searching for all the hanja in a map grid.

Printable file

For those KSS members who would like to download this information including the maps in a printable format we have a PDF available as a free download. If you are not a KSS member you can join for free right now by simply filling out our membership form.