Used by 700,000+ people
Free Korean Postal barcode generator.
Korea's postal code barcode turns a six-digit postal code and its check digit into 28 equal bars. Enter the digits and download it.
How to create a Korean postal code barcode
-
01
Enter the six digits
Enter
305600for 305-600; the generator adds check digit 6. A hyphen fails as a "Wrong check digit". -
02
Set the bar spacing
The default puts bar positions 2.12 mm apart, out of tolerance. Choose Resolution (dpi) 300 and Module width 5 Pixel: bars 0.42 mm wide, positions 1.69 mm apart.
-
03
Keep clear space
The image has almost no margin: leave 4.2 mm (10 modules) clear on each side.
What is the Korean postal code barcode?
Korea's Ministry of Information and Communication introduced the Korean postal code barcode in December 1998 for bulk letters read by sorting machines. Each digit of the six-digit postal code and its check digit sets three bars in five positions, a 3-out-of-5 scheme from the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). It predates Korea's five-digit postal codes (since August 2015).
Printed by bulk mailers for sorting machines
Mailers of 1,000+ letters who printed the barcode in the address area got 1% off postage, first at the East Seoul Mail Center.
The barcode holds only the postal code, so letters are sorted to a delivery area, not into the carrier's walk order.
Fewer letters keyed in by hand
Barcoded letters skip the address reader, which in 1999 recognised 80% or more of postal codes; operators keyed in the rest. The sorter's barcode reader read 95% or more.
The generator draws its bars 5 mm high, above the 4 ± 0.4 mm in ETRI's drawing; ask Korea Post what its readers accept.
One code online, mailing lists in a data sheet
GIF, PNG and JPG are free; SVG and higher print resolution come with a plan. One code needs no account; a mailing list goes into a data sheet after a free sign-in.
TBarCode SDK and TFORMer Server print it from your software; TBarCode API returns it by URL.
Korean postal code barcode at a glance
- Type
- Linear, 3 out of 5 per digit
- Data
- 6-digit postal code (pre-2015 format) + check digit
- Check digit
- Makes the digit sum a multiple of 10
- Bars
- 0.3–0.8 mm wide, 4 ± 0.4 mm high, positions 1.66 ± 0.25 mm apart
- Length
- 70 mm for 7 characters
- Quiet zone
- Not specified; TEC-IT: 10 modules
How 123456 is encoded
Characters run from the ones digit up: 6 5 4 3 2 1, then check digit 9. TEC-IT's engine closes each character with a sixth bar.
- Sum of the digits: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 21.
- Next multiple of 10: 30.
- Check digit: 30 − 21 = 9.
No Korea Post text we found states this rule.
Other postal barcodes
Japan's code adds address characters to a 7-digit postal code.
Numbers one postal item, not a destination, in Code 128.
Frequently asked questions
Learn more about Korean Postal.
Does the barcode work with five-digit postal codes?
Can I enter the check digit myself?
Why does the barcode start with the last digit?
Is this the barcode on Korean registered mail and parcels?
More resources
Overview Linear Bar Code Symbologies (2/2)
Discover the world of linear barcode symbologies! Explore their unique characteristics and find the perfect fit for your needs. More information can be found…
ProductTBarCode SDK
The developer package for Windows: .NET, OCX and DLL components generate and print 100+ barcode symbologies from your applications.
ProductTFORMer Server
Your ERP sends the data – labels and forms print around the clock, unattended.
ProductTBarCode API
Request a barcode by URL and get an image back – no installation, no platform lock-in, the same engine behind every TEC-IT product.