Sending original documents by post — is that normal??

It is normal, it is genuinely a bit risky, and there are ways to reduce the risk substantially.

Why schools want originals: Korean admissions offices verify apostilles physically — the seal, the paper, the signature. Scans can be forged and they have seen forgeries, so most programs require the original apostilled document or a notarised original copy.

What to do:

1. Do not send your only original diploma. Ask your university registrar for an additional certified true copy and apostille that. Registrars issue these routinely. This is the single most important step — your original parchment should never be in the post.

2. If your country only issues one original, apostille a notarised copy instead and confirm with the school in writing that they accept it. Most do; get the confirmation before you send anything.

3. Send by a tracked courier — DHL, FedEx, EMS — never standard post. 40,000 to 90,000 won equivalent, three to five days, and a tracking number you can show the school.

4. Scan everything at high resolution before it leaves your hands, including the apostille page.

5. Address it to a named person or the international office with your full name and application number on a cover sheet inside. Documents that arrive without an obvious owner sit in a tray.

On getting them back: most schools return documents on request at the end of the program, but you have to ask, and some keep them permanently. Assume you will not get it back and plan accordingly — that is another argument for sending a certified copy rather than the original.

If a document is genuinely irreplaceable, say so to the international office and ask what they will accept instead. They deal with this every intake and there is usually a route.