South Korea’s top oil refiner SK Energy Co. has partnered with the country’s state-run mail delivery system operator Korea Post to run a new-concept post office where visitors can fuel their cars while waiting to post their mail.

SK Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Post on Wednesday at its headquarters in Seorin-dong, Jongno District, central Seoul, for a business partnership to utilize their assets to create new social and economic value.

Under the partnership, 3,500 nationwide post offices and 3,570 SK Energy gas stations would be transformed into a multi station that provides not only the post office services but also the services of a gas station as well as electric and hydrogen charging stations.

As part of their project, SK Energy and Korea Post have agreed to first install a gas station at an old post office in Gyeonggi Province this year.

An unnamed official from SK Energy said that the company expects the number of visitors to its gas stations would rise as the new station would allow them to pump gas while posting their mail or parcels. It would also help Korea Post attract more customers, the official added.

Under the latest agreement, Korea Post will also take part in a joint project previously launched by SK Energy and another major oil refiner GS Caltex Corp. to offer parcel services at their major gas stations. The three entities will create a joint task force to promote businesses aimed at creating mutual synergy based on joint infrastructure.

By Kang Doo-soon and Lee Eun-joo

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]