The Warmth of Letter Writing in Ulsan
The Warmth Mailbox in Ulsan is a quiet space where handwritten worries are met with sincere handwritten replies. Scattered across three locations in the city, these yellow mailboxes invite people to slow down and share what they carry in their hearts.
Through personal visits to each mailbox, this story reflects on the fading culture of letter writing and the unexpected comfort found in writing and receiving words shaped by human hands.
More than a project, the Warmth Mailbox connects strangers through empathy, reminding us that warmth still travels well on paper, even in a digital world.
Rediscovering the Warmth of Handwritten Letters
Handwritten letters have quietly disappeared from everyday life. The act of choosing stationery, carefully writing each line, attaching a stamp, and sending thoughts through a mailbox has become a distant memory for many.
Encountering the Warmth Mailbox brought those memories rushing back. It raised a simple but touching question about when we last paused long enough to write honestly, without keyboards or screens.
What Is the Warmth Mailbox?
The Warmth Mailbox is a letter-based comfort project operated by the non-profit organization Ongi. Anyone can anonymously write about their concerns and receive a handwritten reply a few weeks later.
The idea began in February 2017, inspired by the desire to deliver warmth through letters placed in unexpected places, blending imagination with real human connection.
How the Letter Exchange Works
Beside each yellow mailbox is a small table stocked with paper and pens. Visitors write freely, drop their letters into the box, and wait approximately three to four weeks for a reply.
For those who cannot visit in person, the Ongi Letter program allows people to receive anonymous handwritten responses digitally by registering online with a nickname and email.
Warmth Mailbox Locations Across Ulsan
Ulsan currently has three Warmth Mailbox locations, each offering the same quiet invitation to pause and write, yet each situated in a different everyday setting.
CGV Ulsan Samsan Branch
Located on the 8th floor of CGV Ulsan Samsan in Nam-gu, this mailbox sits inside a spacious lounge area. The bright yellow mailbox stands out against the calm interior.
While waiting for a movie, visitors often find themselves unexpectedly opening up, turning spare moments into meaningful reflection.
HD Art Center in Dong-gu
Another Warmth Mailbox can be found on the first floor of the HD Art Center, near the lobby elevator. The center, formerly known as the Hyundai Art Museum, was renamed in 2025.
Here, the mailbox quietly blends into an artistic space, offering comfort amid exhibitions and cultural activities.
Ulsan Education Office
The third Warmth Mailbox is located at the Ulsan Education Office, established in collaboration with Ongi in May 2023.
As part of an educational character program, this mailbox encourages students to write letters of gratitude and explore emotional expression alongside career experiences.
The People Behind the Replies
Replies are written by volunteers known as the Ongi Postmen. They carefully read each letter and respond with sincerity and respect.
The volunteers range from university students to seniors in their seventies, working both offline in shared spaces and online from homes across the country.
A Personal Moment of Comfort
Instead of requesting a reply, a letter of encouragement was written to the volunteers themselves. Dropping it into the mailbox brought a quiet sense of warmth and release.
Each mailbox, though placed in different corners of the city, carried the same intention: to remind people that kindness can still travel from hand to hand.
Like grass that releases fragrance when crushed, the Warmth Mailbox shows how gentleness can shape a softer and more humane world.
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