Korean Postal Code (5-digit, post-2015) Regex for PHP

What this pattern does

This page provides a lightweight, single-purpose regular expression for matching korean postal code (5-digit, post-2015), ported and verified for PHP. A rigorously tested regex reduces debugging time and protects your application from edge-case failures. The snippet below is ready to drop into your PHP project — whether you're validating in a Laravel validator, a WordPress plugin, or a standalone PHP script.

Php Implementation

<?php
// Korean Postal Code (5-digit, post-2015)
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Localization > Postal Codes

define('KOREAN_POSTAL_CODE_5DIGIT_POST2015_PATTERN', '/^[0-9]{5}$/');

function validate_korean_postal_code_5digit_post2015(string $input): bool {
    return (bool) preg_match(KOREAN_POSTAL_CODE_5DIGIT_POST2015_PATTERN, $input);
}

// Example
var_dump(validate_korean_postal_code_5digit_post2015("03000")); // bool(true)

Test Cases

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Localization > Postal Codes category and carries a ReDoS-safe certification. That matters for PHP developers because especially relevant in PHP where PCRE backtracking limits can trigger silent failures on malicious input. RegexVault audits patterns against known backtracking attack vectors, ensuring you have the necessary context before using this regex in a high-stakes production environment.

Common Pitfalls

Technical Notes

South Korea switched from the old 6-digit format (XXX-XXX) to a new 5-digit system in August 2015. The old format is no longer valid for new addresses. North Korea is not covered by this system.