🇰🇷 South Korea
ASIA PACIFIC
Korea Customs Service (KCS)
10%
Duty-Free Allowances
| Category | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 2L |
| Cigarettes | 200 |
| Personal goods value | US$800 |
| Duty-free allowance per adult: alcohol up to 2 bottles (total max 2L, value up to USD $400), 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco (must be 19+), perfume up to 60ml, and general goods with total value not exceeding USD $800 (KRW equivalent). Alcohol and tobacco count separately from the USD $800 goods allowance. | |
Duty-free allowance per adult: alcohol up to 2 bottles (total max 2L, value up to USD $400), 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco (must be 19+), perfume up to 60ml, and general goods with total value not exceeding USD $800 (KRW equivalent). Alcohol and tobacco count separately from the USD $800 goods allowance.
Cash Declaration Threshold
US$10,000
Local currency equivalent: KRW
Travelers carrying cash, traveler's cheques, or negotiable instruments above this threshold must declare them at customs on arrival.
Special Notes
- 01Korea has a Customs Declaration Assistance System for travelers.
- 02VAT (Value Added Tax) is 10%.
- 03Korea-EU FTA, KORUS (US-Korea) FTA, and RCEP provide preferential rates for qualifying goods.
- 04Electronics must bear KC Mark (Korea Certification) for sale in Korea.
- 05MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) oversees food, drugs, and cosmetics imports.
- 06Customs clearance is primarily handled through UNI-PASS (Korea Customs Service e-clearance portal).
- 07Customs Declaration Assistance System: KCS provides a multi-language traveler help service at ICN/GMP/PUS/CJU before joining the Red Channel; a smartphone-app option is also available.
- 08VAT: standard rate is 10% on imports; some preferentially-treated goods (basic food, books) are zero-rated.
- 09FTA preference: KORUS (US-Korea), Korea-EU FTA, Korea-China FTA, Korea-UK FTA, RCEP, and the new CPTPP application all provide preferential duty for qualifying originating goods; certificate of origin required for each.
- 10KC Mark: electronics must bear the KC (Korea Certification) mark to be commercially sold in Korea; personal-import single-unit travelers do not need the KC mark.
- 11MFDS oversight: the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety regulates food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices imports; the K-Drug portal handles personal-import permits for controlled medications.
- 12Cash declaration: KRW or foreign currency above USD 10,000-equivalent must be declared to KCS on arrival or departure; undeclared amounts subject to seizure plus fine.
- 13UNI-PASS: KCS's primary e-clearance platform; commercial importers must register before first shipment.