Seeds & Plants → South Korea

Seeds & Plants may require documentation or declaration

Details

Seeds & Plants may require documentation or declaration. Enforcement in South Korea carries fines from KRW 200,000 to KRW 10,000,000 under Customs Act Art. 269, Art. 270 (ordinary personal cases are handled as civil infringements). Restricted status means compliant carriage is achievable with the right paperwork and quantities; the practical risks are seizure, duty, and delay rather than criminal liability for a good-faith traveller. Arrival checks are carried out by Korea Customs Service (KCS); when in doubt use the declare (red) channel — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods attract penalties. Leaving South Korea with seeds & plants is a separate question: restricted — Seeds and live plants exported from South Korea need phytosanitary certification for most destinations; casual carriage is routinely seized on arrival.

Documentation required

• Documentation may be required

Leaving with this item

Seeds and live plants exported from South Korea need phytosanitary certification for most destinations; casual carriage is routinely seized on arrival.

Practical advice

South Korea restricts import of Seeds & Plants. Personal-use retail-packaged quantities may clear with declaration and inspection but home-prepared, loose-packed, or above-personal-use quantities typically require a Phytosanitary Certificate (plants) or Export Health Certificate (animal-origin). Verify current rules with Korea Customs Service (KCS) before travel — biosecurity rules change frequently on specific commodities.

Customs authority

Korea Customs Service (KCS) · https://www.customs.go.kr