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Korea Customs Service

Website: http://www.customs.go.kr 

Address: Building 1, Government Complex-Daejeon, 189, Cheongsa-ro, Seo-gu , Daejeon, Korea / Postal code: 35208 

Phone: +82 042-481-7968 

 

Korean customs sets the regulations on duty free goods and determines the taxes on items that exceed duty free allowances. For the most part, the regulations are standard and do not differ far from those rules in other countries. When receiving parcels into country, the taxes can be slightly higher.  

 

Import Requirements and Documentation

1. Commercial Invoice: An original invoice and two copies must be presented with the shipping documents and must include total value, unit value, quantity, marks, product description and shipping from/to information.

2. Certificate of Origin: Prior to implementation of the KORUS FTA, a Certificate of Origin, in duplicate, was required for some products. Exporters are encouraged to discuss shipping document requirements with their respective importer. An importer may claim preferential treatment under the KORUS FTA in order to receive the lower tariff. The importer can do this by providing written or electronic certification to Korean Customs from the manufacturer, the exporter, or the importer. The manufacturer, exporter or importer is required to retain all documents (i.e., bill of materials, manufacturing process documentation, etc.) demonstrating that the good qualifies as a U.S.-origin good, for five years. Self-certification of Origin by the producer or exporter is normally the basis for deciding that the good qualifies for preferential tariff rates. A certification may be made for a single shipment or for multiple shipments of identical goods, for up to twelve months, by specifying this in the certification. The importer submits the certification to Korean Customs, in writing or electronically, including at least the following information:

- Name and contact information for the certifying person;

- The importer;

- The exporter;

- The producer of the good;

- Harmonized System Tariff classification and description of the good.

3. Packaging List: Two copies are required.

4. Bill of Lading: A clean bill of lading identifying the name of the shipper, the name and address of the consignee, the name of the port of destination, description of the cargo, a price list of freight and insurance charges (CIF), and attestation of carrier’s acceptance on board for the goods is sufficient. There are no regulations pertaining to the form of the bill of lading nor the number of bills of lading required to clear customs. As bills of lading are for ocean and overland cargos, the airway bill of lading replaces the bill of lading for air cargo shipments.

5. Maritime Insurance: Under the Incoterms (shipping terms) agreed to by the parties in a transaction, if the exporter is responsible for insurance, a marine insurance policy or insurance certificate is required.

 

Tariffs

Korea maintains a tariff quota system designed to stabilize domestic commodity markets. Customs duties can be adjusted every six months, within the limit of the basic rate, plus or minus 40 percent.

Korea has a flat 10 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on all imports and domestically-manufactured goods. A special excise tax of 10-20 percent is also levied on the importation of certain luxury items and durable consumer goods. Tariffs and taxes must be paid in Korean Won within 15 days after goods having cleared Customs.

 

Insurance

It is normal commercial practice to be insured. In the case of a CIF contract (Incoterms 1990), the policy must cover 110 per cent of the invoice value, be endorsed by the exporters and expressly state that claims are payable in the currency of the draft. The policy should name an insurance agent as the correspondent in the ROK for the settlement of any claims. 

 

Labelling

Labels on most foods must show:

- product name (generic and trade);

- type of product;

- dates of manufacture;

- expiry dates;

- methods of preservation;

- ingredients in descending order of composition;

- weights or quantities;

- manufacturer's name;

- importer's name, address and phone number;

- places where the product can be returned or exchanged.

 

Additional Contacts

Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS)

http://www.kats.go.kr/en_kats/ 

Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)

http://www.MFDS.go.kr/eng/index.do 

Korean Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS)

http://www.kolas.go.kr 

 

Sources:

Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS)

http://www.kats.go.kr/english/index.asp 

Korea Customs Service (KCS)

http://english.customs.go.kr/ 

Korean Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS)

http://www.kolas.go.kr/english/ 

Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)

http://www.mfds.go.kr/eng 

Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA)

http://www.tta.or.kr/English/index.jsp  

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