Check the current allowances
The Korea Customs Service's traveller guidance sets out the current allowances. Use that guidance rather than an old copy of a declaration form.
| Category | Duty-free allowance or condition |
|---|---|
| General goods | The general allowance is US$800 per person. |
| Alcohol | The total must be no more than 2 litres and US$400. Both limits apply; there is no longer a two-bottle limit. |
| Cigarettes | The cigarette allowance is 200 cigarettes. Other tobacco products have their own limits; check the rules if carrying more than one type. |
| Perfume | The allowance is 100mL. |
Age restrictions apply to alcohol and tobacco allowances. Purchases from an arrivals duty-free shop count towards the applicable allowances; they do not create an additional allowance.
Agricultural, livestock, fishery and herbal products can have quantity and value limits within the general allowance. Quarantine and import restrictions also apply, so a product being inexpensive does not establish that it may enter.
Declare purchases that exceed the allowance
Keep receipts so customs can assess what you are bringing in. The official mobile declaration explains that voluntary declaration of goods over the allowance can reduce the customs duty by 30%, up to ₩200,000.
Failing to declare can lead to additional charges and other penalties. Customs can inspect passengers using the “nothing to declare” route too. Declaring a restricted product does not automatically make its import legal, but it lets an officer assess the situation before you leave the customs area.
Add cash and monetary instruments together
Cash and covered monetary instruments must be declared when their combined value exceeds US$10,000. This includes Korean won and foreign currencies; the threshold is not a separate allowance for each currency.
Use the customs foreign-exchange guidance to check which instruments are covered and how to obtain the declaration certificate. Complete the declaration before leaving the arrivals customs area. “Declaring cash at the Korean border” explains this separately from the goods allowance.
Check products with separate restrictions
Food, plants, animals and animal products may require quarantine inspection or may be prohibited. Medicines, weapons and products made from protected species can require permits or other checks. These requirements are separate from the value of the goods.
For food and biological materials, see “What can't I bring into Korea?”. For medicines, see “Bringing medication into Korea”. Check before travelling when an item may need advance permission; an arrival declaration does not replace that permission.
Choose the correct customs route
After collecting your baggage, follow the airport signs for customs. The nothing to declare route is for travellers who have no declaration requirement. Use the goods to declare route when you have something to declare, and ask an officer if you are unsure.
The airport's customs guidance explains the local procedure, and the mobile declaration service provides an online option. Keep your passport, receipts and any relevant permits accessible for inspection.
