South Korea Customs for Household Goods
What Korea Customs Service says about household goods and cars
A few short questions. Nothing is sent until you check and confirm.
Can I bring my furniture and belongings into South Korea duty free?
Often yes, if you are moving to live there. The Korea Customs Service describes the procedure as one in which “a person who enters the country for the purpose of relocating his or her residence to Korea reports the details of the goods to Customs” and pays duty or is exempted, as the Customs Act provides.
The person moving must be “A foreigner or overseas Koreans who intends to live in Korea for at least one year (6 months if accompanied by family members)”. Goods used overseas for more than three months are exempt unless they fall in the mandatory-taxation list below.
Shorter stays are treated differently. The page defines short-term residents as foreigners who wish to live in Korea for 3 months to less than 6 months, and says their goods used for more than three months and generally recognised as personal effects “are exempt from duties (excluding automobiles)”. The length of stay is taken from the residence card, or from the visa before the card is issued. Entry rules are on the UK to South Korea page.
When must the unaccompanied shipment arrive?
Within six months of you. The page says “These items should be arrived in Korea within 6 months”, counted from the date the ship or aircraft carrying the goods enters Korea, against the date you arrive.
A container that lands more than six months after you is outside the rule as written, so ask the mover for the sailing date and the expected discharge date before you book. The page gives no earlier limit, and says nothing about goods that arrive before you; ask Customs through the support centre.
How many furniture items and appliances count as household effects?
It depends on family size. The page sets an acknowledged quantity for goods used at home, such as furniture and household appliances, and excludes miscellaneous goods and clothing from the count.
- One or two family members: 1
- Three or four family members: 2
- Five to eight family members: 3
- Nine or more family members: 4
The page does not say what counts as one unit, so a second sofa or television in a small household is a question for Customs or the mover, not an assumption. Pack with that limit in mind.
Which goods are taxed whatever I do?
The page lists a mandatory-taxation group: motor vehicles (excluding vehicles exported from Korea), jewellery and similar goods with a taxable price of KRW 5 million or more per unit, and “Goods used less than three months as household effects before entry”.
That last item catches new purchases. A television bought just before the move is not treated as a used household effect, so leave new items out of the main shipment unless you accept duty on them.
What papers and steps are involved?
One declaration, in your name. The page says “Moving-Goods Declaration shall be lodged in the name of the person who moves to Korea”, with a list of descriptions of declared items, a packing list, the bill of lading, the alien registration card, the visa, a domestic employment certificate, a passport validity check and any car documents.
Can I ship my car to South Korea?
Possibly, with conditions and duty. The page treats a passenger car or motorcycle as clearable only if it was “Registered overseas under the name of the person who are moving to Korea or accompanying family members more than three months before entry”, and lists one vehicle per household.
Duty is an estimate on a dutiable value. The page gives the value as the new vehicle value in the Blue Book multiplied by a residual value percentage, plus freight and insurance, and the estimated duty as “Engine Capacity of 1,000CC or less: About 19% of the dutiable value” and “Engine Capacity of more than 1,000CC: About 24% of the dutiable value”.
After clearance a car needs an initial inspection, self-certification, environment certification and registration, and the page says the self environment certification step is omitted for vehicles cleared as moving goods. The two agencies named are the Korea Transportation Safety Authority and the Korea Environment Corporation. This is one official page, so treat the percentages as a guide and get a written figure; our car shipping guide explains the UK end.
What does this page not confirm?
Pets, food, medicine and restricted goods. The animal quarantine agency page we could read had no English import rules, and the GOV.UK pet link for Korea did not load, so we state no pet rule and no pet permit. Treat pets as not yet confirmed and read the pet moving guide for the UK end.
We also did not read the Customs Act itself or any exemption table beyond this one page. The South Korea removals guide lists every page we hold, and the port notes for Busan are separate.
Questions about South Korea customs and household goods
Can I bring my furniture and appliances into South Korea duty free?
Used goods owned and used overseas for more than three months can be exempt for a person moving to live there, but new purchases, jewellery above a set value and cars are taxed.
When must the shipment arrive?
Within six months of your own arrival, counted from the date the ship or aircraft carrying the goods enters Korea.
Can I ship a car to South Korea?
It must have been registered overseas in your name more than three months before entry, with one vehicle per household.
Duty is estimated at about 19 percent up to 1,000cc and 24 percent above.
Tell us about your South Korea shipment
Share your departure postcode, arrival month, visa type and whether a car is travelling.
About International Removals Companies
International Removals Companies is an enquiry and introduction service run by DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, in partnership with AGM Group. We don't move goods ourselves: the removal company quotes for your move and carries it out, so check its credentials and terms before you book. Our service is free. Discuss the quotation and booking terms directly with the removal company.
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- In partnership withAGM Group (agm.group)