Noseokhwan, Commissioner of Korea Customs Service, "All-Out Effort to Minimize Epidemic-Related Business Damage"

Customs Commissioner Noh Seok-hwan is inspecting masks that travelers are attempting to carry out at the departure hall of Incheon Airport on the 6th. Photo by Korea Customs Service

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] “We will focus our capabilities to overcome the national crisis situation at an early stage and minimize the damage to domestic export-import companies related to infectious diseases.” Customs Commissioner Noh Seok-hwan said this at the inspection site of Incheon Port and Airport Customs.

According to the Customs Service on the 7th, Commissioner Noh visited Incheon Port and Airport Customs the day before to inspect the crackdown process on smuggling and illegal export of sanitary products such as masks, and to check the implementation status of measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) in Korea.

First, the Customs Service conducts crackdowns with the cooperation of the airport corporation and airlines to block hoarding of health masks and illegal carrying-out by peddlers.

The targets of the crackdown are cases where the number of masks carried exceeds 300 but export declaration (including simplified export declaration) was not made, and cases where the exported goods violate the hoarding notice.

Currently, the Customs Service recognizes carrying masks under 300 pieces or under 2 million KRW (FOB basis) as personal use. Also, 300 to 1,000 pieces or under 2 million KRW require simplified declaration, and over 1,000 pieces or over 2 million KRW require formal export declaration.

In particular, when masks and other items are exported in large quantities (over 2 million KRW) by mail or express delivery, export declaration verification procedures are conducted, and manufacturing certificates and purchase receipts are collected to identify violations of the hoarding notice, according to the Customs Service’s plan.

‘Novel Coronavirus Customs Clearance Support Centers’ will also be established and operated at major customs offices nationwide, including Incheon, Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Pyeongtaek Customs. The centers aim to resolve export damage caused by the novel coronavirus and supply disruptions of raw and subsidiary materials for domestic export-import companies.

Along with this, the Customs Service will request cooperation from Chinese customs authorities to ensure rapid customs clearance of export-import goods from China, and for applications to resolve customs clearance difficulties, will prioritize dispatching customs clearance problem-solving teams and customs officers to resolve issues.

Especially for companies facing difficulties in raw material supply due to closures of local factories in China, the Customs Service will provide expedited import customs clearance and tax support.

They will support 24-hour expedited customs clearance for raw materials coming from remaining stocks of existing Chinese suppliers and new alternative supply lines, and provide benefits such as extension of customs payment deadlines, installment payments, same-day customs refunds, and deferred payment of import VAT to ease financial burdens on the companies.

Additionally, by postponing customs investigations such as customs audits, foreign exchange inspections, and origin verifications, the Customs Service aims to minimize the management burden on companies.

Previously, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, the Customs Service prohibited the import of five suspected novel coronavirus host animals domestically, including bats, badgers, raccoons, civet cats, and snakes, and further strengthened quarantine and import permit verification for live animals (dogs, cats, rodents, etc.) imported from China, ensuring thorough customs management.

Customs Commissioner Noh Seok-hwan said, “The Customs Service will closely monitor the national crisis situation caused by infectious diseases and thoroughly implement customs administrative crisis management response measures,” and added, “We also urge related industries such as export-import companies, duty-free shops, and cargo storage and transportation companies to make joint efforts to prevent the spread of infectious disease damage.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.