Korea Customs Service Reinforces Customs Border Security by Adding 116 On-Site Customs Personnel for 'E-Commerce'

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Customs Service will increase its on-site customs personnel by 116. The personnel increase is aimed at strengthening safety in the rapidly growing e-commerce market.

The Korea Customs Service announced on the 25th that it will promulgate and enforce the "Partial Amendment to the Korea Customs Service and Its Affiliated Agencies Organization and Enforcement Rules (Draft)" containing these details.

According to the amendment (draft), the Korea Customs Service will add 39 personnel in the clearance of express cargo and international mail, 24 personnel in the inspection and on-site examination of import goods requirements, 28 personnel due to the improvement of the work system for airport and port surveillance staff (from 24-hour shift to 3 shifts with 2 rotations), 5 personnel dedicated to digital forensic work to strengthen customs crime information collection and analysis, 3 personnel dedicated to safety management and goods analysis of export and import items, and 8 personnel to reinforce the inspection of carry-on items at Daegu International Airport.

Additionally, 5 personnel will be added to the newly established "Collaboration Inspection Center" to strengthen inter-agency cooperation for safety management of export and import goods at Busan Customs, and 4 personnel will be added for collaborative inspections at Incheon and Pyeongtaek Customs.

The personnel increase reflects the recent explosive growth in overseas direct purchases. The purpose is to block the import of dangerous items such as drugs and firearms that exploit simplified customs procedures and to enable prompt customs clearance services. Overseas direct purchases increased from approximately 2.51 million cases in 2009 to about 56.19 million cases last year.

A Korea Customs Service official said, "We will produce results that meet the purpose of the personnel increase to provide better on-site services to the public," adding, "Above all, the Korea Customs Service will make every effort to block risk factors at the border stage to protect public health and safety."

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