Korea Customs Service Strengthens Blocking of Illegal and Hazardous Items in Year-End Special Overseas Direct Purchases

Employees of the Incheon Customs Headquarters of the Korea Customs Service are inspecting counterfeit goods and smuggled items recently seized as controlled cargo. The photo is unrelated to the article. /Incheon=Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Customs Service is strengthening crackdowns on the illegal and hazardous goods brought in through overseas direct purchases. The aim is to prevent indiscriminate goods from entering the country by taking advantage of the increase in overseas direct purchase volumes during the year-end special period.

The Korea Customs Service announced on the 5th that it will implement the "Express and Postal Goods Customs Clearance Measures" from the 9th of this month until the end of the year.

According to the Korea Customs Service, the number of express goods customs clearance cases increased by 48% and 23% respectively during the three weeks following China's Guanggun Festival and the US Black Friday last year. Because of this, customs classify the year-end period around these events as the peak season for overseas direct purchases.

The customs clearance measures to be implemented accordingly focus on preventing illegal and hazardous goods from being brought into the country during the peak season of overseas direct purchases, while also supporting customs clearance so that goods brought in through legitimate channels can be imported quickly.

First, the Korea Customs Service will conduct intensive inspections of overseas direct purchase goods using scientific equipment such as drug and explosive detectors to block the import of illegal and hazardous goods.

In addition, express delivery companies will be guided to accurately report information such as personal customs clearance codes, and strong measures will be taken if false customs clearance lists are submitted or illegal goods are imported.

Measures will also be taken to prevent goods purchased for resale from being falsely declared as for personal use to clear customs duty-free. The main point is to review buyers who frequently and repeatedly make overseas direct purchases even after the fact, based on statistical analysis.

Conversely, to prevent delays in customs clearance due to excessive volume, the Korea Customs Service plans to expand customs clearance facilities and personnel such as X-ray machines and actively allow temporary customs office openings that operate special customs clearance support teams at each customs office.

Temporary customs office openings refer to the temporary execution of customs duties by public officials outside of holidays or working hours to handle export-import or cargo-related tasks.

Kim Ki-dong, head of the Special Customs Clearance Division at the Korea Customs Service, said, “Overseas direct purchasers must recognize that illegal and hazardous goods such as intellectual property-infringing items cannot be imported (cleared) into the country,” and added, “They should also keep in mind that reselling goods cleared without paying taxes through overseas direct purchases can result in punishment.”

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