Kogwanghyo, Commissioner of Korea Customs Service, "We Will Restore Our Status as a Drug-Free Country"

Announcement of '2024 Work Plan' at Government Daejeon Cheongsa on the 13th
Strengthening Global Joint Crackdowns and Expanding Inspections of Travelers from High-Risk Countries
Focus on Creating a Business-Friendly Trade Environment for Domestic Companies
The First Year to Realize the Vision of 'Innovative Customs Service, Global Hub Nation'

"The Korea Customs Service will focus this year on restoring Korea's status as a drug-free country and supporting import-export companies."

On the 13th, Ko Gwang-hyo, Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, made this statement during the '2024 Korea Customs Service Work Plan' held at the Government Complex Daejeon.

Koh Kwang-hyo, Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, is announcing the '2024 Work Plan' at the Government Daejeon Complex on the 13th. Photo by Jeong Il-woong jiw3061@

The Korea Customs Service has set three major goals for this year: social safety, national prosperity, and leading global trade standards, and plans to focus on 16 tasks across five key areas.

In the area of social safety, the Korea Customs Service will strengthen joint global crackdowns on drug-prone countries to help Korea regain its status as a drug-free country. It will also dispatch drug intelligence officers overseas to countries such as Thailand and Vietnam and expand comprehensive inspections targeting travelers from high-risk countries.

To protect social safety from illegal activities exploiting rapidly increasing cross-border e-commerce such as overseas direct purchases, the agency will verify and penalize the misuse of personal customs clearance codes and strengthen customs control over food and pharmaceuticals imported via international mail. Additionally, it will promote the establishment of a system to acquire and analyze transaction information from internet shopping malls.

In particular, the Korea Customs Service emphasized that it will expand export-import controls on trade secrets and technology-infringing goods, strengthen economic counterintelligence activities, and advance an early warning system based on trade data to establish economic security and fair trade order.

This year's work plan also places significant emphasis on supporting the growth of import-export companies. To support the domestic attraction of the petroleum blending industry, the agency plans to improve the bonded zone system and build a trade-friendly environment for domestic companies by pursuing the conclusion of a mutual recognition agreement on customs clearance benefits (AEO MRA) with Vietnam.

Furthermore, by establishing and disseminating international standards for customs administration such as electronic certificates of origin (e-C/O), the Korea Customs Service aims to lead international standards. It also plans to strengthen international solidarity through expanded cooperation on official development assistance (ODA) projects with KOICA and international development banks, and by creating cooperation channels for the implementation of free trade agreements (FTA) with Middle Eastern countries.

Commissioner Ko Gwang-hyo stated, "The Korea Customs Service will make this year the inaugural year for realizing the vision of 'Innovative Korea Customs Service, Soaring Global Hub Nation.' Based on this, we will strive to promote solidarity and shared prosperity with the international community and enable K-Customs administration to lead international standardization."

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