7/27/2019 Exporting to South Korea - The DHL Fact Sheet

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DHL SOUTH KOREA FACT SHEET

S O U T H KO R E A

North Korea

SeoulIncheon

Gangneung

Samcheok

Buyeo

GunsanDaegu

Yeongdeok

Pohang

Gyeongju

Gwangju

Mokpo

Masan

Busan

Jeju City

DHL Gateway

Major City

KEY

Capital City

Country Profile

Capital Seoul

Population 49 million

Area 99,720 sq km

Currency 1 won (KRW) = 100 jeon

GDP US$ 1.666 trillion (2013 est.)

Languages Korean, English

Ethnic Groups Homogeneous, exempting 20,000Chinese

Source: CIA World Factbook

DHL FACTS

Locations: 69

Gateways into the Country:  1

Number of Service Centres:  22

DHL Delivery Zone:  8

Vehicle Fleet:  426

OVERVIEW

Since the 1960s, South Korea – officially the Republic oKorea – has set world records in economic growth anddevelopment, underwritten by a ocus on heavy industryand manuactured exports. In 2009, the country became thefirst nation to go rom being an Organisation or EconomicCo-operation and Development (OECD) aid recipient toa member o its donor committee. oday, South Korea is

the world’s twelfh-largest economy and leading globalsupplier o LCD screens, memory chips and mobile phones.Te country’s population is highly educated – 74 per cento South Koreans hold postgraduate-level degrees – andtechnologically advanced with the world’s highest level obroadband penetration. As a result, South Korea obtainedfirst place in Bloomberg’s Global Innovation Index 2014.

South Korea’s government has several initiatives underwayto oster sustainable economic growth. Tis includesbuilding on the success o sectors that are already globallycompetitive, such as construction engineering, but alsoexpanding health care, tourism and financial services. Te

country is also developing its SME sector and aims to becomeone o the top ten business-riendly economies in the world,encouraging oreign investors through incentives such astax support, simplified regulations and grants. South Korea’seconomy grew 2.8 per cent in 2013 and could achieve 3.8per cent growth in 2014 according to the Bank o Korea; by2019, South Korea’s economy is set to be the tenth largestcontributor to world growth.

South Korea’s Free rade Agreement (FA) with the EU isestimated to be worth over £500 million to British businesseach year. Te country is a designated high growth marketor the UK, and more than 150 British companies are alreadydoing business in South Korea.

Sources: The Economist, Bank of Korea, Bloomberg, GOV.UK, UKTI

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DHL South Korea Fact Sheet 2

Source: DHL, CIA World Factbook

UK to Country Transit Times

The times provided for dutiable shipments are based on the time expectedfor customs in South Korea to clear the shipment. This is contingent uponthe value of the shipment.

Seoul  Non-Dutiable: 3 days Dutiable: 3 days

Busan  Non-Dutiable: 3 days Dutiable: 3 days

Gwangju  Non-Dutiable: 4 days Dutiable: 4 days

Ulsan  Non-Dutiable: 3 days Dutiable: 3 days

Sokcho  Non-Dutiable: 5 days Dutiable: 5 days

TRADE INFORMATION

ESSENTIAL CUSTOMS INFORMATION

The UK-South Korea Free Trade Agreement

allows for a reduced or nil rate of duty for UK

origin goods. For further information on what

documentation you need to provide to support

the claim for duty relief, visit hmrc.gov.uk

E-commerce shipments (B2C) are declaredas formal entry regardless of invoice value.

De minimus clearance is not permitted. This

includes articles of paper, printed books, apparel

and clothing accessories, footwear, CDs/DVDs,

furniture, lamps and lighting.

Korea Customs Service is very strict on undervalued

shipments, vague descriptions (e.g. sample, spare

parts) and inaccurate company name/address, all of

which can result in additional delays and penalties.

General correspondence (business or private) is

under strict Customs supervision to detect i llegal

goods concealed as document shipments.

Certain items, as specified below, are subject to

quarantine inspection by South Korea’s Animal and

Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA); approval by South

Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS);

approval by South Korea’s Ministry of Health and

Welfare (MOHW); or approval by South Korea’s

National Radio Research Agency (RRA).

Exports from South Korea

US$ 557.3 billion (2013 est.)

Export commodities 

Semiconductors, wireless

telecommunications

equipment, motor vehicles,

auto parts, computers,

display, home appliances,

wire telecommunication

equipment, steel, ships,

petrochemicals.

Top Export Destinations

USA, China, Japan, Hong

Kong, Russia, Germany.

Imports into South Korea

US$ 516.6 billion (2013 est.)

Import commodities 

Machinery, electronics and

electronic equipment, oil,

steel, optical instruments,

transport equipment, organic

chemicals, plastics.

Top Import Origins 

USA, China, Germany, Hong

Kong, UK, Japan, Italy, aiwan.

For an estimate of landed costs (duties, taxes

and other import fees) for shipments going tothe South Korea, use the free DHL Express TradeAutomation Services (TAS) tool. tas.dhl.com 

TAS also provides information on regulationcompliance and trade documentation.

Prohibited Items

The list below is in addition to DHL’s standard listof prohibited items.

• Asbestos

• Cancelled cheques (NI) if in a bearer form

• Dangerous goods, hazardous or combustiblematerials

• Goods from the Democratic People’s Republicof Korea (North Korea), including propaganda

• Firearms, or parts of 

• Soil & soil samples

• Toy guns

DUTY FREE ALLOWANCE  US$ 100

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DHL South Korea Fact Sheet 3

Restricted Items

Alcoholic beverages

Formal import: subject to quarantine

inspection by QIA; receiver must haveimport licence. Samples imported by licensedcompanies for private consumption: 1bottle can be imported without quarantineinspection, though formal clearance isrequired. Receiver needs to pay liqueur taxregardless of invoice value. Total amountshould not exceed US$ 400.

Animal products, including cosmeticswith bovine components

Unprocessed: Subject to quarantineinspection by QIA. Shipper to providequarantine inspection report on collection

at country of origin.Bovine products: receiver to provideCertificate of Non-BSE (Bovine SpongiformEncephalopathy) Product from MFDS.

Licensed importers: provide recommendationfrom related organisation.

Animal skins

Subject to quarantine inspection by QIA.

Artwork including drawings/ proofs / layouts

Artwork including drawings: ship asgoods. Artwork including proof/layout:

ship as documents.

Biological Substance Category B,UN3373

Adhere to the International TransportAssociation’s (IATA) DangerousGoods Regulations.

Circuits & circuit boards,communications & telecommunicationsequipment, computer components& parts, electronic equipment includingMP3 players, printers & IT equipment,phones / modems and radios includingradio equipment / parts

RRA certification required. Certain items willrequire certification by South Korea’s Lawof Electrical Appliance Safety Managementor Law of Electrical CommunicationsApparatus; contact DHL Customer Servicesbefore shipping for more information.

Consumable finished goods includingfootwear, clothes and bags

If value exceeds US $100: state trademark/brand name on the invoice.

Drugs: prescription & non-prescription

Health products and vitamins: 6 bottles

permitted per Waybill. Other drug products:provide component analysis table. Attachadditional prescription for personal use. Allimporters other than individuals should belicenced and receive import approval fromMFDS or MOHW.

Foodstuffs

Subject to quarantine inspection by QIA,

unless canned or tinned. If value exceedsUS$ 150: provide Certificate of Origin.Jerky: Certificate of Origin requiredregardless of value.

Non-hazardous chemicals & liquids,oil products including bunker oilsamples (for analysis) and substancescontaining sodium/calcium cyclamate

Provide component analysis table. Adhereto the International Transport Association’s(IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Magazines, periodicals,

 journals, newspapersIf free of charge and not for resale purpose:send as documents.

Medical samples

Licenced importers: provide recommendationfrom related organisation. Blood: ContactDHL Customer Services before shipping;must be packed with cooling device. Humanblood samples: only permitted if importedby the International Red Cross and RedCrescent Movement.

Military equipment

Acceptable only for military bases ormilitary officers.

Photographs, including photographsas part of business reports

Ship as goods regardless of use or purpose.

Plants & plant products

Subject to quarantine inspection by QIA.Soil must be completely removed, or theshipment will be destroyed (charge: US$ 90)or returned to origin. Contact DHL CustomerServices before shipping to ensure theplants are not restricted.

Seeds, including cotton seed 

Subject to quarantine inspection by QIA.Seeds for cultivation purposes: provideoriginal phytosanitary certificate fromcountry of origin.

Ship spares for ships in transit

Show full description, quantity and nameof vessel on invoice. Penalties may beincurred if manifest is unclear.

Tobacco

Subject to quarantine inspection by QIA.

For medication from China, perishables 

and x-ray machines please contact DHLCustomer Services before shipping.

Valid from: 06/2014

For more information

If you need support or advice on tradingwith South Korea, help is available.

Contact the DHL Express team on0844 248 0675

DHL Customer Services is alsoavailable on 0844 248 0844

Contact your local Chambers ofCommercewww.britishchambers.org.uk

Contact your local UKTIwww.ukti.gov.uk

Visit www.dhlguide.co.uk for

international trade informationand to read our blog

Follow us on Twitter @dhlexpressuk to keep up to date with all the latestdevelopments in international trade