Ordering things from Amazon, iHerb, ASOS, or any overseas retailer while living in Korea involves one extra layer that most people don’t think about until a package gets stuck at customs. Korea’s overseas direct purchase system (해외직구, haewai jikgu) is well-developed and generally smooth — but there are specific rules about customs clearance numbers, tax-free limits, and restricted items that you need to know before you start clicking “buy.”
The 개인통관고유부호 — Your Customs Clearance Number
Every international shipment to Korea requires a 개인통관고유부호 (personal customs clearance number). This is a unique identifier that replaces your resident registration number (주민등록번호) for customs purposes — important for privacy since Korean ID numbers were being exposed on shipping forms.
Getting one is free and takes about 5 minutes:
- Go to the Korea Customs UNI-PASS portal: unipass.customs.go.kr
- Select “개인통관고유부호 신청”
- Verify your identity with your ARC number or passport
- Your number is issued immediately
Alternatively, download the 모바일 관세청 app and apply through there. The number doesn’t expire. Once you have it, use it on every international order as your “customs ID number” or “Personal Clearance Code” — every shipping form in Korea has a field for it.
Without a valid customs number, packages get flagged or returned. This is the single most common reason overseas shipments sit in customs limbo for days.
Tax-Free Limits: What Gets Through Without Duty
Korea’s customs threshold depends on the country of origin:
| Order Origin | Tax-Free Limit Per Shipment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Most countries (Amazon US, iHerb, ASOS, etc.) | USD 150 | Goods value only, excluding shipping |
| United States (FTA benefit) | USD 200 | Korea-US FTA applies; must ship directly from US |
If your order is under the threshold, it clears as 목록통관 (list-based clearance) — fast, no documentation required, just the customs number. Over the threshold, you’re in 수입신고 (formal import declaration) territory: customs duty applies plus 10% VAT, and clearance takes longer.
The threshold applies per shipment, not per day or per month. Splitting a large order into multiple smaller shipments to stay under USD 150 each is technically customs evasion and Korean customs does watch for this pattern. Don’t do it.
How Duty Is Calculated Over the Limit
If your order exceeds the threshold, customs calculates:
- Customs duty: Varies by product category. Electronics are often 0–8%, clothing 10–13%, some food items higher.
- VAT: 10% on (goods value + customs duty + shipping/insurance).
For a practical example: a USD 250 jacket shipped from the US. After applying any applicable duty rate plus VAT, you might pay ₩20,000–₩40,000 in additional fees. The courier (DHL, FedEx, etc.) usually handles clearance and will contact you for payment before delivering.
Restricted and Prohibited Items
Some things can’t be shipped to Korea at all, and others have specific limits:
| Category | Limit / Rule |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 1 bottle (1L or less) — duty-free limit |
| Cigarettes | 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars, or 250g other tobacco) |
| Perfume | 60ml duty-free |
| Food (agricultural) | Most fresh produce, meat, and plant-based foods require quarantine clearance — many are restricted or prohibited |
| Pork/beef products | 10kg each within allowed limits, but require quarantine certification from origin country |
| Supplements (vitamins, protein powder) | 6 bottles per item type (the 6-bottle rule) |
| Prescription medication | Up to 3 months personal supply; must match your prescription documentation |
| Cannabis products (including CBD) | Prohibited |
| Counterfeit goods | Prohibited and subject to seizure and fine |
The 6-Bottle Rule for Supplements
This one catches a lot of people ordering from iHerb or Vitacost. Korea allows personal-use imports of supplements (vitamins, protein powder, herbal supplements) at up to 6 bottles per item. Six bottles of vitamin C: fine. Twelve bottles: customs will flag it as a commercial quantity and require documentation or may refuse entry.
If you order supplements regularly, keep individual orders at or under 6 bottles per product type. Separate shipments spaced over time are fine.
Popular Overseas Shopping Platforms
The most commonly used by expats in Korea:
- Amazon — Ships direct to Korea for most categories. Check if the listing says “ships internationally” before ordering. US Amazon charges Korean customs separately if the order is over USD 200.
- iHerb — Most expats’ go-to for supplements, vitamins, and health products. Has a dedicated Korea shipping option and handles customs paperwork. The 6-bottle rule still applies.
- ASOS / Selfridges / SSENSE — Fashion from Europe and UK. Under the USD 150 threshold is common for individual clothing items; over it you pay duty.
- eBay, Etsy — Variable quality of international shipping. Some sellers won’t ship to Korea, others use registered post which can be slower.
- 직구 forwarding services — If a retailer doesn’t ship to Korea directly, Korean forwarding services (몰테일, 배송대행 업체) provide a US/UK/EU shipping address that forwards to Korea. You pay forwarding fees, but it opens up retailers that don’t serve Korea.
Some of these platforms geo-restrict their websites from Korean IP addresses or limit what categories ship to Korea. A VPN like NordVPN lets you access the full product catalog from platforms that region-lock Korean users.
Package Stuck at Customs — What to Do
If your package is held at Incheon customs, you’ll typically get a notice via email or text (if your contact info was on the shipping form) asking for additional documentation or payment. Common reasons for holds:
- Missing or incorrect customs clearance number
- Order value over the tax-free threshold — payment required
- Item in a restricted category — documentation required
- Random inspection — usually releases in 2–3 business days without action needed
Track your package through the Korea Post website (www.epost.go.kr) or through the international carrier’s tracking system. If you need to contact Incheon customs directly, the main line is 032-722-4114 (Incheon Airport Customs).
You can physically go to the customs clearance office at Incheon Airport if you have a time-sensitive package — bring your passport, ARC, the shipping notification, and any relevant documentation (prescription for medication, invoice for the order). The international mail customs center is in the cargo area of Incheon Airport, accessible by car or airport limousine bus from the terminal.
Returns and Refunds
If you want to return something to an overseas retailer from Korea, standard international returns apply — you pay return shipping and potentially deal with the retailer’s return window. Most Korean customs-cleared goods can be re-exported without paying additional duty if you’re returning them. Keep the original customs clearance receipt if you go this route.
FAQ
Do I need a customs number for everything, even small packages?
Yes. Even a USD 10 order from abroad technically requires your customs clearance number. In practice, very small orders from common retailers often clear without it, but you risk delays. Put the number on everything.
What happens if customs duty is owed and I don’t pay?
The package is held for a set period (usually 30 days), then returned to sender or destroyed depending on the item. Your customs clearance number gets flagged for that incident.
Can I order prescription medication from overseas?
Up to a 3-month personal supply with your prescription documentation. Controlled substances and narcotics follow much stricter rules regardless of prescription status. When in doubt, buy medication in Korea — the pharmaceutical system here is comprehensive and generally cheaper than you’d expect.
Is there a limit on how many overseas purchases I can make per year?
No annual cap, but each shipment is subject to its own threshold limit. The 6-bottle supplement rule and other category limits apply per shipment regardless of how many orders you make in a year.
Sources
- Korea Customs Service — Personal Customs Clearance Number and Import Rules: unipass.customs.go.kr
- Incheon Airport Customs (인천공항본부세관) — Contact and Clearance Procedures: TEL 032-722-4114
- Korea Customs Service — Self-Use Import Standards (자가사용 인정기준), 수입통관 사무처리에 관한 고시 제67조
- Easylaw Korea — Overseas Direct Purchase Guide (해외직구): www.easylaw.go.kr
- Korea Post — International Package Tracking: www.epost.go.kr