How much Alcoholic beverages (all types) can I bring into South Korea?
Allowed
You can bring Alcoholic beverages (all types) into South Korea without a special limit.
Extra conditions apply
What you need to know
- 2 liter (67.63 US fl oz)
- Value cap: 400 USD
- Channels: Carried with the traveler
- Extra conditions apply
On the plane
Airline differences
| Airline | Difference from the baseline |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) | Stricter than the standard rule |
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
Official sources
- 여행자 휴대품 통관 Korea Customs Service
Questions about Alcoholic beverages (all types) in South Korea
- How much alcoholic beverages (all types) can I bring into South Korea?
- South Korea allows 2 liters of alcoholic beverages (all types) per traveller without duty. The allowance is capped at 400 USD in total value. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
- Do I have to declare alcoholic beverages (all types) at South Korea customs?
- No — within the allowance it passes without a declaration.
- What happens if I do not declare alcoholic beverages (all types) in South Korea?
- Under 관세법 제81조제1항제1호, if you declare the excess yourself: a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess. Under 관세법 제282조제2항, if the goods are found without being declared: the goods are confiscated. Under 관세법 제241조제5항제1호: the normal duty becomes payable on the excess; an administrative fine is imposed.
- Do duty-free purchases count toward the South Korea allowance for alcoholic beverages (all types)?
- Yes. What you buy in an arrival duty-free shop comes out of the same allowance, so the shop does not add to what you may already be carrying.
- Can I post or ship alcoholic beverages (all types) to South Korea instead of carrying it?
- Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.
- Is there a minimum age for the alcoholic beverages (all types) allowance in South Korea?
- Yes — 19 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for alcoholic beverages (all types) at all, not a smaller one.
- Can I take alcoholic beverages (all types) out of South Korea?
- South Korea publishes no separate rule for taking alcoholic beverages (all types) out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the South Korea limit for alcoholic beverages (all types) apply per person or per family?
- Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
- Where does this rule come from?
- 관세청 (Korea Customs Service) states it in 여행자 휴대품 통관. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “위항과 별도로 주류(전체 용량이 2L이하이고 총 가격이 미화 400달러 이하), 필터담배 200개비, 전자담배 니코틴용액20ml(니코틴함량 1%미만), 향수 100ml”
- How does South Korea compare with other countries on alcoholic beverages (all types)?
- Of the 20 countries covered here, 1 prohibit alcoholic beverages (all types), 13 limit it and 6 let it through. South Korea is among the ones that set a limit.
Source: 관세청 (Korea Customs Service) — 여행자 휴대품 통관 · verified 2026-09-19
Source: 관세청 (Korea Customs Service) — 여행자 휴대품 통관 · verified 2026-09-19
Source: 관세청 (Korea Customs Service) — 관세법 [법률 제21858호, 시행 2026. 8. 11.] · verified 2026-09-20
Source: 관세청 (Korea Customs Service) — south-korea postOrCourier · verified 2026-09-20
Source: 관세청 (Korea Customs Service) — south-korea postOrCourier · verified 2026-09-20
Source: 관세청 (Korea Customs Service) — south-korea postOrCourier · verified 2026-09-20
Source: 관세청 (Korea Customs Service) — 여행자 휴대품 통관 · verified 2026-09-19
Source: 관세청 (Korea Customs Service) — 여행자 휴대품 통관 · verified 2026-09-19