What happens if I do not declare alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol 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 alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol?

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 alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol 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.

Where does this rule come from?

관세청 (Korea Customs Service) states it in 국가법령정보센터 | 조문정보. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “술 용량은 2리터(L) 이하, 가격은 미화 400달러 이하로 한다.”

How does South Korea compare with other countries on alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol?

Of the 21 countries covered here, 1 prohibit alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol, 12 limit it and 8 let it through. South Korea is among the ones that set a limit.

How much Alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol can I bring into South Korea?

Allowed

You can bring Alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol into South Korea without a special limit.

Extra conditions apply

Carried Allowed

Declaration Not required

Limit 400 USD

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

Last verified 2026-09-19

국가법령정보센터 | 조문정보 국가법령정보센터

Questions about Alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol in South Korea

How much alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol can I bring into South Korea?: South Korea allows 2 liters of alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol 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 alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol at South Korea customs?: No — within the allowance it passes without a declaration.
What happens if I do not declare alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol 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 alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol?: 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 alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol 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 alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol allowance in South Korea?: Yes — 19 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol at all, not a smaller one.
Can I take alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol out of South Korea?: South Korea publishes no separate rule for taking alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
Does the South Korea limit for alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol 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 국가법령정보센터 | 조문정보. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “술 용량은 2리터(L) 이하, 가격은 미화 400달러 이하로 한다.”
How does South Korea compare with other countries on alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol?: Of the 21 countries covered here, 1 prohibit alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol, 12 limit it and 8 let it through. South Korea is among the ones that set a limit.

Related items

Accompanied cash Accompanying goods, non-commercial (flat-rate band) Agricultural/forestry/fishery/livestock products (general sub-cap) Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over)

Related countries

Australia Canada China France

Other items in this group

Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) Alcoholic beverages (all types) Alcoholic beverages (combined volume and value cap) Alcoholic beverages (standard 760 ml bottle) Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV Alcoholic beverages above 22% ABV