Do duty-free purchases count toward the South Korea allowance for alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over)?

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.

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 만 19세 미만(출생년도 기준) 미성년자는 주류, 담배 면세범위 없음”

How much Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) can I bring into South Korea?

Allowed

You can bring Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) into South Korea without a special limit.

Extra conditions apply

Cabin baggage —

Checked baggage —

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

여행자 휴대품 통관 Korea Customs Service

Questions about Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) in South Korea

How much alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) can I bring into South Korea?: South Korea allows 2 liters of alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) 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 above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) at South Korea customs?: No — within the allowance it passes without a declaration.
What happens if I do not declare alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) 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 above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over)?: 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 above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) 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 above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) allowance in South Korea?: Yes — 19 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) at all, not a smaller one.
Can I take alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) out of South Korea?: South Korea publishes no separate rule for taking alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
Does the South Korea limit for alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) 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 만 19세 미만(출생년도 기준) 미성년자는 주류, 담배 면세범위 없음”
How does South Korea compare with other countries on alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over)?: Of the 21 countries covered here, 1 prohibit alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over), 11 limit it and 9 let it through. South Korea is among the ones that set a limit.

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Accompanied cash Accompanying goods, non-commercial (flat-rate band) Agricultural/forestry/fishery/livestock products (general sub-cap) Alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol

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Alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol 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