What happens if I do not declare agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce 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 agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce?

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 agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce 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 여행자 휴대품 통관 (Traveler's Personal Effects Customs Clearance). CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-16. The sentence it rests on reads: “여행자 휴대품으로서 각 물품의 과세가격 합계 기준으로 미화 800달러 이하(농축수산물 품목당 5kg, 총량 40kg 이내, 전체 해외취득가격 10만원 이내 포함)”

How does South Korea compare with other countries on agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce?

Of the 20 countries covered here, 0 prohibit agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce, 13 limit it and 7 let it through. South Korea is among the ones that set a limit.

How much agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce can I bring into South Korea?

Official classification: Agricultural/forestry/fishery/livestock products (general sub-cap)

Restricted

You can bring agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce into South Korea only within the stated limits.

Extra conditions apply

Carried Limited

Declaration Above allowance

Limit 5 kilogram

What you need to know

5 kilogram (11.02 lb)
Channels: Carried with the traveler
Extra conditions apply

Important

This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.

Official sources disagreed on this rule; this page follows 여행자 휴대품 통관 (Traveler's Personal Effects Customs Clearance), the most recently updated source at the same level.

Official sources

Last verified 2026-09-16

여행자 휴대품 통관 (Traveler's Personal Effects Customs Clearance) 관세청 (Korea Customs Service)

Questions about Farm and food products in South Korea

How much agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce can I bring into South Korea?: South Korea allows 5 kilograms of agricultural/forestry/fishery/livestock products (general sub-cap) per traveller. Above that the goods are treated as an import and duty becomes payable. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
Do I have to declare agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce at South Korea customs?: Only above the allowance. Up to 5 kilograms of agricultural/forestry/fishery/livestock products (general sub-cap) there is nothing to declare; beyond it you take the goods through the red channel and pay the duty.
What happens if I do not declare agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce 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 agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce?: 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 agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce 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.
Can I take agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce out of South Korea?: South Korea publishes no separate rule for taking agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
Does the South Korea limit for agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce 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 (Traveler's Personal Effects Customs Clearance). CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-16. The sentence it rests on reads: “여행자 휴대품으로서 각 물품의 과세가격 합계 기준으로 미화 800달러 이하(농축수산물 품목당 5kg, 총량 40kg 이내, 전체 해외취득가격 10만원 이내 포함)”
How does South Korea compare with other countries on agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce?: Of the 20 countries covered here, 0 prohibit agricultural, forestry, fishery and livestock produce, 13 limit it and 7 let it through. South Korea is among the ones that set a limit.

Related countries

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Quick facts

Jurisdiction: South Korea
Travel mode: Land

Freshness

Last verified: 2026-09-16
Next review: 2026-10-18

Destination

KR South Korea

All South Korea rules

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