How much Animal, plant, fruit, vegetable, seafood and food products can I bring into South Korea?
Declare
You can bring Animal, plant, fruit, vegetable, seafood and food products into South Korea, but you must declare it.
What you need to know
- No stated quantity
- Channels: Carried with the traveler
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
Official sources
- 여행자 휴대품 통관 Korea Customs Service (관세청)
Questions about Animal, plant, fruit, vegetable, seafood and food products in South Korea
- Do I have to declare animal, plant, fruit, vegetable, seafood and food products at South Korea customs?
- Yes — it has to be declared to South Korea customs on arrival.
- What happens if I do not declare animal, plant, fruit, vegetable, seafood and food products 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.
- Can I post or ship animal, plant, fruit, vegetable, seafood and food products 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 animal, plant, fruit, vegetable, seafood and food products out of South Korea?
- South Korea publishes no separate rule for taking animal, plant, fruit, vegetable, seafood and food products out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the South Korea limit for animal, plant, fruit, vegetable, seafood and food products 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: “신고대상 동물(고기·가죽·털을 포함한다), 식물, 과일, 채소류, 살아있는 수산생물, 농림축수산물(가공품을 포함한다), 그 밖의 식품류”
- How does South Korea compare with other countries on animal, plant, fruit, vegetable, seafood and food products?
- Of the 20 countries covered here, 0 prohibit animal, plant, fruit, vegetable, seafood and food products, 19 limit it and 1 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) — 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) — 여행자 휴대품 통관 · verified 2026-09-19
Source: 관세청 (Korea Customs Service) — 여행자 휴대품 통관 · verified 2026-09-19