Do I have to declare spare (loose) lithium batteries at South Korea customs?

No — within the allowance it passes without a declaration.

What happens if I do not declare spare (loose) lithium batteries 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 spare (loose) lithium batteries 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 spare (loose) lithium batteries out of South Korea?

South Korea publishes no separate rule for taking spare (loose) lithium batteries out; the destination's rules are what will apply.

Can I carry spare (loose) lithium batteries in the cabin or in checked baggage?

In the cabin: Allowed with conditions. In checked baggage: Prohibited. The carriage limit is 100.0000 Wh / 2.0000 g lithium. This comes from International baseline, and an individual airline may be stricter. Customs and aviation are separate rulebooks: what an airline lets you carry is not what a border lets you bring in.

Does the South Korea limit for spare (loose) lithium batteries 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: “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 spare (loose) lithium batteries?

Of the 20 countries covered here, 0 prohibit spare (loose) lithium batteries, 13 limit it and 7 let it through. South Korea is among the ones that set a limit.

How much Spare (loose) lithium batteries can I bring into South Korea?

Allowed

You can bring Spare (loose) lithium batteries into South Korea without a special limit.

Cabin baggage Allowed with conditions Source: International baseline

Checked baggage Prohibited Source: International baseline

Declaration Not required

Limit 800 USD

What you need to know

No stated quantity
Value cap: 800 USD
Channels: Carried with the traveler

On the plane

International baseline

On person Not stated

Cabin baggage Allowed with conditions

Checked baggage Prohibited

Airline differences

Airline	Difference from the baseline
American Airlines	More permissive
All Nippon Airways	Stricter than the standard rule
British Airways	Stricter than the standard rule
Delta Air Lines	Stricter than the standard rule
easyJet	More permissive
Japan Airlines	More permissive
Korean Air	Stricter than the standard rule
Ryanair	Stricter than the standard rule
Turkish Airlines	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 Spare (loose) lithium batteries in South Korea

How much spare (loose) lithium batteries can I bring into South Korea?: South Korea publishes no quantity limit for spare (loose) lithium batteries carried by a traveller. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
Do I have to declare spare (loose) lithium batteries at South Korea customs?: No — within the allowance it passes without a declaration.
What happens if I do not declare spare (loose) lithium batteries 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 spare (loose) lithium batteries 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 spare (loose) lithium batteries out of South Korea?: South Korea publishes no separate rule for taking spare (loose) lithium batteries out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
Can I carry spare (loose) lithium batteries in the cabin or in checked baggage?: In the cabin: Allowed with conditions. In checked baggage: Prohibited. The carriage limit is 100.0000 Wh / 2.0000 g lithium. This comes from International baseline, and an individual airline may be stricter. Customs and aviation are separate rulebooks: what an airline lets you carry is not what a border lets you bring in.
Does the South Korea limit for spare (loose) lithium batteries 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: “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 spare (loose) lithium batteries?: Of the 20 countries covered here, 0 prohibit spare (loose) lithium batteries, 13 limit it and 7 let it through. South Korea is among the ones that set a limit.

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