South Korea duty-free allowance

What arriving travelers can bring into South Korea without paying duty — from official customs guidance.

Alcohol

2 L

max 2 bottles & USD 400 · 19+

Full rule

2 bottles, total up to 2L AND up to USD 400 value, age 19+

Tobacco

200 cigarettes

19+

Full rule

200 cigarette sticks, age 19+ (separate from the basic exemption)

Goods & gifts

USD 800

Full rule

USD 800 basic exemption; perfume 100ml separately

Cash · declare from

USD 10,000+

Full rule

USD 10,000+ in means of payment must be declared

Depends on: age 19 by year of birth; alcohol capped by BOTH volume and USD value - dual-condition logic

Good to know

voluntary declaration above allowance earns a 30% duty reduction; getting caught undeclared adds 40% penalty tax - a carrot-and-stick system worth surfacing in a checker tool

From South Korea's official customs guidance, checked 2026-07-31 ·verify at the source · Guidance, not law — allowances change and the customs officer has the final say. Verify before you fly.

Sending something to South Korea?

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