Customs is separate from quarantine. Quarantine asks whether an item is a disease risk; customs asks whether duty is owed. Both are declared on arrival, and clearing one does not clear the other.
The allowances
- General goods: US$800 in total taxable value
- Alcohol: up to 2 litres in total and US$400, counted separately from the general allowance
- Tobacco: 200 cigarettes
- Perfume: 100 ml
Age limit
Travellers under 19 years of age — counted by year of birth, not by birthday — do not receive the alcohol and tobacco exemptions. This trips up families who assume a teenager's allowance can be used.
If you are over the limit
Declare it. Duty and tax are worked out on the excess. Not declaring goods above the allowance is a separate problem from the duty itself, and a more expensive one.
Source: Korea Customs Service — Duty-free allowance for travellers
Duty-free bought on the way into Korea still counts towards the allowance. Buying airside does not exempt it.
More about K-ETA
After you land
K-ETA gets you on the plane. What comes after — arrival card, e-gates, cash, tax refunds, transport, healthcare, emergencies — checked with official sources.
Money and tipping
Cards are widely accepted, markets may want cash, and tipping is not expected. Cash and cheques over US$10,000 in total must be declared on arrival.
Tax refund
Visitors get VAT back on purchases of KRW 15,000+ at tax-free shops. On-the-spot refunds: under KRW 1,000,000 per purchase, KRW 5,000,000 per trip.
Smoking, vaping, alcohol
Alcohol and tobacco are sold from the year you turn 19. Smoking or vaping in a non-smoking area costs KRW 100,000. Drink-driving starts at 0.03%.
If you are exempt
Many nationalities do not currently need a K-ETA at all. Applying anyway costs money and gives you nothing. Here is how to check, and what still applies.
Transit
Whether a K-ETA applies to a transit depends on whether you pass immigration. Staying airside and entering the country are treated differently.