Korean Job Discussion Forums

Bigs · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

Hi all - looking for advice/procedure on getting a package.

I ordered a laptop computer from the US. The sender didn't see fit to put the telephone contact number I provided on the delivery slips/papers. It's been in country for 4 days now, being scanned into customs at three different locations (I'm guessing Seoul-->Busan-->??? - but I don't have any information). I know that I will (probably, unless I am extremely lucky) have to pay import tax on it, but am unsure about how/when this occurs and the package is released.

Parcel was sent via USPS Global Express (iirc), and I have a tracking number. It was addressed (in English) to the school that I'm working at.

What happens now? Do I wait longer (heard from one person that a letter was sent to him saying there was a package for him (in Korean - had to get a K-coworker to help out, and had to pay duty on pickup), or do I call the local post-office/Korean Customs Office (I'm in Changwon)

More than anything I'm just a little miffed it didn't arrive in time for me to play with it today Razz

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

your safest bet would be to contact your local customs department and see if there is someone who can speak English that can help you...If not then you will have to wait for the letter as your friend did, but that could take weeks for them to locate you...

Bigs · Joined: 15 Oct 2006

Is there a list of Customs offices phone numbers/locations? Or do you know where the one that would serve Changwon would be?

I have no details as to where the package actually is - the tracking just tells me it's at Customs (and has been scanned into customs at 3 different locations)

Sash · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Location: farmland

Try calling the shipping company. Customs can't help you with a tracking ID, they need some other kind of number but I can't think of it at the moment. I had to pay for the taxes before I was able to receive my package.

MANDRL · Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Location: South Korea

Sash · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Location: farmland

I paid by money transfer. After I did it, the package arrived the next day.

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

I don't know about USPS but with FedEx they called me and
gave me an account number. After I transfered the money
to FedEx they delivered the package.

in_seoul_2003 · Joined: 24 Nov 2003

I had to contact the shipping company. They told me to deposit the customs duty tax into the customs bank account (the shipping company will tell you how much and what the account number and bank is). Then deposit it and it will be delivered.

YoshaMazov · Joined: 10 May 2007 Location: Suwon

For some reason computers are frequently held up at customs, especially in the US. You just may have to wait it out for a few more days.