Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wanderingsalsero]

I'm thinking about getting a either a new laptop in the US or buying a reconditioned one (I know two places in Houston that have good deals). Question is: if I have it mailed over here, will I be charged custom duties.

The reason I thought that I perhaps might not incur any duties is because it's an English version and also because it might be an obviously 'used' machine. Would that be a mitigating factor?

[Canucksaram]

The tax and/or duties will be extortionate, unless you pull a +9 Rat of Luck out of your ass, away from his peanuts and corn, and all....

Korea is not a "foreign"-friendly place, regardless of how many trite "Hub(cap) of Asia" advertising campaigns they pull off. It's all a matter of "make money off the Western monkeys" while trying to entice foreign investment capital with the ultimate goal of *bleep*ing the foreigners out of their dollars.

"Ha, ha, ha, you come here spend money one more time White Boy!"

[MarionG]

I've had the following things shipped to me here in Korea:

New laptop computer
Coffee
Clothing
Over the counter meds
Splenda of all things
Books
Educational materials other than books, i.e. CDs, tapes

Never paid a penny of duty/import whatever. The key seems to be to mark the package "personal property." The computer was further labelled "Laptop Computer, value $1500" and insured for that amount. The phone number of the school where I work was on each shipping document, and in all cases the shipping company called from Incheon when the package arrived there (DHL is the most efficient) and asked for scans of my passport and ARC. Result? No duty.

[MarionG]

P.S.
The computer was a brand new Dell. But it was still my personal property.

[Poemer]

Your school probably lied for you and said it was used or they backed you by claiming that the computer was required for work purposes. I've been told that if your school vouches that something is a work necessity you can get away with not paying any duty.

I do know that I got my new laptop sent marked as a gift and that cut the import duty in half -- about 10% of the value I think it was.

[hagwonnewbie]

Have it shipped to family or friends. Have them open and repackage it. Once it's been opened, it is no longer "new". Then have have them ship it here insured. You'll find that USPS is the cheapest option.

[keseki]

[pest2]

yep, exactly. if you can make it look like you were already using it before you came to korea, you wont get nailed with the 20% tax. just have someone open it up and then repackage it as if you had already been using it. DONT get the seller in Houston or where ever to do it... get someone you know and trust to go to the seller to pick it up and then send it to you.

some things (like splenda) wont incur the tax because the declared value is less than 100$.

[wanderingsalsero]

Thanks very much for the info. I'll act on it.

[pdxsteve]