Korean Job Discussion Forums

[marlow]

I'm leaving Korea and I have a sword I want to take with me. Apparently it's OK in my checked baggage, and seems OK for Canadian customs, but the customs pages are quite convoluted. Anyone take a sword out of Korea before? Any troubles?

[Css]

No idea about the customs issue...but what kinda sword is it?

[marlow]

Unsharpened metal sword for kendo/kumdo. Not the bamboo practice ones, but a sword in a sheath. My brother-in-law gave it to me--he's a Kumdo Master.

[bluelake]

Many years ago, I took swords out of the country and had no problems on either end (Korea or US); I'm not sure about Canada. However, you might need to fill out a form at the Korean airport for taking out a weapon; I know it sounds strange, but I had one experience with it.

A few years ago, out of Incheon, I was taking a few Korean traditional archery bows back to the States. I was all checked in, went through immigration, and was waiting at my gate. About fifteen minutes before boarding, I heard my name called and that I should report to the gate counter, which I did. I was informed that, because I was taking weapons (unstrung bows with no arrows) out of the country, I had to go back to customs and fill out a form. I was baffled, but followed an officer back to customs.

They questioned me about what they were and why I was taking them. I explained they were just traditional bows and I have shipped hundreds of them around the world with no problem. Still, they had me fill out a form in which I had to describe them in detail. Before I went back to my gate, I said to the officer in charge that, if someone is able to get into the cargo hold during our flight, there is a much bigger security problem than a few unstrung archery bows with no arrows.