Korean Job Discussion Forums

[earthbound14]

Customs has been pretty crappy about opening things lately and this Christmas they took earings sent to my wife.

Anyone have this happen before? What did you do?

[mayorgc]

I sent you a pm

[mmstyle]

That sucks! Did they claim that they weren't there? Did they claim there was a reason? I know some people complain about beef jerky or food items, but that's just.....I...oh crap. I am having specially made rings sent. Now I am worried.

I have had a lot of things sent though, and I have never had a problem.

[earthbound14]

Ya, it sucks. I've never had anything taken, but I haven't liked the number of times they've been looking into my packages. Far too often for me.

What sucks is that their seems to be no way to find out who the customs agent was that opened it, why it was opened or when it was opened. I only know that Korean customs opened it and that is when the ear rings went missing.

If they are going to go around opening people's stuff so often they might wish to have some sort of system set up to monitor their agents.

I think part of the reason the ear rings were stolen was because my mother doesn't like to advertise things she thinks has value (she thinks people will be tempted to open the package and steal things). In this case the customs agent likely felt they would be free to steal them as they were not listed on the packages contents. I only know they were supposed to be sent because of a note my mother put inside the box....which the agent didn't read.

Now I cannot seem to get in contact with customs and I have not idea which agent stole them as the box was not marked with any form of identification other than Korean customs tape.

[redaxe]

I recently got a care package from some friends in the US and the box arrived completely wide open. The bastards didn't even bother to tape it back up. I don't think anything was missing though, because it was all English magazines, American candy, and American-size condoms, there was nothing in there a Korean would have any use for.

[PeteJB]

Hail the day that nano tracking technology is invented.

[Freeghen]

Sorry to hear this has happened.
I've had unlimited problems with customs the times i've been in Korea.
They ALWAYS open my packages WITHOUT FAIL. Even when there is nothing in them but old clothes from home or a winter blanket from my mom. These types of things wouldn't even show anything suspicious on an x-ray, so i don't know what their problem is.
People are going to argue with me but I have come to the conclusion that they open most foreigners packages. They see the weigukin name on it and gash it open. I had an American buddy who's package was gashed open by customs and half of his things fell out as they didn't even bother to tape it back up.

I was sent an old laptop from home and customs decided to keep it for a month and not contact me. I finally had to get a Korean friend to call and write letters as well as e-mails until they finally released it. They said they kept it because they didn't believe it was the amount written on the package, and in order to release it they needed my alien card number (now how are they going to get that if they don't even call or contact me???).

It has come to the point that I have told people back home NEVER to mail me anything, I will get it when I go back.

I really hope you can find out who took your things, but dealing with customs is the biggest headache ever.

[Mr.Mulder2]

I've had customs open my packages most of the time, and stuff has gone missing on more than one occasion. My buddy has had a few goodies go missing too. Awesome.

[itaewonguy]

seems like its the same bunch of guys working at the customs office who are taking everything..

you guys should start to have things sent to a korean name perhaps even with hangul on there.

[somethingawful]

What are the odds some cigars and a USB with wedding photos are going to be pinched? I just sent an X-mas package to a friend and the inventory I wrote was. "Misc. Gifts under $30".

Two necklaces,
An old spice deodorant and antiperspirant stick
A box of mints
A small box of mini cigars
A USB drive (2gb) with wedding photos and misc pics.

Those of you who've has stuff mailed. . . what are the odds it's going to make it to them unmolested?

[curiousaboutkorea]

Sparkling

[Mr.Mulder2]

I wonder if it's equal-opportunity pilfering, or if us AIDS-ridden heathens get special attention? Maybe next time I'll tell my mom to lace her Christmas cookies with something nasty.

[blackjack]

My stuff is never opened, even with food stuff in there. My mum sends me care packages every now and again (I keep saying I don't need anything but it makes her feel good to send stuff so...)

I sent her my address in English and Korean and she sticks both on every package. Maybe stuff from NA is searched more than her majesties colonies?

[somethingawful]

I've personally never had anything stolen from my packages by customs . . . now my Korean Co-workers, that's a different story.

[Kimchi Cha Cha]