Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IamBabo]

Hello All,

I have looked on the Korean Post Office's website and around this website. I just can't find a straight answer to my question. Here goes:

My cousin is a chef and is sending me some chicken, pasta, and sauce. It will all be cooked and then frozen with dry ice and inside a styrofoam container. Will Korea allow this into the country? Anybody done this?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks...

[ThingsComeAround]

I heard its possible...
but why chicken? You could get that here!

Sauce, in a glass jar (packed well in bubble wrap) should be fine

[crossmr]

you can't just mail meat to foreign countries. That's a big no-no.

[Jane]

As far as I know, meat and veggies might not get through customs. If the pasta is uncooked and still in its original package, that should be okay; but then, you can just buy pasta here.

See regulations here:

http://english.customs.go.kr/kcsweb/user.tdf?a=common.HtmlApp&c=1501&page=/english/html/kor/personal/personal_02_01.html&mc=ENGLISH_PERSONAL_POST_010

Besides Customs duties and taxes, some items require licensing & approval procedures in other government agencies. The most likely items are food, alcohol, pets, medicine and cars. For details, please read more about importing individual items.

[Troglodyte]

First of all, no airline will allow you to transport dry ice (condensed carbon dioxide) on a passenger airplane. Sure, a small aircraft pilot may allow it, especially if the compartment isn't sealed or if the package is stored in another compartment not linked to that in which the pilot and passenger are sitting. But think about it logically. That's carbon dioxide. When it turns back into it's gas form it will expand and the COs levels in the cabin are going to rise.

Second of all, it's logistically impractical to use dry ice unless you are transporting large quantities of food, and they are already being stored in something highly insulated or refrigerated.
For more details on that, check out this thread:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=2416442&highlight=#2416442

Customs probably won't allow you to import meat. Sure, you might get away with it if they didn't catch you, but they might also confiscate it. You're bags do go through plenty of x-ray scanners along the way. I don't think you'll get fined. More likely the food will be confiscated.

More importantly, is your cousin's cooking SO good that even after being frozen and likely suffering from freezer burn from the close contact with dry ice, that you'd still prefer it over something locally available? Is it worth the cost and effort (which may be for nothing if it's confiscated at customs)?

Here's another guy who really wanted to take stupid stuff on the airplane
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=2426110