Korean Job Discussion Forums

[aneikamcd66]

I'm returning to Korea from the US and would like to carry back some frozen meats that I couldn't find in Korea.

I'm thinking of carrying them on as carry-on, frozen solid and packed in ice packs (or dry ice if I can find any. Haven't had any luck so far.)

Any experience with this? Any recommendations?

Please only respond if you actually have useful info. "I don't know" or "I have no idea" responses or some other smart-a$$ comment are a waste of both our time.

Thanks in advance!

[ttompatz]

If it is uncooked/un-processed (not canned) it is illegal to import it without special permits.

If you do it will be confiscated by customs.
http://www.customs.go.kr/

Oh, and they won't let you take it packed in dry ice into the cabin of an aircraft.

.

[waynehead]

Ugh, this is idiotic...

[teachingld2004]

You may NOT bring any meat, fruit or vegetables.
You CAN bring frozen bacon and sausages IF THEY ARE HERMETICALLY sealed. That is if the package is not broken. But why bother these days as you can get bacon and sausage in Songtan and other places.
I DO bring back cheese as long as it is hermetically sealed and it is my carry on. I had the airport police detain me because I forgot I had a orange in my carry on bag, and then they searched all my stuff. Please do not bring meat.

[antoniothegreat]

i have heard of people bringing meat and cheese. they deep freeze it and then pack it together, so they keep each other cold. remember they are below the plane, which the external temperature is often below freezing.

like others said, you can get into trouble bringing in meat, but i have heard it is not too hard, at least, a few years ago, i heard some people would bring in whole luggages full of food.

[PatrickGHBusan]

wow a carry on packed with meat and dry ice!

Come on now OP, you must be joking!

[eac02]

I've brought food back before. I carried it in my carry on. I froze the stuff and then wrapped it in bubble wrap. I really don't think you'll need to use dry ice, my stuff was fine when I arrived.

[darkjedidave]

I always bring back a corned beef brisket, sliced roast beef and sometimes filet mignon and tenderloin, all frozen solid and packed right before leaving for the airport. 4 different trips, and never had it confiscated.

[littlelisa]

I just brought 6 kinds of cheese back. I kept it in the fridge as long as I could and then packed it in the middle of my bag. It was vacuum sealed and wrapped in newspaper (newspaper absorbs smells so it doesn't get to clothes) and in a smaller bag in my suitcase.

Then my luggage had the misfortune to be lost. Normally it wouldn't be horrible (cheese doesn't really need refrigeration), but this is pretty hot/humid weather.. I got my bag back the next day in the evening. After almost 48 hours without refrigeration, only one cheese had to be thrown away. The others were all good, including a fresh goat's cheese.

No experience with meat (I'm vegetarian) but they do ask you on the customs form if you're bringing in meat. They don't ask about cheese/dairy.

[PatrickGHBusan]

You can get meat through but if they find it it is confiscated and you pay a fine....your choice.

Still dry ice in a carry on...please try it, it will make for a fun airline story.

[DeMayonnaise]

My dad goes fishing in Alaska and Canada often and flies back with frozen fish. They pack it with dry ice and it's OK, but they have to get it in the freezer as soon as they land, and it just barely makes it before it really thaws out.

Everyone's complaining you can't bring meat, but what they don't know can't hurt em, right? Relax folks, it's not like he's trying to spread mad cow to the peninsula...nothing bad will happen if he brings in his steaks. I brought back about 30 pounds of cheese (not even kidding) and went through no problem. Then again, cheese is allowed and meat isn't.

I'd definitely throw it in the checked luggage and not the carry on, since it's a lot colder down below.

[Nadia_M]

I know there's a restriction on US beef for some reason. So be careful.

[madhusudan]

This thread made me chuckle. I suppose you're really serious, but for me it's hard to believe. Looks like you've got some decent advice on illegally importing frozen meat. Good luck.

[Troglodyte]

Every so often you get someone come up with this idea of using dry ice to ship food. Here's another recent one.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=2490785#2490785

Regarding the logistics and legality of it, check out the link for a short explanation of why you can't do it.

For a longer explanation, check out this link.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=2416442&highlight=#2416442

So many people come up with this idea, that it really makes me curious about whether or not someone has already tried it. If so, I'd love to hear the details.

[Hotwire]

Wow, you guy's crack me up.