Korean Job Discussion Forums

[uberscheisse]

my dad bought me a sweet pocket knife for my birthday. kershaw ken onion model.

anyways

i know canada has weird laws about carrying a knife - like it has to be on your belt or something, or at least exposed - so it can't be considered a 'concealed weapon'. i may be slightly wrong on that but i don't live in canada so i don't care.

two questions - 1. would it be dicey importing a knife to korea? i've had packages sent back for having 'sensitive materials' in them.

2. what about carrying a knife for the purposes of peeling fruit, opening packages, etc.?

not that i've ever been stopped by a cop let alone searched in this country, but i want to know my rights/responsibilities.

thanks.

[mourningclam]

They sell switchblades on the street here, so I dont think carrying a pocket knife is an offence, as you dont use it in a fight.

[Hollywoodaction]

Anything short of being a sword can be imported without a special permit, but you'll pay 20% duty on its value. Can't help you about the laws about carrying it, though. My brother-in-law has a couple of fish scaling knives that he brings whenever we go fishing together. So, if the blade is less than 6 inches, you're probably okay as long at you carry it only when hiking or fishing. I always have my Swiss Army knife with me when I go hiking.

[uberscheisse]

i had imagined that it was probably smooth to own/carry a knife here...

i just didn't want to end up in a situation where it was against some obscure korean statute that an ignorant waegook couldn't possibly know about, and therefore get a rather expensive birthday gift confiscated.

i already had one birthday gift confiscated this year. who knew that you couldn't bring a half-empty bottle of scotch on a plane in your carry-on luggage?

well i didn't. crap. don't tell my brother.

[OiGirl]

[Reflections]

Yeah, but maybe customs/immigration in the departure area downed the whiskey when he had his back turned.

Alas, it could account for the missing half...

[pegpig]

1/2 a bottle is better than nothing.

[Mr. Pink]

You can carry swiss army knives np.

Bigger knives, just go ask a local police officer.

[panthermodern]

I had a 18" kukri knife confiscated at Incheon.

They called it a sword. (Korean Custusoms)

It was in my checked luggage.

I have many swiss army knifes and Leathermen tools which I have brought into Korea in my checked luggage.

They are by far more dangerous then boxcutters.

I have know people to have thier "Swiss Cards" confiscated by airport security.

Take nothing sharp on a plane.

[saw6436]

Actually, carrying any kind of knife in Korea is illegal. Doesn't matter if it is a pocket knife or sheath knife. You can carry one if it is obviously being used for a "cooking" function. Also, no problem if you are camping or hiking/picnicing.

Day to day carrying of a knife is against the law. That being said I always carry a pocket knife. Have carried a pocketknife since i was 5 years old and not about to stop.

[pegpig]

One of my Canadian in-laws also doesn't leave home w/o his multi-purpose pocket knife carried conveniently on his belt. It is usually accompanied by his set of 38 keys, a lighter, and whatnot. For awhile there he also had what looked like a 6-inch blade attached to his holster. Add a cowboy hat and cowboy boots and you've got quite the picture. I think he has since decided to go w/o the hat. What a piece of work.

[uberscheisse]