Korean Job Discussion Forums

[anynag]

When ordering nutritional supplements, protein supplements, or vitamins, etc. from outside Korea, Korean customs agents may hold your shipment.

1) The value including shipping costs has to be under 150,000 won. Any shipment, including shipping costs, valued over 150,000 won will be assessed a 20% import tax.
2) There should be no more than six items (boxes, bottles, containers, etc.) inside your package.
3) Instruct the company where you purchased your products from to list them as vitamins for personal use on the customs form. (The same would hold true if a friend or relative were to ship your stuff instead.)

What to do if your shipment gets flagged by Korean customs, and you receive a letter from an international post office:

1) Korean customs allows a 15-day grace period in which to comply to their inquiry. Otherwise, you will lose your shipment. (They ship your supplements back by boat, and it can take up to three months for your stuff to arrive.)

2) You (or someone proficient in Korean on your behalf) may want to call customs to ask about any additional fees or forms required to release your merchandise.

3) The second page will be a customs form (국제우편물 간이통관 신청서). The bottom half should be outlined in bold.
a) Where it reads 물품내용, you (or someone proficient in Korean) should write 비타민.
b) Where it reads 물품가격, you should write the monetary value and appropriate currency.
c) Where it reads 인터넷 구매내역, you should write the website address at which you made your purchase and your order number.
d) Where it reads 반이사유, you should check the box marked 자가구매and write 개인복용.
e) The last part is the date, (going from top to bottom) followed by your ARC number, cell phone number, name with signature next to it.

4) You will probably need a prescription form, called a 소견서, which can be filled out by a Korean doctor. Customs will tell you if they need this or not.
a) Request that the doctor write a statement to the effect that the vitamins are essential to your health and well being.
b) Make sure s/he lists every supplement or vitamin from your shipment by name.

5) Last, you have the option of faxing, mailing, or walking the customs form and the prescription paper (if necessary) to the customs area of the international post office. If you choose to fax or mail the form(s), they will mail your package to you.