Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PatrickBateman]

Is there a website that displays the costs per package? I recently had a package mailed through Fed-Ex, it got here in two days but it was held for 'clearance' reasons. Long story short, I had to track them down and pay 60,000 won for some Korean tax.


At what point do they tax your stuff? I've had other packages sent here and never had to pay a dime.

[SpiralStaircase]

I have that info somewhere, don't know where I put it.

They usually mail you a statement that includes a list of items and the percent at which they tax.

Are the packages coming from home or from a retailer? I usually have expensive items shipped to family in Canada. They open them up, remove the packaging and forward them to me. No problems so far.

[mmstyle]

It they are not marked as personal belongings, you will be taxed if the declared value is W150,000. The cost of shipping is included in this, not just the items you have purchased.

[goesslry]

spiral is right. If they are your "personal" items that you own, there is no tax. AKA, if you buy something expensive back home, have family take them out of the packaging, so it doesn't look like it is "new". Non-taxable. However, you may occasionally get the power hungry guy who insists on taxing you and holding up your package. Get a korean friend, and be a pain in the ass until they send it.

[Xuanzang]

Shoes and clothes made from foreign textiles and abroad come in at 20 and 25% duties. Same goes for electronics. Either get relatives to rebox and relabel for you or pay the Korean tax man.

[PatrickBateman]

Basically, there were new and used shoes, some new t-shirts and headphones. So if I just mark it as personal belongings they won't mess with it? Good advice, thanks.

[Xuanzang]

The sender must have labelled everything for its true value and it rang up above the 150,000원 threshold. That's why you had to pay.