Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mashimaro]

What would be involved in setting up a little (initially) import business in korea?

I know korea is pretty protectionist and I was wondering how many barriers they put in place to avoid foreigners making money selling non-korean made products.

What would I have to do?

[komtengi]

what sort of goods are you thinking of?? I know to import clothing there is a 23% tax, which is applied to the postage charge as well. Not just the price of the goods.

[Mashimaro]

[tzechuk]

I would suggest the best way to go about it is to team up with a korean person to get a business license first. It's pretty hard for a foreigner to set up business here...

I remember seeing in the Korean yellowpages once about trading business partnerts.. so there are some around.

[fidel]

Pop into a local customs office and see if you can get your hands on their customs/excise tax list for imported products. It's a way to figure out if the margins are large enough to be truely profitable.

[Mashimaro]

*bump*

[ulsanchris]

i don't think you would be able to rely on getting any business from any korean companies.
I know a guy inthe export import business in Canada. He does business all over the world. He said that if he gets any contracts from a korean country he can only movethe product as far as Vancouver or seattle. Then the Korean company arranges the shipping from there. They don't want foreign companies getting close to Korea. He said Japan is the same way. In contrast to China which is much more open to foriegners.

[thorin]

Screw all that. Go down to the docks with your Korean friends and pass out a couple bottles of whiskey. I can't imagine it would be too much trouble to get a container in every now and then if you have the right friends.