Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cwling]

I'm headed to Korea in a few days, and I'm rather confused about whether all food items need to be declared or not. I'm especially interested in dietary supplements and herbal tea. And if I declare the tea, will it need to be quarantined?

[mindmetoo]

Maybe any beef products might be rejected for BSE fears. Beyond that any foods in cans or processed foods in packages should be okay. Doesn't hurt to mention it, I suppose. I've been through Korean customs 3 times in my life and I literally never had a single word spoken to me, let alone a question.

[teachingld2004]

As long as food items are sealed or in cans, you should be fine. I have brought bacon, cheese, teas, coffee, even basil seeds and never had a problem.

[sheba]

You will have to fill in a form on the plane which will ask if you have certain types of food. Youwill probably have to declare it but that doesnt mean it will be taken from you (although it may). If you get caught with something that you didnt declare it can be a hefty fine....

That being said I went to the declaration line and they checked my passport and waved me straight through. Was quite good seeing as I was the only one there.... got through a lot quicker!

[Hater Depot]

I've been through customs twice without even being stopped and asked a few questions. Didn't bat an eyelash at me, or anybody else as far as I could tell. I could have had a suitcase full of BSE-oozing meat as far as they knew.

[VanIslander]

[sheba]

Depends on the country....

Here they dont seem to care, but back home a celebrity visited and didnt declare an apple that was in their bag (they bought some food onboard the plane). They got a hefty fine for that.

NZ consists of 2 pretty isolated islands and our country is free from a lot of harmful insects/animals, diseases etc..... theyre pretty anal about declaring EVERYTHING.

[Demonicat]

I have had illegal stuff shipped here (ephedera and such). No issues.

[crazylemongirl]

My tip on getting through Customs:

Take a look at your exit door. If there is no one there just walk on through and you're done. Take your goodies, go.

Sometimes they have person checking. If that is the case declare everything. The customs people's english isn't that good and provided you're not bringing through raw fruits, veges or meat you'll be sweet as. Be nice and polite. If it's a member of the opposite sex be sure to flirt.

Talk about how important it is you are trying to get through is as you are far away from home. I told one customs guy that westerners treat pesto like koreans treat kimchi and he laughed. When he started getting pissy about me bringing in 6 bottles of wine when I'm only allowed one I told him that my friends and I were planning on having a celebration at chuseok. He laughed, I left with my duty free wine.

This only works in Korea. For other countries just play it by the book.

[Flossie]

My first trip into Korea I had done next to no research and had no idea what stuff I would be able to buy, let alone how I would get on in a country where I couldnt speak the language. So I bought a little of everything. Including a really big, really sharp carving knife. On the customs form it said knives, so I declared it. When I got my bags, I looked for the red line to the declared goods part. It wasn't there. Then I went up to this guy in uniform carrying big guns and whatnot. (Scary for a chick from the back of beyond in NZ) Told him I needed to declare something. He asked what. I told him a knife. He couldnt understand my pronunciation so just told me to go through.

Second time, I had heaps of cooking herbs (Cooking herbs, truly. Not any others ) Was a bit worried because of NZ's super strict quarantine policy. Some of them were from my mum's garden so weren't packaged. I told the lady at customs and she didn't care. She said go through. I told her again that they were unwrapped dry plants. She truly didnt care.

I think you'll be fine. Just declare it on the form but go straight through. Seoul doesnt really check anything, I think. Just speak really fast but with a really polite attitude. They'll be too freaked out at having to speak English that it will be ok. I've not met anyone there who could speak any English, yet.

[Ekuboko]

[cwling]

Thanks for all the info everyone. This is only my second time leaving the U.S. and the first time I only left for a week so it wasn't a big deal. I'm glad I'll be going through before Oct 1, though -- barely. I leave tomorrow.