Korean Job Discussion Forums

ginger · Joined: 05 Apr 2005

hello, hopefully someone out there can help me...

I am buying a computer from the states (it's a mac .... cheaper there than here, please spare me the PC vs Mac rant!), and am thinking of having a friend bring it back for me when she comes to Seoul next month. Tt will be in new packaging.... will she have any problems getting it through customs here? Do they charge any kind of weird tax on stuff like that when you bring it into the countryas a new item? Any way to get around it if they do (by saying it's a gift maybe)..

if anyone knows anything about this, please help! they won't ship my computer here and i can't think of any other way to get it to me!

thanks

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

have your friend open it up make it look like its used. Also mention its for edu purposes.

ginger · Joined: 05 Apr 2005

will it matter that she may already have a laptop with her? how stringent are they on stuff like this? anyone know of a way to get apple to ship to korea!??

AbbeFaria · Joined: 17 May 2005 Location: Gangnam

I had my Mac Mini in my suitcase and it never came up. I checked with the guy at the airport in the states to make sure the screener wouldn't mistake it for a bomb and that was the last time I mentioned it. Customs didn't say a thing, the lady just checked my visa sticker on the passport, checked the school info and stamped me through.

On a side note, it's nice to have another mac user. The anti-mac sentiment on this board is almost as nasty as the anti-american sentiment. And then they wonder why we get defensive.

-S-

AbbeFaria · Joined: 17 May 2005 Location: Gangnam

hanguker · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Location: Korea

There is customs tax on these things. IF your friend gets caught with it all packaged up she'll likely be charged 20-25% duty on the retail price of it but I'm not sure.

Check http://www.customs.go.kr/eng/ go to "Information Plaza" --> "Q&A"

You can ask customs officials questions like this and they'll answer you frankly. I've found the Q&A guys quite nice on the website. Do a search first.

elric · Joined: 24 Aug 2005

Just do what everyone does. Mark the customs form as "old newspapers" with a "value $0.50".

I swear to god I had a friend that worked at Canada Customs and pretty much 90% of things coming into Asiatown was listed as "old newspapers" and "value $0.50". So big boxes, enveopes, tube packets, etc. Apparently the trade for old newspapers is hot.