Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lostone7]

Ok, So I am told vitamins are hard or cost a ton to get. So my question I am a little bit of a fitness freak I have ummmm 500usd or so worth of vitamins and a ton of protien powder.

So my question is can I just put it in the mail and send it to my address in Korea? will it get there is it legal? etc... any advice is welcomed........ thanks

P.s

I will be In Korea......... Kunsan area July 22nd

[Zark]

My experience was that small qualities arrive with no problem. Big quantities get stuck in customs - require faxes back and forth and the assistance of people at work (who love to get into your personal business anyway!).

So I always just ordered a couple bottles of this and that at a time.

[kat2]

Customs is pretty strict here. I would try to take them with you in your checked or carry on baggage on the flight, if you are still at home. I know of several people that have had vitamins stopped in customs.
Otherwise, send several small packages instead of one big one. My dad is a genius at getting stuff through customs. Here is his plan of attack. He puts everything in small boxes, nothing bigger than a shoe box. Then he wraps the whole thing in clear packing tape, not an inch of cardboard exposed. The customs slips shoud be really generic (gifts is a good one. don't put medicine, vitamins, or anything like that) and put that everything cost you less than $5. I've never had anything stopped that he sent, and he has sent food, clothes, shoes, jewelry, all kind of stuff. Good luck!

[Tukkong]

I have just had some vitamins sent from Australia. Customs told me you can send up to 6 bottles without any problems. If you are unsure, call Customs at Incheon Airport. You might have to call more than once - they didn't answer the first couple of times I tried.

[Big Mac]

I had no problem finding multi-vitamins in Korea. You can get them at any pharmacy. The brand name might not be the same, but they are pretty good. The cost is about the same as in Canada. Vitamins are expensive in North America too.

As for whey protein, you can get it at the foreign products table in Namdaemun Market for about 55,000 Won (about $55).

I think websites like bodybuilding.com will ship to Korea...but I don't know what the customs rules are for these types of products. For example, they may allow whey but not creatine or other products like that. You may not get your shipment if customs has problems with it.

I had problems getting whey protein shipped to Canada through that website (I never did get my shipment)...so if Canada is strict on this stuff, I can just imagine what Korea is like.

[Hotpants]

Not exactly a job-related discussion, but...

As for cost of vitamins and protein shake in Korea, it all depends where you buy them and which brand you buy. Some cost a fortune, others can be found quite inexpensively. I've seen 60 multivitamins going for W6000 and 1 kg protein shakes going for W12,000. Either way, it's hard to get beri beri and scurvy here if you actually eat food...

[Nok Yong]

Customs at the airport will allow up to 400 usd in value; anything over that and you could be looking at import tax (another 100 usd).

The whey protein powder, which is comparably priced to what is sold in the states, can be purchased in Korea.

Vitamins can be procured here cheaply with a doctor's prescription. With insurance, a doctor's visit is around 3 usd.

There's a US Air Force base in Kunsan. Make a few friends from the base and use their commisary to buy vitamins in the future.

Good luck!

[white tiger]

dude, scrap the protein back home, and pass by namdaemun.
check out mass119.com and get a korean friend to help you. it is a korean site, but all the products are fed-ex'ed from the USA, and you will receive it within a week. I used to go to namdaemun, but im saving myself a tonne on Muscletech products at this site. i still use namdaeumun for vitamins though. just check the expiry dates. ;)

[OiGirl]

I brought ridiculous amounts of vitamins, herbs, otc and rx meds in checked luggage with no problem.