Korean Job Discussion Forums

[slancaster]

I am going to have some vitamins shipped to me here in Korea from the U.S. I've been told that the vitamins need to be packaged and the quantity restricted to a total number of six bottles. Does anyone know if this is true and to what degree Korean immigration enforces this? Also, could I assume that, in addition to the six bottles, I would be allowed to have other items that weren't dietary supplements, such as lotions, shipped in the same package? Thanks for your help.

[Optional Toaster]

Yep, it is true. Six bottles per shipment and if you go over you'll pay a charge but they'll still give you your vitamins. Better to keep it small and avoid any charges (can be more than the vitamins back home!).

[slancaster]

Okay, but would I be allowed to receive non-vitamin products (books, lotions, etc.)with no charge shipped in the same package with the six bottles of vitamins?

[different]

A couple years ago a package of mine with 11 bottles of supplements was rejected and I was told (by DHL) I could only import 6 bottles at a time.

Import duties are related to the overall value of your package, including shipping. I'm not sure if customs has a clear policy, but a recent $150 package of mine didn't get charged customs fees, and a $250 package did get charged. I think adding other products to the package will not matter for the 6-bottle vitamin limit, but of course will increase the overall customs value of the package.

[Canadian Club]

Are you ordering them on-line?

[slancaster]

yes, I am

[braunshade]

Don't do it!

I ordered around 8 bottles of vitamins on-line and it never arrived. Korean customs never even notified me. I found out that my package was stopped by the company I ordered it from.

I waited for 2 months and still no word from customs. The company I ordered from said they had to verify each and every ingredient to make sure it was legal in Korea. I got sick of waiting so they just requested the package returned to them.

The vitamin company was gracious enough to refund my money but of course not the shipping charges.

Now I NEVER order anything into this backwards country.

[Cheonmunka]

[SusieQ]

I am new in Korea also. I'm also wandering if immigration will confiscate the flax my dad sends me. Anyone with a similar experience?

[DHC]

Korea has some excellent multivitamins and they are not expensive. Why pay for overseas shipments,customs hassles,etc?

[slancaster]

[heydelores]

A few months ago my sister sent me a box of 10 bottles of vitamins, clearly declared on the customs form, and it got through just fine. Might have been a fluke.

[Dawn]

I've ordered supplements online for a few years now. So far (knock on wood), nothing that's been shipped via postal mail seems to have gotten a second look. Packages shipped via FedEx or UPS are scrutnized, though, and you will be held to the six-bottle rule. I'd ordered 10 bottles of stuff before knowing about this rule and did get my stuff, but it took a week of haggling with FedEx to find out _what_ the problem was, followed by several phone calls and a couple of faxes to customs, explaining what everything was for and why I was purchasing products online instead of in Korea.

[Zark]

My experience is that as long as you keep the package small - no problem. I've shipped all sorts of stuff to Korea - and a variety of other countries. Lots of vitamins and other "over the counter" type medications stuff that I couldn't find in Korea.

I use:

http://www.globalgophers.com/

and a guy named Sam handles it all. You can have them collect different stuff for you and ship it the least expensive way. I think the charge is US$22 for each shipment (not the postage - but for the running around and getting it mailed to you) - but they are great for getting some of this and some of that from different places and shipping it off to you.

Sam's email is: [email protected]

Tell him Ted from Phuket, Thailand sent you. I appreciate all the good stuff he does. He sends me stuff every six weeks.

[wylies99]