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Common Ground News

What can you not send to South Korea?

Author

Chloe Ramirez

Updated on February 27, 2026

What can you not send to South Korea?

Notes: Coins; banknotes; currency notes, including paper money; securities of any kind payable to bearer; traveler's checks; platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles are prohibited in Priority Mail Express International shipments to the Republic of Korea.

Similarly, you may ask, can I send food to Korea?

Korean Customs will confiscate shipments exceeding the 2-bottle limit. Shipments of food, including aloe extracts, seeds, and bamboos require quarantine inspection. Commercial shipments of DHEA are prohibited, including samples.

Subsequently, question is, can I send perfume to South Korea? Prohibited and Restricted Items when Sending to South Korea

There are some rules about what you are allowed to ship by courier – some goods are considered hazardous, such as perfume, others are universally banned. Items which are prohibited from being imported into South Korea include: Counterfeit currency.

Keeping this in consideration, what things are not allowed in South Korea?

South Korea is full of surprises, here's 10 you'll want to watch out for if you don't want to do something illegal!

  • Tattooing.
  • Smoking in Public.
  • Dog Meat (보신탕)
  • Lobbying.
  • Sheer Tops (indecent exposure)
  • Street Vendors.
  • Gambling (Casinos)
  • Online Gaming (Cinderella Law)

Can I send coffee to Korea?

There are some items you can't ship to South Korea. Prohibited commodities include antiques and jewelry. There are certain restrictions surrounding items like animal products and skins, blank forms, calendars, coffee, cosmetics, eyeglasses, fabrics and fabric samples.

Can I ship chocolate to Korea?

Can I send chocolates to South Korea? The answer is yes, thanks to your specialty store Planète Chocolat, who will arrange for the delivery of these items all over Asia.

Can I send teabags to South Korea?

You have to pay import charges if the value of the package is more than $150, so I always make sure to tell people to make sure the value listed on the shipping label is less than that. Make sure that things like teabags are in unopened packs and you should be fine.

Can I send clothes to South Korea?

When sending big bulky items, such as a sofa or a wardrobe, to South Korea you could try using air freight. Air freight usually takes one to two days, which is normally faster than sea freight shipping, but generally more expensive.

Can I bring cigarettes to South Korea?

Free import for persons of 19 years of age and older: - 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 20 milligrams of E-cigarettes or 250 grams of other tobacco products; Items may require an import permit, and a phytosanitary and quarantine certificate from the exporting country. Upon arrival items may be subject to quarantine.

Can I send beef jerky to Korea?

What Foods Can You Bring into South Korea? South Korean customs food restrictions mean that the following food items must be declared on arrival or departure: Meat and poultry items: beef, pork, lamb, chicken, etc. Processed meat products: ham, sausage, bacon, beef jerky, marinated beef, canned meats, etc.

What can I bring back from South Korea?

Check out the list below to see which keepsake souvenirs and gifts you should buy before leaving Seoul!
  • Electric Rice Cooker. _hello.kowoon.
  • Ramyeon (Instant Noodles)
  • Soju & Makgeolli (Korean Alcoholic Drinks)
  • Gim (Dried Seaweed)
  • Korean Beauty Products.
  • K-Pop & K-Drama Goods.
  • Stationery Items.
  • Korean Red Ginseng (Hongsam)

What is taboo in South Korea?

Taboos in South Korean Culture

Do not wear your shoes in places of worship or peoples' homes. Do not put your feet on furniture. Do not eat or drink in public places while walking. Do not place your thumb between your middle and index finger while making a fist as this an obscene gesture. Do not use red ink.

Is Tattoo illegal in Korea?

It isn't illegal to have tattoos in South Korea. Those inking tattoos without a medical license are technically subject to a fine of up to $950. In socially conservative South Korea, tattoos are often considered taboo, leading some celebrities to cover them up on local TV shows and in media interviews.

Is kissing in public allowed in South Korea?

Kissing in public is looked down upon and seen as highly immodest among older individuals in South Korea. This has become less taboo with the current generation of young adults, but is still widely discouraged by elders. Dressing well is important in South Korea; it is considered a sign of respect.

Do and don'ts in Korea?

10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting South Korea [Do's and
  • Accept things using your two hands.
  • Take off your shoes before entering someone's house.
  • Segregate your trash.
  • Learn Korean basic words.
  • Use your palm when calling a taxi.
  • Don't blow your nose in public areas.
  • Don't write someone's name in red ink.

Is makeup allowed in Korean schools?

They'll check each student for the following: Isn't wearing any 악세사리 (aksesari) or “accessories,†including invisible plastic earrings. Isn't wearing any 화장 (hwajang) or “makeup,†including whitening sunscreen. Is wearing hair style that's in line with the school rules.

Does South Korea use toilet paper?

While you may find toilet paper in hotels and some stores in tourist spots, most homes and public places don't have them stocked. China, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, and Taiwan: In most Asian countries, it is very difficult to find toilet paper, even in stores. Some hotels may have it available in the guestrooms.

Can you wear jeans in South Korea?

Wear inappropriate clothing.

Jeans and Converses might work in Silicon Valley, but not in South Korea. While these sort of tops are more common in some areas in Seoul home to a younger crowd, such as Hongdae, these pieces of clothing will get you extra negative attention elsewhere.

Can you wear blue jeans in North Korea?

North Korea has declared wearing blue jeans as illegal as it symbolises American imperialism, which the east Asian nation terms as its enemy. The country, in an attempt to restrict western influence on its people, has also banned piercings, and issued strict guidelines for choosing a hairstyle.

Which number is unlucky in South Korea?

Every culture has a number considered unlucky because of superstitions. In the United States it's 13. In South Korea, it's four. The reason behind the fear of the number four, known as tetraphobia, lies in the way it sounds.

What is Gu in Korean address?

The district (gu) is generally included before the street name, and the neighborhood, city block, and building number (within the city block) are not included. Example in Korean. Romanized, in Korean order. (대한민국)

How do I ship something to Korea?

How to send a package to South Korea
  1. Weigh (lbs.)
  2. Compare shipping prices and select your service.
  3. Enter the full address details.
  4. Complete the customs declaration form.
  5. Choose protection cover and confirm and pay for your booking.
  6. Print your shipping labels and customs documents and attach them to your package.

What companies ship to South Korea?

FedEx Express now delivers documents and packages from the U.S., Canada and select markets in Latin America to Seoul, South Korea, in just 2 to 3 business days. We also offer the fastest freight shipping from the U.S., Canada and Latin America to Seoul.

How do you enter a South Korean address?

In South Korea, addresses are written starting with the specific information (name, followed by house number and street) and moving on to more general information (town, city and province). The street number should be placed before the street name.

Can you send liquids to Korea?

Liquids, gels, and aerosols (cosmetics, perfume, shampoo, hair gel, spray deodorant, etc.) All containers must be placed in a transparent 1 L, 20.5 cm × 20.5 cm / 15 cm x 25 cm zip-top plastic bag. Duty free items (including liquid and gel forms) are allowed to be carried on regardless of the item's volume.

What prescription drugs are illegal in South Korea?

Carrying prescription drugs into the Republic of Korea:

The Narcotics Policy Division of the Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) states that any narcotics-containing medication (including CBD oil) is strictly prohibited from import into Korea, even with the doctor's prescription.

What can you send in a care package to Korea?

8 Things You Need to Add to a “Care Package†to Send Home to Your Friends from South Korea.
  • Face Masks.
  • Kakoa anything.
  • Cute office crap.
  • Socks.
  • Pineapple Pen.
  • Anything with funny wording.
  • Dumb tchotchke that make you happy!
  • Useful Stuff with Korean writing on it.

Do Korean customs open packages?

Customs has a right to open parcels and inspect them in detail. As you can imagine, this may compromise the appearance of the gift and damage gift wrap. Finally, when sending a gift containing a gourmet items you are limited to sending non-perishable items. So items such as cheeses and fruits are out of the question.

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What can you not send to South Korea?