How to Ship to South Korea from the US
South Korea has efficient customs and strong ecommerce infrastructure — shipping to Korean recipients is straightforward for most consumer goods. Korean consumers expect fast, tracked delivery. Korea Post handles USPS final-mile deliveries; private couriers (CJ Logistics, Hanjin) handle most express.
Korea's de minimis threshold is $200 USD — imports under this are customs duty-free but 10% VAT still applies.
Typical 1 lb cost
$25-$45 USD
Typical transit
3-10 business days
Carrier Options to South Korea
DHL Express Worldwide
2-4 business days. Strong Korean network.
FedEx International Priority
2-4 business days. Reliable for Seoul and major cities.
USPS Priority Mail International
5-10 business days. Korea Post final delivery — efficient.
UPS Worldwide Expedited
3-5 business days. Competitive for 2-20 lbs.
Customs Forms Required
CN22 under $400. CN23 + commercial invoice above. Korean personal customs clearance requires the receiver's PCC (Personal Customs Clearance Code).
Commonly Prohibited Items
- ✕North Korean goods (all categories)
- ✕Japanese certain historical artifacts (post-colonial sensitivities)
- ✕Live animals without certificates
- ✕Certain drugs and supplements
- ✕Pornography (Korean law is strict)
South Korea-Specific Shipping Tips
- 💡 Korean addresses use recent 'Road Name' system (replacing old 'Jibun' system in 2014). Use road name format.
- 💡 Include recipient's PCC (Personal Customs Clearance Code) — required by Korean customs for most imports
- 💡 Korean postal codes are 5 digits
- 💡 Recipient phone number is important — carriers use SMS for delivery coordination
- 💡 Avoid shipping during Korean New Year (late January/February) and Chuseok (September/October) — extended closures
Frequently asked questions
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