Korea's customs system has undergone a digital transformation, allowing most tasks and applications to be processed online.
Consequently, there is minimal need for handling paper documents, and Korea is among the few countries where applications are processed very quickly after submission. However, in cases where there is high risk, blacklisted importers, or goods that require customs surveillance, paper documents may need to be submitted, and the actual goods may be inspected.
Even in such cases, if there are no issues with the submitted documents or the goods inspection, customs clearance is usually completed on the same day as the declaration. Therefore, if you are a foreigner handling import-related tasks to Korea, as long as your import documents are well-prepared, customs clearance is typically completed within one day.
The key to reducing delays is how quickly you can prepare the required documents for customs clarification. For assistance with setting up the import process in Korea, consider appointing NPU Customs Consulting as your customs agent for support.