Shipping to Korea: UNI-PASS, Import Duty and MFDS to Know Before You Send

Shipping to Korea, whether documents, parcels, samples, spare parts, personal effects or commercial goods, involves more than the freight cost, because the type of goods, import declaration documents, import taxes and the requirements of the relevant South Korean authorities also matter.
KTC Global Logistics ships goods from Thailand to South Korea by air and sea, and can assess door-to-door, door-to-port and port-to-port services according to the type of goods, quantity and the conditions of each shipment.
Preparing complete product, importer and destination details before booking helps check import procedures, tax rates and product-specific requirements before shipping.

1. What are the ways to ship to Korea?

Choose how to ship to Korea based on the type of goods, weight, volume, quantity, urgency and destination city.

Air freight to Korea

Air freight suits documents, parcels, samples, spare parts or goods that need to arrive quickly. Charges are based on actual weight and volumetric weight, or chargeable weight.
If the goods are batteries, liquids, chemicals or dangerous goods, give the details before asking for a quote, as airlines may have extra requirements.

Sea freight to Korea

Sea freight suits large volumes, heavy goods or non-urgent shipments. It can be divided into:

• LCL for less than a container load
• FCL for a full container, such as 20’GP or 40’HC

Choose LCL or FCL by looking at volume, weight, type of goods, port of discharge and inland transport costs in Korea together.

2. Door to door, door to port and port to port: what is the difference?

Door to door

The provider handles everything from pickup at origin in Thailand to delivery at the consignee’s premises in South Korea, within the agreed scope.
Note: door to door does not automatically mean the price includes customs duty, VAT, customs clearance, inspection fees and every destination charge.

Door to port

The provider collects the goods in Thailand and ships them to the destination port or airport. The importer or the consignee’s customs broker then takes over.

Port to port

Suits companies that already have a customs broker or logistics team in Korea. The provider is responsible for the leg between ports or airports as agreed.

3. Information to prepare before asking for a Korea shipping quote

For a realistic freight estimate, prepare at least the following:

• Product name and description
• Number of pieces, cartons or pallets
• Dimensions (width × length × height) of each package
• Weight per package and total weight
• Value of the goods
• HS code, if available
• Country of origin
• Manufacturer name, if relevant
• Pickup address in Thailand
• Delivery address in South Korea
• City and postal code
• Cargo ready date
• Incoterms, such as EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP or DDP
• Product photos, if the goods need to be checked

Complete information helps check the route, costs and import requirements more accurately, especially for commercial shipments.

4. Documents used for shipping to Korea

The documents needed depend on the type of goods, transport mode and the requirements for each product.

Commercial invoice

Shows the seller, buyer, product name, quantity, value, currency, country of origin and terms of sale.

Packing list

Shows the number of packages, weight, dimensions and packing details.

Transport documents

• Bill of lading for sea freight
• Air waybill for air freight

The Korea Customs Service states that documents supporting an import declaration may include the invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and certificate of inspection or quarantine, depending on the type of goods.
So do not use the same document list for every type of goods, because controlled goods may need extra permits, approvals or certificates.

5. Why do UNI-PASS and the import declaration matter?

Commercial shipments to Korea must go through import clearance with the Korea Customs Service, and the key step is filing the import declaration.
The Korea Customs Service uses an electronic system called UNI-PASS for import declarations and other related customs transactions.
The declarant can be a customs broker or the owner of the goods, and in some cases the import declaration can be filed before the goods arrive to speed up clearance.
More information is available from the
Korea Customs Service – Import Declaration Guideline
The Korea Customs Service also states that shipments can be selected for inspection under its risk management system, and if an inspection takes place, the cost is borne by the owner of the goods.

6. What should be checked for import tax and FTA privileges?

Goods imported into Korea may be subject to customs duty and other taxes according to the HS code, customs value, country of origin and the measures that apply to the goods.
Duty rates are not the same for all goods. The Korea Customs Service has basic tariffs, provisional tariffs, flexible tariffs and conventional tariffs arising from international agreements.
Thailand is an ASEAN member, and some goods may qualify for tariff privileges under the Korea–ASEAN FTA if they meet the rules of origin and have the required proof of origin.
Tariff rates can be checked in the
Korea Customs Service – Customs Tariff Database
So do not automatically tell customers “Thai goods pay low or 0% duty”, because FTA privileges depend on the HS code, origin criteria and supporting documents for each item.

7. What should be checked for food and controlled goods?

Before you ship to Korea, check whether the goods are subject to specific requirements of agencies other than customs.
Examples of goods to check further:

• Food and beverages
• Animal products
• Plants and agricultural products
• Medicines and health products
• Cosmetics
• Medical devices
• Certain electrical and electronic goods
• Chemicals
• Batteries and dangerous goods

Can I send food to Korea?

Some food can be imported, but commercial food imports are subject to the requirements of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).
MFDS states that overseas food facilities exporting food to Korea must register as a foreign food facility with MFDS before the import declaration is filed, and imported food may be inspected under its risk management system.
Information is available from the
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety – Imported Food Safety
MFDS also has food standards, food additive and labelling requirements that are updated regularly, so do not conclude “dry food can be shipped” just because there is a commercial invoice or health certificate.

Do personal parcels and goods for sale follow the same rules?

No. The Korea Customs Service has a simplified or list import declaration for some qualifying personal goods, but goods imported for sale need a general import declaration.
Food, medicines, health products, goods that need quarantine and many controlled goods are also excluded from the list import declaration even if their value is low.

8. The shipping process to Korea

Step 1: Send the product details

Send the product name, quantity, size, weight, value, photos, country of origin and the origin and destination information.

Step 2: Check the HS code and requirements

Check customs duty, FTA, permits, inspection, quarantine or the requirements of MFDS and other relevant agencies.

Step 3: Check the importer

For commercial shipments, confirm that the importer has the information and system needed to file the import declaration, and a customs broker if needed.

Step 4: Choose the transport mode

Compare air freight, LCL or FCL by quantity, urgency and destination.

Step 5: Check the quotation

Check which costs the quotation includes, such as:

• Pickup in Thailand
• Export customs clearance
• Freight
• Origin charges
• Destination charges
• Customs clearance
• Customs duty and related taxes
• Delivery to the consignee
• Inspection or agency fees, if incurred

Step 6: Booking and shipping

Once the service is confirmed, the booking is made, the goods are picked up, documents prepared and the goods shipped on a suitable sailing or flight.

Step 7: Import declaration and clearance

When the goods reach South Korea, the importer or customs broker files the import declaration through UNI-PASS with the related documents.
If the goods are subject to specific requirements, they may need quarantine, MFDS or other agency inspection before customs releases them.

Step 8: Delivery

After the import declaration is accepted, the related taxes are paid and the required inspections are passed, the goods are delivered to the consignee within the agreed service scope.

Frequently asked questions about shipping to Korea

Can I send a parcel to Korea?

Yes, in many cases, but check the type of goods, value, purpose and import requirements first, especially for food, medicines, plants and controlled goods.

Can I send documents to Korea?

Documents can be sent by air or courier. Tell us the type of documents and how urgent they are so the right service can be chosen.

Can I ship to Korea door to door?

It can be arranged in many cases, but the goods, importer and costs included in the quotation must be checked, especially customs duty, taxes, customs clearance and inspection fees.

Can I send food to Korea?

Some food can be imported, but commercial imports must check MFDS requirements, including foreign food facility registration, import declaration, standards and labelling, before shipping.

Can all Thai goods use FTA privileges?

No. Goods must meet the HS code, rules of origin and requirements of the Korea–ASEAN FTA to use tariff privileges.

Can I get a quote without an HS code?

You can send the product details and photos for an initial freight estimate, but the HS code matters for checking duty, FTA and import requirements.

How many days does shipping to Korea take?

It depends on air or sea freight, the route, schedule, destination city, import clearance and inspection by the relevant agencies, so check the transit time of the actual shipment before confirming the booking.

Want a quote for shipping to Korea?

For KTC Global Logistics to assess the price and transport mode properly, prepare:

1. Product name and description
2. Quantity
3. Dimensions
4. Weight
5. Value of the goods
6. Country of origin
7. Pickup address in Thailand
8. Delivery address in South Korea
9. City and postal code
10. Cargo ready date
11. Product photos
12. HS code, if available