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There’s one rule about moving to South Korea that surprises almost everyone: your household shipment cannot clear customs until you have personally arrived in the country. It doesn’t matter how organised your paperwork is – if you’re not there yet, your belongings wait too. That single fact shapes everything about how a South Korea move should be planned, and it’s exactly the kind of detail generic removal advice glosses over.
Your dedicated move manager builds your shipment timeline around your own arrival date from the outset, so this rule works in your favour instead of catching you out.
Because clearance can’t start before you land, timing your shipment’s departure correctly is the single most important planning decision for a South Korea move – too early and it sits waiting at the port; too late and you’re without your belongings for longer than necessary. Your move manager coordinates this from the first survey, stays your one continuous point of contact through transit, and works with an in-country partner in South Korea who handles the practical realities of Korean customs clearance on the ground.
Most used household goods and personal items can be imported into South Korea duty-free, provided you meet the eligibility criteria and the goods were genuinely in personal use before the move. Where costs can appear:
Groupage sea freight is typically the most economical option for standard household volumes. Your move manager will confirm a specific cost range once they understand your shipment volume, the mix of new versus used items, and your timeline.
South Korea applies a 6-month rule: your goods must arrive at the Korean port or airport within six months of your own arrival date. Because clearance cannot happen before you arrive either, your move manager plans your shipment’s departure date to land inside this window without sitting in port longer than necessary once you’re in the country.
You’ll also need an Alien Registration Card (ARC) – Korea’s foreign resident ID – before your shipment can clear. Your move manager will factor your expected ARC issue date into the shipment timeline, since this is often the step that determines how quickly your belongings can actually reach you.
Full detail on the ARC timeline, customs documents, and what to prepare is in our South Korea moving guide.
Generally permitted: used household goods, furniture, clothing, and personal electronics for genuine personal use, provided they’re listed on a detailed English-language inventory.
Restricted – subject to additional requirements: new items and goods clearly intended for resale (subject to duty), certain high-value electronics, and items above the $400 gift/new-item allowance.
Prohibited: items restricted under Korean import law generally – narcotics, certain agricultural products, and counterfeit goods among them. Your move manager can flag anything in your inventory that needs a closer look before packing day.
Every shipment, without exception, is subject to open inspection by Korean Customs Authority (diplomatic shipments excepted) – this isn’t a risk specific to any one shipper, it’s standard procedure, and a complete, accurate inventory is the best way to make sure that inspection is quick.
Gerson Moving Services holds British Association of Removers (BAR) membership with the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee, International Association of Movers (IAM) accreditation, Planet Mark sustainability certification, and is part of the AGM Group of companies. Disputes are handled through the Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman (FHIO).
When moving with us, you have a comprehensive choice of services that ensure removals to South Korea are secure, safe and efficient.
Experts in packing and wrapping, we use only premium materials to ensure all of your belongings stay in great condition throughout the journey. Everything you want to take will have extra care and attention from us, so you won’t need to worry about any mishaps during the long trip to South Korea.
If you have bulky furniture to take with you, leave it to us to ensure it arrives safely. We can handle everything from large tables to wardrobes, beds and sofas, ready for use when you move in. If required, we can also disassemble furniture where this is possible for easier transit.
Have valuable or fragile items that need extra protection? Take advantage of our specialist packing services for these items that go above and beyond to protect them during their onward journey. Everything from antiques to your priceless sentimental possessions will be securely wrapped.
Get from A to B with minimal effort with door-to-door delivery during international removals to South Korea. Wherever in the country you’re moving to, we can provide onward transit after shipping to ensure you’ve got all your items ready to unpack in your new home.
Make the complicated aspect of customs and immigration as simple as possible with our help. We’ve assisted many individuals and families filling in confusing or time-consuming documentation for South Korea, so we’ll ensure nothing important is missed.
We offer temporary storage if you need this both in the UK and once you’ve arrived in South Korea. Both short and long-term options are available if you need them, so that you won’t have to rush if you need more time before the move or after arrival.
We offer a simple 4 step process for all international removals to South Korea that makes it simple for you:
Get A Move
Quote
Packing &
Collection
Sea, Air or Road
Transport
Delivery and
Unpacking
Get in touch for a personalised quote. Your move manager will talk through your expected arrival and ARC timeline first, since that’s what determines the right shipment departure date for your move.
Real feedback from people who chose our international moving company.
“Relocating the family from Bristol to Seoul was far easier than expected. Gerson handled the shipping, Korean customs and delivery to our Gangnam apartment without a hitch.”
“Our whole house travelled to Busan and not one thing was broken. The packing team were genuinely careful, and we knew exactly where our container was throughout.”
“Clear quote, no hidden costs, and delivery on the day promised in Incheon. The crew even helped rearrange furniture to fit a much smaller Korean apartment.”
No. Korean customs will not clear a household goods shipment until the owner has personally arrived in the country. This is why timing your shipment’s departure correctly matters more for a South Korea move than for most destinations.
Genuinely used personal household goods are usually duty-free. Goods valued above USD 150, new items, or items above the $400 personal allowance may attract an average 8% duty plus 10% VAT on the CIF value.
An Alien Registration Card is Korea’s foreign resident ID. You’ll typically need it before your shipment can clear customs, so your move manager plans your shipment’s timing around your expected ARC issue date.
Yes – all incoming shipments except diplomatic ones are subject to open inspection. A complete, accurate English-language inventory is the best way to keep this straightforward.
Six months from your own arrival date.
Yes. Your dedicated move manager is your primary contact from the initial survey through to delivery in South Korea, working alongside a local partner for customs clearance and final delivery.
