Korea to expand mobile customs declaration, duty payment nationwide in August

Travelers entering Korea from any airport or seaport across the country will be able to declare taxable items and pay taxes via a mobile application starting next month. The Korea Customs Service announced, Thursday, that the mobile customs declaration service, which had previously been available only at the Gimpo International Airport and Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport, will be expanded to all of the country's airports and seaports in August. Starting Aug. 1, all travelers entering Korea via Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport, six local international airports (Gimhae, Jeju, Cheongju, Daegu, Muan and Yangyang) and seven seaports (Incheon, Busan, Gunsan, Pyeongtaek, Sokcho, Donghae and Jeju) will also be able to declare taxable goods and pay taxes via Korea Customs Service's mobile app. Once a traveler declares a taxable item, the app generates a QR code to be scanned at a goods declaration section of a port upon arrival. Then, an electronic notice of payment will be issued via mobile and travelers may pay taxes on the app. Before the update, travelers received the notice of payment on paper even after mobile customs declaration and paid taxes later.<br/>