This information may change. Always check the official source.Last verified: August 2026 by

Bringing things into South Korea

Cash to declare
USD 10,000 or more

The threshold covers cash and equivalents carried by one traveller. Not declaring it is what causes the money to be seized, not the amount itself.

Korea's allowances are unremarkable and its meat rules are not: an undeclared sandwich has cost people a fine in the millions of won.

  • Meat and meat products may not be brought in. African swine fever controls carry fines that start around a million won and climb steeply for a second offence, and the declaration form asks explicitly.
  • The allowance is 200 cigarettes and a bottle of spirits per adult, plus a value limit for other goods that the airport applies to the receipts in your bag.
  • Cash equivalent to USD 10,000 or more must be declared, in any mix of currencies.
  • Cannabis remains illegal for Korean nationals even abroad, which is why arrivals from countries where it is legal are questioned about it - visitors are not the target, but the questions are asked at the same desk.
  • Fresh fruit, vegetables and plants need clearance, and the beagle teams at Incheon work the belt rather than the hall.

Comments

No comments yet. Share the first one.

Sources (1)

What this guide was checked against. Rules and prices change — follow the official link before you rely on a detail.