What you need to know about South Korea's import tax

As a Singaporean business owner looking to expand overseas, South Korea is an excellent export destination to consider. The latest official statistics from the Korean Customs Service reported that South Korea imported US$1.9 billion worth of goods from Singapore as of mid-March 2023. Importing into any country requires a formal process of entry, one of which is the payment of import tax.

Below, we outline what you need to know about South Korea’s import tax.

3 types of customs tariffs in South Korea

Before we dive into the details, it’s helpful to gain an understanding of the three primary customs tariffs in South Korea: 

General customs tariff

General customs tariff applies to goods not covered by the other two tariffs listed below. This means imported goods in South Korea must pay all applicable duties and taxes.

Preferential tariff

Preferential tariffs are given to countries that have signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea. Goods under the FTA are divided into:

• Immediate tariff reduction: This is a complete elimination of tariffs as soon as the FTA takes effect.

• Staging reduction: This involves gradually reducing tariffs over a specified period of time.

• Non-scheduled products with fixed duty rate: This refers to goods that are not included in the staging reduction and are subject to a fixed duty rate.

Under the Korea-ASEAN FTA, goods originating from Singapore, an ASEAN country, are categorised as:

• Normal track: This covers goods with zero tariffs.

• Sensitive list: This includes goods with tariffs that will be reduced over a period of time.

• Highly sensitive list: This covers goods with tariffs that will remain unchanged.

Reciprocal tariff

When a country that has signed an FTA with South Korea exports a sensitive product that retains its non-scheduled or high duty rate, South Korea will clear the goods at the same rate even though the FTA indicates a tariff elimination. This is referred to as a reciprocal tariff, which is only applicable to countries under the Korea-ASEAN FTA agreement. 

How much is the import duty tax in South Korea?

If you're planning to import goods into South Korea from Singapore, making accurate payments of import duties and taxes will ensure there are no delays at customs. The value to pay is determined by the Harmonised System (HS) code, a goods classification tariff schedule that enables customs to apply duty accordingly. On average, South Korea’s import duty is 8% of the value of your goods, with differences in rates applied to items like seafood, clothing and tobacco.

In addition to import duty, South Korea imposes a standard Value Added Tax (VAT) of 10% on all imports. This is a consumption tax levied at each stage of production. This is the equivalent of what is called the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Singapore. In addition to the VAT, certain luxury and durable consumer goods draw an excise duty of between 10% and 20%.   Alcohol imports are subject to liquor tax; beer, for instance, is taxed at 72% per litre.

What items are exempt from import duty in South Korea?

The following items are exempt from import duty in South Korea:

• Goods received by a domestic resident for personal use which are valued at US$150 and below

• Goods recognised as commodity samples valued at US$250 and below

• Goods recognised as promotional materials or items to be handed out to visitors for free during exhibitions or any equivalent event as long as the value per visitor is pegged at a maximum of US$5 per visitor.

It’s also helpful to know that with the signing of the Korea-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (KSFTA), 91.6% of Singapore’s exports to Korea enjoy tax exemptions, so local businesses can save on duty costs when exporting to South Korea.