Shipping from Singapore to South Korea: Guide to Rates & Customs

Delivery Times

• FedEx International Priority: 2-3 business days to Seoul, Busan, Incheon
• FedEx International Economy: 4-5 business days

The PCCC Requirement

South Korea requires all individual recipients to have a Personal Customs Clearance Code (PCCC) — also known as P-code or 개인통관고유부호. This is a unique identifier issued by Korean Customs.

Without a PCCC, your shipment will be held at customs until the recipient provides one. Make sure your recipient has their PCCC before you ship.

Korean residents can get a PCCC online at the Korea Customs Service website (unipass.customs.go.kr).

Customs Duties and Taxes

• De minimis threshold: US$150. Shipments valued below this are duty-free (but VAT still applies on goods over US$150).
• VAT: 10% on all imported goods above the threshold.
• Import duties: Vary by product — typically 8% for clothing, 0% for most electronics, 5-8% for cosmetics.

Note: the de minimis threshold applies to the total value of all goods shipped by the same sender to the same recipient within a day. Splitting shipments to stay under the threshold is monitored and penalised.

Popular Items to Ship to Korea

• Health supplements — Popular but limited to 6 bottles per shipment for personal use
• Fashion items — Korean consumers purchase international brands frequently
• Electronics accessories — Phone cases, cables, peripherals
• Food products — Some specialty foods from Singapore are popular, but check Korean food import regulations

Tips for Shipping to South Korea

• Get the PCCC upfront. This is the single most important thing. Without it, your shipment cannot clear customs.
• Include the Korean address in Korean characters if possible. While FedEx Korea can work with English addresses, Korean characters ensure accurate last-mile delivery.
• Respect the US$150 threshold. For e-commerce sellers, pricing products to stay under US$150 per shipment gives your Korean customers a duty-free experience.
• Use accurate HS codes. Korean customs is strict about classification and frequently re-assesses incorrectly coded goods.