# South Korea (KR) **Capital:** Seoul **Currency:** South Korean Won (KRW) (KRW) **Population:** 51'690'000 **Area:** 100'210 km² > South Korea is a leading export nation and one of East Asia's key logistics hubs. The Port of Busan (about 24.4 million TEU in 2024) is a global transshipment hub, complemented by Incheon and Gwangyang. Incheon Airport (ICN) ranks among the world's largest air cargo hubs. Customs clearance is fully electronic via UNI-PASS, and numerous free trade agreements (EU, US, RCEP) facilitate trade. South Korea (KR) is a leading export nation and one of East Asia's key sea and air freight hubs. The country belongs to no customs union but is closely integrated into world trade through numerous free trade agreements (EU-Korea, KORUS with the US, RCEP). Customs clearance is fully electronic via the Korea Customs Service's UNI-PASS system, and import VAT is 10 percent. The main gateways are Incheon Airport (ICN), one of the world's largest air cargo hubs, and the seaports of Busan, Incheon and Gwangyang, with Busan serving as a global transshipment centre. Inland, the Gyeongbu Expressway and Gyeongbu rail line (Seoul-Busan) connect the core economic regions, complemented by the KTX network. The trade profile is dominated by semiconductors, vehicles, ships and petrochemical products; the main partner countries are China, the US, Vietnam and Japan. **Top Import Partners:** CN, US, JP, AU, SA **Top Export Partners:** CN, US, VN, HK, JP **Top Import Goods:** Mineralöle, Halbleiter, Maschinen, Fahrzeuge, Chemie **Top Export Goods:** Halbleiter, Fahrzeuge, Schiffe, Elektronik, Petrochemische Produkte **Key Airports:** - [Gimhae International Airport (PUS)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/gimhae-international-airport-pus) - [Gimpo International Airport (GMP)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/gimpo-international-airport-gmp) - [Incheon International Airport (ICN)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/incheon-international-airport-icn) - [Jeju International Airport (CJU)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/jeju-international-airport-cju) - [Muan International Airport (MWX)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/muan-international-airport-mwx) - [Cheongju International Airport/Cheongju Air Base (K-59/G-513) (CJJ)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/cheongju-international-airportcheongju-air-base-k-59g-513-airport-cjj) - [Daegu Airport (TAE)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/daegu-airport-tae) - [Gangneung Airport (K-18) (KAG)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/gangneung-airport-k-18-airport-kag) - [Gunsan Airport / Gunsan Air Base (KUV)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/gunsan-airport-gunsan-air-base-airport-kuv) - [Gwangju Airport (KWJ)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/gwangju-airport-kwj) **Key Seaports:** - [Busan (KR PUS)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/busan-port-kr-pus) - [Daesan Hang (KR TSN)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/daesan-hang-port-kr-tsn) - [Inchon (KR INC)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/inchon-port-kr-inc) - [Gwangyang Hang (KR KAN)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/gwangyang-hang-port-kr-kan) - [Masan (KR MAS)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/masan-port-kr-mas) - [Mokpo (KR MOK)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/mokpo-port-kr-mok) - [Pyeongtaek Hang (KR PTK)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/pyeongtaek-hang-port-kr-ptk) - [Ulsan (KR USN)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/ulsan-port-kr-usn) - [Chinae (KR CHF)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/chinae-port-kr-chf) - [Kunsan (KR KUV)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/kunsan-port-kr-kuv) ## Customs & Import **Import VAT:** 10 Prozent Standard-MwSt (VAT) auf Einfuhren **Customs complexity:** mittel **Customs system:** Elektronische Zollabwicklung über UNI-PASS der Korea Customs Service; nahezu papierlose Einfuhranmeldung inkl. Online-Zahlung von Zoll und Steuern. **Customs authority:** [Korea Customs Service (KCS)](https://www.customs.go.kr) ## Logistics & Risk **Logistics role:** Exportnation / See- und Luftfracht-Hub Ostasien **Economic area:** RCEP / WTO (zahlreiche Freihandelsabkommen) **Logistics risk:** gering bis mittel **Dangerous goods relevance:** hoch **Pharma/cold chain:** hoch ## Sources & Last Verified - [https://www.customs.go.kr](https://www.customs.go.kr) - [https://www.customs.go.kr/engportal/cm/cntnts/cntntsView.do?mi=7320&cntntsId=2339](https://www.customs.go.kr/engportal/cm/cntnts/cntntsView.do?mi=7320&cntntsId=2339) - [https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/eu-south-korea-free-trade-agreement](https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/eu-south-korea-free-trade-agreement) - [https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/trade-agreements/korea](https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/trade-agreements/korea) - [https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/licensing?id=1149](https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/licensing?id=1149) - [https://kosis.kr/eng/](https://kosis.kr/eng/) - [https://www.korea.net/Government/Briefing-Room/Press-Releases/view?articleId=7812](https://www.korea.net/Government/Briefing-Room/Press-Releases/view?articleId=7812) - [https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/south-korea-import-tariffs](https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/south-korea-import-tariffs) *Last verified: 2026-07-18* --- *Freight Academy — Country Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/kr](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/kr)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/kr](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/kr)*