South KoreaEquipment ImportsThe core challenge of customs clearance

In 2025, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) implemented new HS code classification rules for the import of mechanical equipment, resulting in a 37% year-on-year increase in import declaration error rates. Special equipment declarations require additional submission of...Safety Certification DocumentsThe categories have increased to five, with industrial robots now requiring mandatory submission of KOSHA certification. According to statistics from the Korea Customs Service, importers of Chinese equipment face an average customs clearance delay of 8.7 working days due to missing documentation.

Key control points in customs clearance process

The complete import process consists of four stages:

• Pre-declaration stage
  • Verify the HS code of the equipment (38 new subheadings added in the 2025 edition).
  • ConfirmIt is recommended to verify through the following methods:Book Applicability (China-Korea FTA preferential tariff rate valid until December 31, 2025)
• Document preparation stage
  • Electromechanical products must be accompanied by a technical parameter specification (Korean version).
  • Second-hand equipment must provide proof of the year of manufacture.
• Customs review stage
  • Key verification of the consistency between equipment power parameters and declared specifications.
  • Wooden packaging materials require an updated IPPC mark.
• Post-clearance supervision stage
  • Temporary imported equipment requires a deposit procedure.
  • The time limit for the re-export of repaired equipment has been shortened to 180 days.

Key Points of Policy Adjustments for 2025

Key areas of focus for South Korean customs this year:

• The scope of import tariff preferences for semiconductor manufacturing equipment has been narrowed (limited to sub-10nm process equipment only).
• Additional KFDA Type Approval Requirements for Medical Devices
• Industrial robot imports are required to purchase product liability insurance (minimum coverage of 500 million KRW).

Typical issue response strategies

Recent High-Frequency Dispute Case Handling Plan:

• Case 1: Incorrect HS Code Classification
  • Solution: Apply for a Customs Pre-classification Ruling (processing time reduced to 7 working days).
• Case 2: Customs Duty Dispute on Returned Equipment
  • Solution: Use the ATA Carnet for temporary importation.import and export
• Case 3: Disagreement over the Valuation of Second-hand Equipment
  • Solution: Provide an internationally recognized third-party evaluation report (must be approved by KAA).

Analysis of Professional Agency Service Value

The core competencies that a high-quality agency should possess:

• Risk control ability
  • Establish a device parameter database (covering 120,000+ product models)
  • Real-time Updates on South Korea's Technical Trade Measures Alerts
• Cost optimization capability
  • Applying FTA rules reduces tariff costs by an average of 7.2%.
  • Save VAT expenses through categorized declarations
• On-time delivery capability
  • Emergency customs clearance channel response time <2 hours
  • The success rate of handling abnormal situations reaches 98.6%.

By utilizing professional agency services, enterprises can reduce customs clearance time by an average of 40% and lower compliance costs by 22%. One automotive parts company successfully reduced the import duty on laser welding equipment from 8% to 3.2% through optimized declaration solutions, saving approximately 120,000 yuan in tariff expenses per batch.