Korea Customs Service Supports 'Fast Customs Clearance' for Urgently Imported Semiconductor Raw Materials

The Korea Customs Service will support expedited customs clearance for urgent imported raw materials such as semiconductors.

The Korea Customs Service announced that it will improve and implement the "Pre-arrival Import Declaration" system starting from the 13th. The pre-arrival import declaration is a procedure in which import documents are submitted to customs before the imported goods enter the country, allowing the import customs clearance process to be completed quickly before the goods arrive at customs. The system improvement was made to respond to the rapidly changing global trade environment and to assist export-import companies with faster customs clearance.

Originally, the pre-arrival import declaration system was introduced to support expedited customs clearance for urgent imported cargo. However, the existing customs clearance process required the completion of the manifest examination (which verifies the type, quantity, and value of cargo loaded on ships or aircraft to identify high-risk or illegal goods) before the import declaration review could proceed, even if a pre-arrival import declaration was made, limiting the system’s intended effectiveness.

A schematic diagram comparing the import declaration system before and after improvement prior to vessel arrival. Provided by the Korea Customs Service.

For example, if the manifest examination was completed after customs office hours, the importer had to apply for temporary office opening to proceed with customs clearance during nighttime hours or postpone clearance to the next day (Monday if the next day was Friday).

Because of this, voices calling for improvements in the customs clearance process have been steadily raised in the export-import field. After collecting internal and external opinions, reviewing relevant regulations, and analyzing the impact of system improvements, the Korea Customs Service decided to finalize the system improvements.

With the system improvement, import declaration review will be possible even before the manifest examination is completed. This is expected to shorten the customs clearance time for urgent imported raw materials such as semiconductors and reduce unnecessary costs related to storage of goods.

A Korea Customs Service official stated, “The Korea Customs Service will continue to listen to the voices from the export-import field to enhance the global competitiveness of domestic companies and will seek ways to identify and resolve hidden regulations in the customs clearance process.”