The Korea Customs Service announced on June 24 that it will integrate the previously dispersed Compliance Evaluation System and implement the unified system starting from the fourth quarter of this year.
The integration of the system is intended to ensure consistency and reliability in evaluation standards, as well as to encourage companies to voluntarily comply with regulations.
Previously, compliance evaluations were conducted separately according to the characteristics of each industry and the purpose of the evaluation: ▲Integrated Compliance Evaluation (overall) ▲Express Company Compliance Evaluation (express companies) ▲Compliance Capability Evaluation (logistics companies).
However, this approach led to issues such as duplicate evaluations for the same industry, differences in evaluation items and formulas by system, resulting in varying scores, and ultimately caused confusion and inefficiency for companies and customs offices.
To address these issues, the Korea Customs Service decided to revise the system by integrating evaluation methods, regulations, and systems into a single framework, while maintaining the original intent and strengths of each system.
To ensure objectivity in evaluations, the evaluation framework will be standardized using quantifiable items. To support voluntary compliance, a variety of incentives will be introduced, such as exemptions from point deductions depending on the timing of export and import declaration corrections.
In particular, new bonus point items will be introduced for participation in meetings, briefings, training, and competitions, encouraging companies to engage in customs administration. The minimum evaluation standards will also be disclosed so that companies can independently manage their compliance.
The unified evaluation standards will be applied in phases, and the relevant public notice is scheduled to be revised with the goal of implementation on December 20, 2025.
For example, the compliance evaluation for express companies will be integrated from the fourth quarter of this year, while the compliance capability evaluation applied to the logistics sector will be integrated after 2027 to prevent confusion among stakeholders.
Ko Kwanghyo, Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, stated, "By integrating the compliance evaluation system, we aim to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens on companies and enhance the efficiency and reliability of customs administration. The Korea Customs Service will continue to pursue a trust-based customs administration that collaborates with companies to create a sound export and import environment where autonomy and responsibility are balanced."
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