Which airports and ports in South Korea do you ship to?
- Air: Seoul Incheon (ICN) is Korea’s main cargo airport and handles most international air freight. Shipments fly direct or via a hub, chosen by price, capacity and schedule, and our partner delivers by road anywhere in Korea.
- Sea: Busan is the largest container port. Incheon and Gwangyang also have regular services. Full containers (FCL) and smaller shipments (LCL) both work.
How long does freight from Finland to South Korea take?
| Service | Typical transit |
|---|---|
| Air freight to Seoul Incheon | 1–3 days |
| Delivery elsewhere in Korea | confirmed in the quote |
| Sea freight to Busan | confirmed in the quote |
Indicative, updated 14 October 2026. Times run from handover in Finland and assume complete documents. Customs in Korea is not included. We do not route shipments through Russia or Belarus.
What South Korea requires on the documents
Korean customs clears quickly when the data is right. Before shipping we check that:
- The importer is identified: the consignee in Korea acts as importer. Its name, address and contact details must be the same on all documents, and the Korean broker usually needs the importer’s business registration number.
- The invoice is complete: full goods description, HS code, quantity, unit price, total value, currency, Incoterm, country of origin, gross and net weight.
- Regulated goods are cleared in advance: food, health supplements, cosmetics, medicines and medical devices are regulated by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), and some need registration before the first import. The buyer arranges this before the goods leave.
- Wooden packaging is ISPM 15 treated and marked.
- Dangerous goods and lithium batteries are classified and packed under the IATA DGR before booking. Dangerous goods
Export from Finland
A shipment to Korea leaves the EU, so it needs an export declaration. Send us the commercial invoice, packing list and your EORI number, and any export licence for dual-use goods, such as some electronics, sensors and software. Once the goods have left the EU, Finnish Customs confirms the export. Keep that confirmation: it proves the sale is zero-rated for VAT.
Preferential origin under the EU–Korea FTA
The EU–Korea Free Trade Agreement has removed Korean import duty on most EU industrial goods. To use it:
- The goods must meet the origin rules of the agreement for their HS code.
- The exporter writes an origin declaration on the invoice or another commercial document, using the wording set out in the agreement.
- When the originating goods in a shipment are worth more than EUR 6,000, only an approved exporter can make the declaration and must give its authorisation number. Approved exporter status is granted by Finnish Customs.
If you are unsure whether your product qualifies, ask us before you quote a duty-free price to your buyer. Foreign trade consulting
Seafood and other perishables
We have shipped seafood such as crabs by air, and we can arrange fresh fish and other chilled food to South Korea with temperature-controlled handling; the 1–3 day air transit keeps the cold chain short. Food of animal origin usually needs an export health certificate and must meet South Korea’s import rules, so we confirm the documents with you and the buyer before booking. Perishables
Common problems on the South Korea lane, and how we avoid them
- Origin declaration above EUR 6,000 without approved exporter status: the preference is refused and the buyer pays full duty. We check the value and the authorisation number before the goods leave.
- Missing importer details: clearance stops in Incheon or Busan. We ask the buyer for the business registration number and match it to the documents.
- Regulated goods without MFDS registration: food, cosmetics and supplements cannot be released. We ask the buyer to confirm before shipping.
- Untreated wooden pallets: Korea can order them treated or returned. We check the ISPM 15 mark.
How it works
- Send the pickup address, destination, goods description, dimensions, weights and Incoterm.
- You get a price, routing and transit time.
- We collect the goods, check the documents and clear export in Finland.
- You get the AWB or B/L number for tracking.
- Our partner clears import in Korea and delivers.
Updated 14 October 2026 · Reviewed by Artem Tchervonni, Managing Director