Vaping and Travel: Guide on Customs and Regulations in Korea.

Traveling is a pleasant opportunity to explore new cultures and experiences. However, if you use vape/e-cigarettes, it is important to understand the regulations and customs procedures at your destination in advance. Korea has relatively strict regulations on e-cigarettes, so prior information is essential to avoid unnecessary problems during your trip. In this blog, we will give provide some information to Korea’s e-cigarette-related customs regulations when bringing your vape/e-liquids to korea.

Vape/E-liquids/E-cigarettes are legal to bring into Korea.

You’re allowed to bring your personal use vape/E-liquids/E-cigarettes into Korea, however there are some regulations that you would want to follow:

-Device should be in your personal hand baggage instead of checked in bag as it contains battery.

-E-liquids are generally adviced to be kept in your checked in bag instead.

E-cigarettes nicotine liquid exceeding 20ml might be subjected to tax

*Picture source from Korea’s Official Custom website.*

According to the information from Korea’s Official Custom website, The duty-free condition for liquid electronic cigarettes is less than 20ml, meaning you can bring it into the country freely without the need to declare customs. If it exceeds 20ml, it can be cleared through customs, but you must pay taxes. The same applies to the case where you reside in Korea but receiving the items through parcel or consignment from overseas.

Source: https://www.customs.go.kr/kcs/ad/tax/ItemTaxCalculation.do
Source: https://www.customs.go.kr/english/na/ntt/selectNttList.do

If the nicotine content is over 1%, Custom clearance is not possible.

If the nicotine content is 1% or higher, it is classified as an import of chemicals, requiring a chemical substance declaration. However, this can be nearly impossible for travelers to clear customs with in their carry-on luggage. – This is because nicotine is a substance that is seriously harmful to the body and can even cause death depending on the content, hence it is classified as a hazardous chemical by Korean government.

Hazardous chemicals are usually imported for industrial, medical, or research purpose. In this field too, there is a thorough preparation process for import and custom clearance.

Also, did you know these countries ban the import of any form of vape/e-cigarettes?

The laws regarding e-cigarettes vary from country to country, and some countries have strict regulations on e-cigarettes, so be sure to thoroughly research the laws and regulations of the country you are visiting before travelling. See below for countries the strictly prohibit e-cigarettes.

Countries that ban the import of electronic cigarettes:

Thailand, Taiwan, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Laos, Cambodia, Jordan, Catarrh, Lebanon, Brunei, Kuwait, Oman, Iran, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, South Africa, Uganda.

In conclusion, We advise against bringing any prohibited items. Just because someone else managed to bring something through doesn’t guarantee you will have the same luck. If 2% nicotine is not allowed, leave it at home. You risk having it confiscated, facing heavy taxes, or even being denied entry at your own expense. The simplest solution may be to purchase your vape supplies in Korea.

Check out our post on how we can purchase vape/e-liquids/e-cigarette in Korea:
https://jzvapes.com/your-ultimate-guide-where-to-buy-vape-products-in-korea/?location=84

OR

Shop with us at JZVAPES, where all our products are in stock in Korea, and enjoy same-day shipping for your convenience!

At JZ Vapes, we offer pre-filled pods and e-liquids with nicotine levels of up to 5%. We can provide this concentration because we comply with Canadian regulations while selling in Korea, as our company is registered in Canada while based in Korea