Landed cost guide · 2026-10-18

Import duty from China to South Korea

For a typical commercial shipment of cotton T-shirts from China to South Korea worth 14,000,000 KRW, duties, taxes and fees come to about 3,686,310 KRW, or 26.33% of the goods value, before any Korea–China FTA preference. Use the calculator below with your own figures.

Quick estimate: what are you shipping from China?

What are you buying or shipping? Write it the way you would say it, or type an HS/GTİP code. We search both everyday words and the official tariff.

Where is it coming from? Where is it going?

Your currency Price of the item () Shipping cost ()

Who is it for?

Pick a product and enter the price to see the result here.

Duty is charged on: CIF value
Duty-free threshold: USD 150 for personal-use goods (USD 200 for goods shipped from the US).
VAT / sales tax: 10% VAT on CIF + duty; excise tax on some luxury goods.
Trade agreement: Korea–China FTA: qualifying goods can enter at 0% with proof of origin.
Extra tariffs on goods from China: No country-specific additional duty beyond the normal tariff.
Other fees: No government fees; brokers charge clearance fees.

Detailed calculator: China to South Korea

1Route

Country of origin Destination

2Shipment type

3Values

Goods value (invoice) Freight Insurance Units

4Product and rates

Product group Duty rate %A typical rate is filled in; change it to match your HS code.

I have preferential origin proof

China Section 301 list Distinct item types in parcel Extra duty % (anti-dumping, Section 232, retaliation)Any product-specific extra duty.

Typical duty rates

Product	MFN	Korea–China FTA
Apparel – cotton knit (HS 6109)	13%	0%*
Leather footwear (HS 6403)	13%	0%*
Towels / home textiles (HS 6302)	13%	0%*
Computers / phones (HS 8471, 8517)	0%	0%*

Typical rates for common tariff lines, for orientation only. The rate for your goods depends on the full HS code; look it up in the Korea Customs Service UNI-PASS. *0% applies only to goods that meet the agreement's rules of origin; agricultural goods may be excluded.

Worked example: 14,000,000 KRW of cotton T-shirts by sea

Goods 14,000,000, freight 1,100,000, insurance 70,000 KRW; commercial import; duty rate 13%.

Line	KRW
Customs duty 13% × 15,170,000 CIF	1,972,100
Import VAT 10% × 17,142,100	1,714,210
Total duties and fees	3,686,310
Landed cost (CIF + duties)	18,856,310

With Korea–China FTA proof of origin the same shipment would cost 1,517,000 KRW in duties and taxes.

Small parcel: 110,000 KRW online order

A consumer ordering goods worth 110,000 KRW plus 17,000 shipping by post would pay about 0 KRW in import charges.

Line	KRW
Customs duty Personal-use goods up to USD 150 (USD 200 from the US): no duty or VAT	0
Import VAT Personal-use goods up to USD 150 (USD 200 from the US): no duty or VAT	0
Total duties and fees	0
Landed cost (CIF + duties)	127,000

Frequently asked questions

How much is import duty from China to South Korea?

It depends on the product's tariff code. As an example, cotton T-shirts worth 14,000,000 KRW shipped commercially by sea pay about 3,686,310 KRW in duties, taxes and fees (26.33% of the goods value). No country-specific additional duty beyond the normal tariff.

Is there a duty-free limit for parcels to South Korea?

USD 150 for personal-use goods (USD 200 for goods shipped from the US).

Does China have a trade agreement with South Korea?

Yes. Under Korea–China FTA, goods that meet the rules of origin can enter at reduced or zero duty with proof of origin.

How is import VAT calculated in South Korea?

10% VAT on CIF + duty; excise tax on some luxury goods.