The export inspection rule and what the exporter must do
Inspection of goods under an export declaration is waived in principle, and customs inspects only goods that it needs to check. When goods are selected for inspection, the rule is loading-site inspection, which takes place in the bonded area at the loading site where the goods are shipped. Goods that the Notice specifies, such as goods for return and goods for re-export, undergo declaration-site inspection, which takes place where the goods are located (Notice on Export and Return Clearance, Article 18).
An exporter notified that goods are subject to loading-site inspection must bring the goods into the bonded area at the loading site before shipment and request inspection from the customs office with jurisdiction over the loading site. Loading the goods without inspection is subject to a fine.
If the goods are subject to declaration-site inspection, keep the goods at the declared location until the inspection is finished and prepare them so that the packaging can be opened. Inspection of import goods is explained in Customs import inspection.
Declaration-site inspection and loading-site inspection
The Notice on Export and Return Clearance (the Notice) defines declaration-site inspection as "visiting the location of the goods subject to the export declaration and inspecting them", and loading-site inspection as "inspecting the export goods in the bonded area at the loading site where they are shipped (including loading onto a ship or aircraft), or at a place separately designated by the head of the customs office with jurisdiction over the loading site" (Notice, Article 2, subparagraph 10 and 11).
| Item | Loading-site inspection | Declaration-site inspection |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection place | Bonded area at the loading site, or a place designated by the head of the customs office with jurisdiction over the loading site | Location of the goods under the export declaration (factory, warehouse, etc.) |
| Scope | The rule for inspection of export goods (Notice, Article 18 (2)) | Goods for which loading-site inspection is judged inappropriate, goods for return, goods that differ from the contract, goods for personal use exported in their imported condition, goods for re-export and goods exported in their original condition, export goods shipped by international mail, export goods from a bonded factory, etc. (Notice, Article 18 (3)) |
| What the exporter must do | Bring the goods into the bonded area at the loading site before shipment and request inspection | Keep the goods at the declared location and prepare for inspection |
| Acceptance of declaration | May be accepted on the condition that inspection is received before loading (Notice, Article 26, subparagraph 3) | Accepted after inspection (Notice, Article 26, subparagraph 3) |
| After inspection | Load onto the means of transport after the inspection is finished (Notice, Article 65 (6)) | The head of customs may seal the goods or have them transported under bond to the bonded area at the loading site (Notice, Article 18 (7)) |
Selection of goods for inspection and notification
Goods subject to inspection are selected by the customs clearance system when the export declaration data is received, or by customs officers (Notice, Article 17 (1)). After the cargo manifest is submitted, the head of customs may notify the declarant, the cargo manifest submitter, the bonded area operator, and others that the goods are subject to inspection, and if necessary notifies the declarant at the time of the export declaration (Notice, Article 19).
When an export declaration for goods subject to loading-site inspection is accepted, a loading-site inspection notice is printed on the certificate of export declaration (Notice, Article 27 (4)). When you receive the certificate of export declaration, check whether this notice is present, and if it is, re-coordinate the shipping schedule with your forwarder.
Goods exported by businesses specified in Article 17 (2) of the Notice, such as foreign-invested companies with no violation of law in the last 2 years and Authorized Economic Operators (AEO), may not be selected for inspection.
If your goods are subject to loading-site inspection
- A declarant or cargo owner notified at the time of the export declaration that the goods are subject to inspection brings the goods, before loading, into the bonded area at the loading site or a place designated by the head of the customs office at the loading site (Notice, Article 21 (1)).
- Present the certificate of export declaration and the attached documents to the head of the customs office with jurisdiction over the loading site, and request inspection of the goods (same paragraph). For goods identified as subject to inspection at the cargo manifest stage, the cargo manifest submitter places them at the designated customs inspection place and files a report of bringing in the goods (same Article (2)).
- If the head of customs requests related materials such as a packing list, submit them (Notice, Article 18 (6)). If the packing list states the product name and quantity of each box, it is easy to find the boxes to be inspected.
- Load the goods onto the ship or aircraft after the inspection is finished (Notice, Article 65 (6)).
If the loading site changes after the export declaration, you must amend the export declaration before the goods are inspected (Notice, Article 18 (4)). The loading-site inspection notice (Annex 8 of the Notice) states that loading goods subject to loading-site inspection without inspection "may be punished under Article 276 (4)(vii) of the Customs Act (fine of up to KRW 10,000,000)". Because goods can be loaded only after inspection finishes, if your goods are subject to loading-site inspection, bring them in ahead of the bonded area intake deadline to secure time for the inspection.
If your goods are subject to declaration-site inspection
For declaration-site inspection, customs officers visit the goods location stated in the export declaration and inspect the goods. Keep the goods at that location until the inspection is finished, and prepare people to open and repack the packaging and space for the inspection. Because the inspection takes place at the location stated in the declaration, tell us the exact address where the goods will be before you file.
What customs checks in an export inspection
The Notice defines goods inspection as "checking whether there are concealed goods other than the goods under the export declaration, and whether the export declaration details match the actual goods" (Notice, Article 2, subparagraph 9). An export declaration also states the product name, specifications, quantity, and price (Customs Act, Article 241 (1)), so before filing, the exporter confirms that the product name, model, and quantity on the invoice and packing list are the same as the goods actually loaded. If the quantity changes just before shipment, the declaration must be corrected as well.
Strategic items (Foreign Trade Act) and waste (Act on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal) are subject to a safety inspection conducted jointly with the cooperating ministry even on export (Annex 1 of the Notice on Procedures for Safety Inspection under Article 246-3 of the Customs Act). For these goods, prepare the documents required by the relevant act, such as an export permit or export declaration, and confirm that the goods stated in those documents are the same as the actual goods.
Costs
As a rule, the cargo owner attends export inspections. If you ask a Licensed Customs Broker to attend, the fee starts from KRW 50,000 per inspection (VAT excluded), and transportation to the goods location is charged separately (pricing guide).
Source: Customs Act, Article 241 (Declaration of Export, Import, or Return), Article 246-3 (Safety Inspection of Goods), Notice on Export and Return Clearance Article 2 (Definitions), Article 17 (Selection of Goods for Inspection), Article 18 (Inspection of Goods), Article 19 (Notification of Goods Subject to Inspection), Article 21 (Request for Inspection and Report of Bringing in Goods Subject to Inspection), Article 26 (Acceptance of Export Declaration), Article 27 (Issuance of Certificate of Export Declaration), Article 65 (Loading of Export Goods), Annex 8 (Loading-Site Inspection Notice), Notice on Procedures for Safety Inspection under Article 246-3 of the Customs Act Annex 1 (Goods Subject to Safety Inspection). Confirmed on October 16, 2026. As in force on October 2, 2026 for the Customs Act, June 26, 2026 for the Notice on Export and Return Clearance, and April 13, 2026 for the Notice on Safety Inspection.