Bringing food in and out of Korea

Some foods, such as sealed processed snacks or tea, may be allowed, but meat, meat products, fresh fruit and vegetables are subject to quarantine, and most are banned or restricted. Even permitted items must pass inspection. Rules on meat are especially strict to prevent livestock diseases, so check the official guidance from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency and Korea Customs Service before you travel.

Meat products like jerky, sausages, ham and canned goods or dumplings containing meat are generally restricted from entering Korea, and enforcement has been tightened because of livestock diseases such as African swine fever. Even vacuum-packed commercial products may not be allowed. Leaving them at home is safest, and check official guidance for exact rules.

Fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds and plants with soil must be declared for plant quarantine to keep out pests. Whether an item is banned or needs a phytosanitary certificate depends on the item and its origin. This can include fruit handed out on the plane or leftover snacks from your trip, so declare them on arrival and follow the quarantine officer's instructions.

If you have nothing to declare to customs, you can skip the traveler's declaration form, but you must declare any animals, plants or livestock products subject to quarantine. As of November 2026, animals and livestock products can be declared on the form or verbally to a quarantine officer. When in doubt, declare and let an officer check.

If undeclared livestock products are found, they can be confiscated and you may be fined, with higher penalties for repeat violations. Foreign visitors are not exempt. If you brought something by mistake, declare it voluntarily at the quarantine desk after immigration.

Detector dogs at Korean airports sniff luggage for quarantine items like meat and fruit. If a dog reacts to your bag, a quarantine officer may ask to inspect it. There is no need to be alarmed; just follow their instructions.

Instant noodles and ready meals whose seasoning contains meat may be subject to quarantine, depending on their ingredients and product requirements. Not all instant noodles are banned, but check the ingredients for beef, pork or chicken extracts and declare them if unsure. Korea sells a huge variety of instant noodles anyway.

When traveling with an infant, formula and baby food for the journey are exempt from the 100ml liquid limit and zip bag rule in cabin baggage. Whether you can bring them into Korea, however, depends on their ingredients, origin and quarantine requirements, and baby food containing meat may be restricted. Also check your airline's and the airport's security rules.

You can bring health supplements for personal use within set quantity limits, and going over may require customs clearance. Some ingredients are banned in Korea and cannot be brought in at all. Check Korea Customs Service and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for quantity limits and prohibited ingredients.

Korea sets duty-free limits on alcohol by number of bottles, volume and value, and you must pay tax on anything beyond them. These limits can change, so check the Korea Customs Service traveler guidance. Minors may not be eligible for the alcohol allowance under Korean law.

Leaving Korea with kimchi is generally fine, but it may count as a liquid or gel on the plane, so people usually put it in checked luggage. Your destination may have rules on fermented foods like kimchi or salted seafood, so check in advance. It can swell from fermentation gas, so airtight packaging is important.

International flights generally require liquids, gels and aerosols in small containers packed in a clear resealable bag. Pastes, sauces, honey and kimchi brine can fall under these rules. Put larger quantities in checked luggage, and check airport security guidance for exact limits.

Liquids bought in the departure duty-free area are usually packed in a sealed security bag and allowed on board. However, if you connect through another airport, they may be confiscated at a second security check depending on local rules, so tell the shop about your connection. Keep the receipt and do not open the bag.

Some countries ban agricultural products like rice, fruit and vegetables or require a phytosanitary certificate. You only need one if your destination requires it, and you can apply for it at the animal and plant export quarantine office at your departure airport in Korea. Check your destination's rules before you leave.

Processed products like red ginseng are relatively easy to take, but fresh ginseng roots may be subject to quarantine in your destination country. Some countries set quantity limits or declaration requirements for ginseng. Check the packaging from the store and your destination's customs guidance.

After immigration and baggage claim, go to the quarantine desk and declare it voluntarily, and they will tell you how it will be disposed of. Some airports also have amnesty bins for quarantine items. If it is discovered without being declared, you may be fined.

From November 12, 2026, personal medicines can be carried in under set conditions, up to six containers in total or, beyond that, a three-month supply based on dosage. Medicines with narcotic ingredients need separate approval, and herbal medicinal materials may be subject to plant quarantine. Carry your prescription and check Korea Customs Service and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety guidance.

Rules for honey, nuts and dried fruit depend on the item and how it is processed. Nuts in the shell and seeds may be subject to plant quarantine. Customs duty-free limits are separate from quarantine approval, so even within the duty-free amount, items subject to quarantine must be declared. For anything uncertain, declare it and let a quarantine officer decide.

For entering Korea, check the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency for quarantine rules and Korea Customs Service for declarations and duty-free limits on their official websites. When leaving Korea, your destination government's customs and quarantine agencies set the rules. Regulations change often, so check again just before departure.

You can send food by international mail or courier, but many destinations ban meat, dairy, fresh products and liquids. Post offices and couriers also have their own prohibited items lists. Check with the shipping counter and your destination's customs rules before sending.