South Korea
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Busan
Busan is Korea's main port and a sea-air transshipment hub; long-haul air cargo usually connects via Incheon.
Services in Busan
- Air freight in BusanAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in BusanFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in BusanImport and export clearance by our in-house customs teams in 8 countries and by partner teams in the Ziem network.
Airports, seaports and connections in Busan
- AirportGimhae
PUS - AirportIncheon
ICNroad feeder - SeaportPort of BusanKorea's largest port
Busan's airport is Gimhae International Airport (PUS), west of the city centre on the Nakdong River delta. It offers mainly short- and medium-haul international flights within Asia, so long-haul air freight from Busan is usually trucked to Incheon International Airport (ICN) for departure. The Port of Busan is South Korea's largest container port and a major transshipment hub for North-East Asia, with terminals at the North Port and at Busan New Port, which straddles the border with Changwon. Ferries and ro-ro services link Busan with Japanese ports such as Fukuoka (Hakata), Shimonoseki and Osaka, which makes the city a natural sea-air hub.
The Gyeongbu Expressway runs from Busan to Seoul and is the main road corridor to Incheon Airport. The Namhae Expressway leads west towards Changwon, Gimhae and Gwangyang, and the Busan-Ulsan Expressway connects the Ulsan industrial area. The Gyeongbu Line carries container trains between the port and the Uiwang Inland Container Depot near Seoul, and the Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone around the New Port hosts distribution centres and logistics parks.
Industries in Busan and how we support them
Busan combines port logistics with manufacturing. The city has shipyards and marine equipment suppliers, for example on Yeongdo, a car assembly plant in Gangseo district, steel processing, footwear and a large fisheries and seafood trade around the coastal fish markets. The port area also serves as a distribution base for importers supplying the whole of south-east Korea. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with sea freight FCL/LCL through Busan, sea-air solutions combining Busan with air departures from Incheon, air freight under our own air waybills via PUS and ICN, On-Board Courier for urgent marine spare parts, and customs clearance through our Korean network partner team.
Operational logistics facts for Busan
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Busan (North Port and Busan New Port) | FCL/LCL, transshipment, project cargo | Direct deep-sea services to Asia, Europe and the Americas from Korea's main container port |
| Gimhae International Airport (PUS) | Regional air cargo within Asia, small urgent consignments | Local airport for short-haul shipments and On-Board Courier trips |
| Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone | Distribution centres, logistics parks around the New Port | Storage and onward distribution close to the container terminals |
| Busan-Japan ferry and ro-ro routes | Short-sea cargo to Fukuoka, Shimonoseki and Osaka | Alternative to air freight for Korea-Japan shipments |
Customs clearance in South Korea
Ziem network
Customs clearance in South Korea is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from South Korea we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in South Korea need a business registration number and a customs registration (personal customs code for individuals).
Frequently asked questions
Does Busan air freight fly from Gimhae or Incheon?
Shipments within Asia can often fly from Gimhae (PUS). For Europe and North America we usually truck the cargo to Incheon (ICN) on the Gyeongbu Expressway, because PUS has limited long-haul cargo capacity. We decide per shipment and confirm cut-off times with every booking.
Can you combine sea freight into Busan with air freight onward?
Yes. Cargo arriving by sea in Busan, for example from Japan or China, can be moved to Incheon and flown onward under one shipment file. This sea-air approach is often used when sea freight alone is too slow and full air freight too expensive.
Can urgent spare parts be delivered to ships or shipyards in Busan?
Yes. We arrange delivery of marine spare parts to shipyards and to vessels calling at Busan, coordinated with the ship's agent. For parts that must reach a vessel before departure, Next Flight Out or an On-Board Courier can be used.
Who clears containers arriving at the Port of Busan?
A dedicated partner team in the Ziem network clears your goods under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures. Declarations are submitted to the Korea Customs Service through UNI-PASS based on the data we prepare, so sea freight, clearance and delivery stay in one shipment file.
Can goods be stored in Busan without paying duty first?
Goods can be held in bonded facilities in the Busan port area and cleared later, when they are released for the Korean market or re-exported. Whether this suits a shipment depends on the goods and the plan for them. We review the options with you before arrival.
Do seafood imports into Busan need extra documents?
Yes. Food and fishery products imported into Korea need an import declaration under food safety rules, and many products are also inspected by the quarantine authorities. We check health certificates and labelling requirements with you before shipping, as release depends on complete documents.