Busan, South Korea
Customs clearance in Busan
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Busan. Customs clearance in South Korea is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
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 |
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.
One contact, local customs expertise
Our partner team in South Korea files the declarations locally, under the Ziem Logistics brand. You send documents and questions to our operations desk, which coordinates with the team and keeps you informed.
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).
Avoiding delays at customs
Most customs delays come from inconsistent documents: different values on invoice and packing list, missing HS codes or unclear goods descriptions. We review the documents against each other before departure, so the declaration in South Korea can be filed without queries.
Frequently asked questions
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.