South Korea
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Daegu
Daegu is a centre of textiles and machinery in south-east Korea.
Services in Daegu
- Air freight in DaeguAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in DaeguFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in DaeguImport 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 Daegu
- AirportDaegu
TAE - AirportIncheon
ICNroad feeder - SeaportBusan
Daegu International Airport (TAE), in the north-east of the city, shares its runways with an air force base and offers domestic flights and a limited number of international routes within Asia. Most international air freight for Daegu is therefore trucked to Incheon International Airport (ICN) for long-haul departures, or to Gimhae International Airport (PUS) in Busan for some regional routes. Daegu has no seaport; container cargo moves by road or rail through the Port of Busan, which is the natural sea gateway for the Daegu and North Gyeongsang region.
Daegu is a crossroads of the expressway network. The Gyeongbu Expressway connects the city with Busan and Seoul, the Jungang Expressway runs north to Andong and south towards Busan, and the Gwangju-Daegu Expressway links the south-west. The Daegu Outer Ring Expressway serves the industrial complexes around the city. The Gyeongbu Line and KTX services at Dongdaegu station connect Daegu by rail with Busan and Seoul.
Industries in Daegu and how we support them
Daegu has long been the centre of South Korea's textile industry, with fibre producers, weavers and a large dyeing industrial complex. Today the city also has machinery and automotive parts manufacturing, for example in the Seongseo and Dalseong industrial complexes, and a medical device and pharmaceutical cluster in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation zone. Nearby Gumi is a major electronics and display production location. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills via ICN and PUS, Next Flight Out for automotive parts, On-Board Courier for medical device samples, sea freight FCL/LCL through Busan, and customs clearance by our Korean network partner team.
Operational logistics facts for Daegu
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Daegu textile and dyeing industrial complexes | Fibres, technical textiles, fabrics | Consolidated LCL and FCL exports via the Port of Busan |
| Seongseo and Dalseong industrial complexes | Machinery, automotive parts | Pick-up at supplier plants and NFO for production stoppages |
| Daegu-Gyeongbuk medical cluster | Medical devices, pharmaceuticals, research | Air freight planning and On-Board Courier for samples and devices |
| Gyeongbu Expressway and rail corridor | Road and rail feeder to Busan and Incheon | Access to Korea's main seaport and main cargo airport |
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
Do Daegu air shipments leave from Daegu Airport or Incheon?
Daegu International (TAE) has limited international cargo connections, so we usually truck international air freight to Incheon (ICN) or, for some regional routes, to Gimhae (PUS). Hand-carried On-Board Courier shipments can sometimes use TAE. We confirm routing and cut-off times with every booking.
Can you collect from suppliers in Gumi and North Gyeongsang as well?
Yes. We arrange pick-up and delivery across Daegu and North Gyeongsang, including Gumi, Gyeongsan and Chilgok, and consolidate shipments for air freight via Incheon or sea freight via Busan where this makes sense.
Can medical devices from Daegu be shipped by air to Europe or the US?
Yes. We book air freight via Incheon and check with you whether the devices need specific documents, such as registrations or certificates required by the destination market. Sensitive or temperature-controlled products are packed according to the agreed handling instructions.
Who clears customs for imports into Daegu?
A dedicated partner team in the Ziem network handles clearance under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures. Declarations are filed with the Korea Customs Service through UNI-PASS using the data we prepare, whether the goods arrive via Incheon, Gimhae or the Port of Busan.
Can textile exports from Daegu benefit from free trade agreements?
Korea has free trade agreements with the EU, the US and many other partners. Preferential duty at destination depends on the product meeting the rules of origin and on correct origin documentation. We check the origin documents with you before shipping.
What do medical device importers in Daegu need for clearance?
Medical devices are regulated in Korea and usually need product approval or certification from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in addition to the commercial invoice and packing list. We check the requirements with you before shipping, as release depends on complete documents.