Gwangju, South Korea
Customs clearance in Gwangju
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Gwangju. 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 Gwangju and how we support them
Gwangju is the main manufacturing city of South Korea's south-west. It hosts car assembly plants of a major Korean carmaker and of a newer joint-venture plant, home appliance production for refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machines, and a cluster of photonics and optical component companies. Automotive and appliance suppliers are concentrated in the Hanam and Pyeongdong industrial complexes. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with Next Flight Out for line-down situations, On-Board Courier for critical parts, air freight under our own air waybills via ICN, sea freight FCL/LCL via Gwangyang and Busan, and customs clearance through our Korean network partner team.
Operational logistics facts for Gwangju
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Hanam and Pyeongdong industrial complexes | Automotive parts, home appliance components | Pick-up at supplier plants and NFO for production stoppages |
| Port of Gwangyang | Container services, steel and industrial cargo | Nearest container port for manufacturers in Gwangju and South Jeolla |
| Gwangju photonics cluster | Optical components, LEDs, lasers | Air freight via Incheon for high-value, fragile components |
| Honam Expressway corridor to Incheon | Road feeder for international air freight | Access to long-haul freighter capacity at ICN |
Airports, seaports and connections in Gwangju
- AirportGwangju
KWJ - AirportIncheon
ICNroad feeder - SeaportGwangyang and Busan
Gwangju Airport (KWJ), west of the city centre, serves domestic flights only; international flights for the south-west region use Muan International Airport (MWX), which has a limited international network. International air freight for Gwangju is therefore usually trucked to Incheon International Airport (ICN). For sea freight, the Port of Gwangyang to the east has container terminals and serves the whole South Jeolla region, Mokpo Port on the west coast handles vehicles and general cargo, and the Port of Busan offers the widest choice of deep-sea services.
The Honam Expressway links Gwangju with Daejeon and the route north to Seoul and Incheon Airport. The Gwangju-Daegu Expressway runs east towards Daegu, the Namhae Expressway connects the Gwangyang port area and Busan, and the Muan-Gwangju Expressway leads to Muan Airport and Mokpo. The Honam high-speed railway connects Gwangju Songjeong station with Seoul.
Clearance through the Ziem network in South Korea
In South Korea, customs entries are filed by a partner team in the Ziem network. They work under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures; our operations desk prepares the shipment data and remains your contact for the whole shipment.
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).
Documents we check before shipping
Commercial invoice, packing list, the transport document and, where needed, certificates of origin, licences or permits. We check that descriptions, values and HS codes are consistent across all documents before the goods move.
Frequently asked questions
Who clears customs for goods arriving for Gwangju companies?
Clearance is carried out by a dedicated partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures. Declarations are lodged with the Korea Customs Service via UNI-PASS, whether the goods arrive at Incheon, Gwangyang or Busan.
Can components for appliance production in Gwangju be cleared at Gwangyang?
Yes. Containers arriving at the Port of Gwangyang can be cleared there by our Korean network partner team and delivered to Gwangju by road. Release depends on complete documents, including the commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading.
Do you help with HS classification for automotive and appliance parts?
Yes. Tariff classification is one of our services. We review product descriptions and technical data to determine the correct HS code for parts imported into or exported from Korea, which reduces the risk of customs queries and incorrect duty.