Incheon and Songdo, South Korea
Customs clearance in Incheon and Songdo
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Incheon and Songdo. 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 Incheon and Songdo and how we support them
Songdo has become one of the world's largest biopharmaceutical manufacturing locations, with large contract manufacturing and biosimilar plants, research institutes and suppliers of single-use materials and laboratory equipment. Incheon also has semiconductor packaging and test operations, the Namdong industrial complex with machinery and metalworking firms, and a large logistics sector around the airport and port. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with temperature-controlled air freight under our own air waybills via ICN, On-Board Courier for clinical and research material, Next Flight Out for production-critical parts, sea freight FCL/LCL via Incheon New Port, and customs clearance by our Korean network partner team.
Operational logistics facts for Incheon and Songdo
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Songdo biopharma cluster | Biologics, biosimilars, single-use materials, lab equipment | Cold chain air freight planned around the short road link to ICN |
| Incheon International Airport (ICN) and airport free trade zone | Pharma, electronics, express and transit cargo | Freighter capacity and free trade zone storage directly at the airport |
| Incheon New Port | Container services to China and South-East Asia | Sea freight close to Songdo and the Seoul capital area |
| Incheon-China car ferry routes | Sea-air cargo from Chinese ports | Sea-air routing via Incheon for shipments from China to Europe and the Americas |
Airports, seaports and connections in Incheon and Songdo
- AirportIncheon International
ICN - SeaportPort of Incheon
Incheon is home to Incheon International Airport (ICN) on Yeongjong Island, South Korea's main air cargo hub, with large cargo terminals and an airport free trade zone directly next to the airfield. Songdo, on reclaimed land in the south of the city, faces the airport across the Incheon Bridge. The Port of Incheon handles containers at Incheon New Port next to Songdo and general cargo at the older inner port, and car ferries connect Incheon with several Chinese ports. Because airport and seaport sit so close together, Incheon is used for sea-air cargo from China moving on to long-haul flights.
The Incheon Bridge links Songdo directly with Yeongjong Island and the airport, while the Yeongjong Bridge and the Incheon International Airport Expressway connect the island with Seoul. The Gyeongin Expressway and the Second Gyeongin Expressway run between Incheon and Seoul, and the Seoul Ring Expressway gives access to the industrial cities of Gyeonggi Province. The Incheon Free Economic Zone covers Songdo, Yeongjong and Cheongna.
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).
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 at Incheon Airport?
Clearance is handled by a dedicated partner team in the Ziem network, working under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures. Declarations are filed with the Korea Customs Service via UNI-PASS using the data we prepare, and you keep one contact for the whole shipment.
What is needed to import pharmaceutical materials into Songdo?
Pharmaceuticals, active ingredients and some laboratory materials are regulated in Korea and may need approvals or import confirmations from the competent authorities, in addition to the commercial invoice and packing list. We check the requirements with you before shipping, because clearance depends on complete documents.
Can transit cargo stay in the Incheon Airport free trade zone without import clearance?
Goods can be stored in the airport free trade zone and later imported into Korea or re-exported, subject to the zone's rules and the type of goods. We look at whether this fits your supply chain and plan the documents accordingly.