Cash / Currency 🇰🇷 South Korea
USD 10,000 equivalent must be declared
Can I bring Cash / Currency into South Korea?
USD 10,000 equivalent must be declared
Full details
Travelers carrying cash, monetary instruments, traveler's cheques, or precious metals worth USD 10,000 or more (or KRW equivalent) must declare them to Korea Customs Service on arrival or departure. Undeclared amounts are confiscated and the carrier may face fines up to 30% of the undeclared value plus criminal prosecution. Inbound declaration uses the Customs Declaration Form; outbound requires a separate Foreign Exchange Transaction Report.
PENALTIES
- Fine: 200000–10000000 KRW
- Civil penalty only
Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.
Leaving South Korea with cash / currency
Travellers departing from South Korea carrying cash, banker's cheques, bearer bonds, or other bearer-form negotiable instruments totalling USD 10,000 equivalent or more must complete Foreign Currency Declaration at customs before boarding. This threshold aggregates all currencies at exchange-rate parity. Failure to declare is grounds for seizure of the entire cash amount under Foreign Exchange Transactions Act plus criminal prosecution for aggravated cases. Source-of-funds documentation (bank withdrawal receipts, payroll records, sale contracts) may be requested. Legitimate declared movements are not restricted; the requirement is transparency-based to combat money laundering and tax evasion.
Values at or above this threshold must be declared (KRW).
Declare cash, traveler's cheques, or monetary instruments above the local threshold to Korea Customs Service on arrival or departure. Use the dedicated currency-declaration channel; undeclared amounts above the threshold are subject to seizure and an administrative fine of 25-50% of the undeclared sum.
USD 10,000
- Customs declaration form
Foreign Exchange Transactions Act
This page covers destination customs rules in South Korea. Whether you can carry cash / currency through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.
Related rules
Cash / Currency rules in other countries
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🇺🇸 United States
Must declare cash or monetary instruments over USD 10,000 on arrival and departure.
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🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Must declare cash of GBP 10,000 or more when entering or leaving Great Britain.
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🇩🇪 Germany
EU rule: declare EUR 10,000 or more when entering or leaving the EU.
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🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Must declare cash of AED 60,000 or more (approx. USD 16,300) on arrival.
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🇵🇭 Philippines
PHP 50,000 limit; foreign currency over USD 10,000 must be declared
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🇻🇳 Vietnam
VND 15 million limit; USD 5,000 foreign currency