Republic of Korea

South Korea

Regulations on the Items Taken into and out of South Korea

When entering or exiting South Korea, visitors can choose general visitor tax customs counters or tax-free customs counters. If the value of the items you carry does not exceed USD 600 or the foreign currencies you carry do not exceed the equivalent of USD 10,000, you can go through the customs formalities at the tax free counters.

Tax-exempt items: 1 bottle of alcohol (up to 1 liter, less than USD 400 in value), 200 cigarettes, 60 millimeters of perfume (visitors who are under 19 years of age are not allowed to carry alcoholic drinks and cigarettes). Cash of over USD 10,000 must be declared to the customs. Upon exit, travelers who are not South Korean residents and who carry foreign currencies or South Korean currencies valued at over USD 10,000 (including traveler's checks and bank checks) must get the approval of the bank of South Korea in question and the customs. But the amount declared upon entry does not need to be declared again upon exit. Violations carry fines or penalties according to the Foreign Exchanges Trading Law.

The entry of animals and animal products must be supported by the animal quarantine certificate issued by the government of the exporting country and recognized by South Korean National Veterinary Scientific Quarantine Institute, and such animals and animal products must through the quarantine procedures. The entry of plants must be supported by the plant quarantine certificate issued by the exporting country, and such plants must be subject to inspection. For most raw fruits, vegetables, walnuts and plants with soil, failure to declare carries fines.

Visa

South Korea grants visa-free treatment to some Chinese citizens.

1. Visitors who hold Mainland China passport can apply for 30-day visa-free stay in Jeju, South Korea.

2. Transit passengers: Chinese visitors who hold the visa of five countries including the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand or the visa of any of the 30 European countries (Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Romania, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Belgium , Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Slovakia, Iceland, Ireland, Estonia, the United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Portugal, Poland, France, Finland, Hungary, Slovenia) are allowed to stay visa-free in South Korea for 30 days if they are to travel to these countries via South Korea or depart from these countries and are to go back to their own countries via South Korea. Please note that according to the regulations of South Korea, to qualify for visa-free entry, visitors must hold a ticket with which they are to leave South Korea in 30 days, do not have a record of ever being engaged in illegal activities like illegal stay in the above countries, will go to the third country after their stay in South Korea expires and will not return to the place of departure.

3. Student excursion groups: Educational excursion groups comprised of students of Chinese elementary schools, middle schools and high schools and the group leaders can stay visa-free in South Korea for 30 days. But application for such stay must be made by the leading teacher, the organizer or the designated staff of the travel agency and confirmed by the embassy or consulates general of South Korea in China.

For details, see the website of the Embassy of South Korea in China and the e-website intended for foreigners.

Customs

Smoking in public places is forbidden by law. Smoking is permitted only in designated locations. Smoking while walking is not allowed.

With the influence of Confucianism, respect for elders, filial piety and respect for teachers are widely prized values. People are very much aware of social status and seniority. You should show your respect to people of high social status and seniors, and use respectful language when talking with them. You should greet them first when meeting them, and make way for them when walking together. When presenting things to them, you should use both hands and bow to show respect.

You must take off your shoes when entering homes or restaurants. At traditional Korean restaurants, you must sit cross-legged on the floor. South Koreans like to pour wine for each other; you should not pour wine just for yourself. Young people should pour wine for the elders first.

Embassy and Consulates General

Embassy of South Korea in China

Add: 20 Dongfang East Road, Liangmaqiao, Third Embassy Zone, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

Postal code: 100600

Tel: +86-10-85310700

Fax: +86-10-85310726

E-mail: chinawebmaster@mofa.go.kr

Hours: 09: 00-18: 00 (lunch break: 12: 00-13: 30)

Consulate General of South Korea (Visa Section)

Add: 7 Beixiaojie, Liangmaqiao, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

Tel: +86-10-85320404

Fax: +86-10-65323891

E-mail: chinaconsul@mofa.go.kr

Hours: 09: 00-17: 00 (lunch: 12: 00-13: 30)

Website: http: //chn.mofat.go.kr/worldlanguage/asia/chn/main/index.jsp

Consulate General of South Korea in Qingdao

Add: 101 Hong Kong East Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao, Shandong province, China

Tel: +86-532-88976001/2/3

Fax: +86-532-88976005

Website: http: //qingdao.mofat.go.kr/cn/

Consular region: Shandong

Consulate General of South Korea in Shanghai

Add: 60, Wanshan Road, Shanghai

Tel: +86-21-62955000/62952639

Fax: +86-21-62955191/62952629

Consular regions: Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang

Consulate General of South Korea in Guangzhou

Add: F18, West Tower, Guangzhou International Trade Center, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong

Tel: +86-20-38870555

Fax: +86-20-38870923

Website: http://chn-guangzhou.mofat.go.kr/worldlanguage/asia/chn-guangzhou/main/index.jsp

Consular regions: Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Fujian Province

Consulate General of South Korea in Shenyang

Address: 37, Shisanwei Road, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning

Tel: +86-24-23853388

Fax: +86-24-23855170/6549/7401

Email: shenyang@mofat.go.kr

Consular regions: Liaoning Heilongjiang, Jilin

Consulate General of South Korea in Chengdu

Add: F19, Tianfu Luzhou Tower, 6 Xianan Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan

Tel: +86-28-86165800

Fax: +86-28-86165789

Email: chengdu@mofat.go.kr

Website: http://chn-chengdu.mofat.go.kr/worldlanguage/asia/chn-chengdu/main/index.jsp

Consular regions: Chongqing municipality, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou

Consulate General of South Korea in Xi'an

Add: F19, International Commerce & Trade Center, 33 Keji Road, Xi'an High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

Tel: +86-29-88351001

Fax: +86-29-88351002

Email: xian@mofat.go.kr

Website: http: //chn-xian.mofat.go.kr/worldlanguage/asia/chn-xian/main/index.jsp

Consular regions: Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxi

Consulate General of South Korea in Wuhan

Add: F4, F19, Pudong Development Bank Building, 218 Xinhua Road, Jianghan District, Wuhan, Hubei, China

Tel: +86-27-85552920

Fax: +86-27-85741085

Email: wuhan@mofat.go.kr

Website: http: //chn-wuhan.mofat.go.kr/worldlanguage/asia/chn-wuhan/main/index.jsp

Consular regions: Hubei, Hunan, Henan, Jiangxi

Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong, China

Add: F 5-6, Far East Finance Center, 16 Harcourt Road, Hong Kong, China

Tel: +86-852-25294141

Fax: +86-852-28613699

Website: http: //hkg.mofat.go.kr/korean/as/hkg/main/index.jsp

Consular regions: Hong Kong, China and Macau , China

Voltage and Plugs

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* The above information is for reference only. For more, contact the embassy.

* For more information on visa, head to the Star Alliance website.