Shipping from Korea to the USA in 2026: Customs, Duty and Rules

Every package shipped from Korea to the US now owes import duty, no matter how small. The $800 de minimis exemption has been suspended since August 29, 2025, and as of October 15, 2026, most Korean-made goods are charged a combined 12.5% under a tariff that took effect on July 24, 2026. The person receiving the parcel is the importer and is legally responsible for that duty, unless the shipper pays it in advance.

Below: the current rules, how duty is calculated and collected, what US agencies restrict, and how the paperwork differs between a forwarder and a purchasing agent.

Item	Value as of October 15, 2026
$800 duty-free allowance	Suspended for all countries since August 29, 2025
Rate on most Korean-made goods	12.5% combined (normal duty topped up to 12.5%)
Goods whose normal duty is 12.5% or more	Pay normal duty only, nothing added
What sets the rate	Product type and country of manufacture, not where you bought it
Who owes the duty	The importer, which CBP says means you
Mail entries	New CBP postal entry process for parcels of $2,500 or less
Food	FDA prior notice is required for food shipped to you
Sunscreen	Regulated as an over-the-counter drug in the US
HaulKorea to the US	Duty unpaid: you pay duty and any carrier fee on delivery

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. US tariff policy moved several times in 2025 and 2026, and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) makes the final call on any shipment.

Do you pay customs on a package from Korea to the US?

Yes. Until August 2025, a parcel worth $800 or less could enter the US duty-free under Section 321, the de minimis rule. That ended for all countries on August 29, 2025, under a July 2025 executive order.

In June 2026, CBP turned the suspension into regulation. It published two interim final rules on June 24, 2026 that indefinitely suspend the de minimis exemption, one for mail and one for other shipping modes. A legal challenge failed in the Court of International Trade in August 2026. Separately, a 2025 budget law repeals the exemption by statute from July 1, 2027. In short, the $800 allowance is not coming back soon.

What that means in practice: a $15 keychain, a $40 skincare order and a $300 jacket all owe duty. The only question is how much and who pays it.

What is the tariff rate on Korean goods in 2026?

On July 23, 2026, the US Trade Representative (USTR) finalized tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act on 60 trading partners, citing weak enforcement of bans on forced-labor imports. The measure took effect on July 24, 2026. Korea was assigned 12.5%.

Korea sits in a group that gets a top-up, not a flat surcharge. Korean news coverage of the USTR decision describes it like this:

• If a product's normal US duty (the most-favored-nation, or MFN, rate) is below 12.5%, a Section 301 duty is added so the total reaches 12.5%.
• If the normal duty is 12.5% or more, nothing is added. The product pays its normal rate.
• Goods covered by Section 232 tariffs and certain items USTR set aside, such as some raw materials, pharmaceuticals and agricultural goods, are excluded.

For most things people order from Korean shopping sites, such as cosmetics, accessories, stationery and character goods, the result is a combined 12.5% of the declared value. Some clothing and shoes already carry normal duties above 12.5%, and those pay their usual rate.

What could still change

A second Section 301 investigation, into industrial overcapacity, covers Korea and 15 other economies. As of an October 1, 2026 report in the Kyunghyang Shinmun, its findings were still pending. Korea's trade minister said the US side indicated it would keep the rate on Korean goods at about 15%, the level both governments agreed in 2025. If a new tariff is announced, the 12.5% figure in this guide will be out of date. Check the date on any article you read.

A short timeline

Date	Change	Effect on a Korea-to-US parcel
Before Aug 29, 2025	$800 de minimis in force	Most personal orders paid no duty
Aug 29, 2025	De minimis suspended for all countries	Every parcel became dutiable
Feb 2026	Supreme Court rules tariffs under emergency-powers law (IEEPA) unlawful	Earlier "reciprocal" rate lost its legal basis; a temporary 10% global tariff replaced it
Jun 24, 2026	CBP interim final rules suspend de minimis indefinitely	Suspension written into regulation
Jul 24, 2026	Section 301 forced-labor tariffs begin; Korea at 12.5%	Current rate for most Korean goods
Oct 22, 2026	Compliance date for certain mail shipments under CBP's postal rule	Some mail parcels must use formal entry

For the full history and worked examples, see our US import duty explainer.

Does it matter where the product was made?

Yes, a lot. CBP states that duty depends on the item's classification and its country of origin, and that origin "is not necessarily the country where the item was purchased."

Korean stores sell many products made elsewhere. Phone cases, small electronics, some character goods and plenty of fashion items are manufactured in China, Vietnam or other countries. When those reach US customs, they are charged under the rules for their country of manufacture, which can be very different from Korea's 12.5%.

Korean product pages usually include a details table called 상품정보 제공고시 (sangpum jeongbo jegong gosi, product information disclosure). Look for the 제조국 (jejoguk, country of manufacture) line. That tells you which rate applies before you buy.

How is US import duty calculated?

The math is simple once you know the inputs.

1. Find the declared value. This is what was paid for the goods, converted to US dollars.
2. Classify the item. Each product has a code in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). The code sets the normal duty rate. CBP notes that the description on the shipping declaration drives the classification, so vague descriptions cause trouble.
3. Check the country of manufacture. It decides which extra tariffs apply.
4. Apply the rate. For a Korean-made item with normal duty under 12.5%, duty is 12.5% of the value.

Example: a Korean-made serum declared at $40. Assume its normal duty is 0%. The top-up brings it to 12.5%. Duty: $40 × 12.5% = $5.00.

Example: a Korean-made wool coat declared at $200, with a normal duty above 12.5%. Nothing is added; you pay the normal rate on $200.

The rates in these examples are for illustration. Real HTS rates vary by material and product type.

Under-declaring a parcel's value to lower duty is illegal. CBP is explicit that the importer, not the seller, is liable.

Who collects the duty, and when?

How you pay depends on how the parcel travels.

Express couriers (FedEx, UPS, DHL). CBP explains that couriers use customs brokers to clear parcels. The broker pays the duty to CBP so the box keeps moving, then the courier either collects it at delivery or bills you afterward. Couriers usually add a fee for advancing that money. Check the courier's own fee page, since these fees change and the minimum charge can exceed the duty on a small order.

International mail (EMS, K-Packet and other postal services handed to USPS). Mail changed the most. Under CBP's June 2026 postal rule, mail parcels worth $2,500 or less go through a new informal entry process. According to a Thomson Reuters regulatory summary:

• Only the owner, the purchaser, or a licensed customs broker they designate may file the entry.
• The filer needs a customs bond.
• Each parcel needs detailed data, including a 10-digit HTS code, country of origin, value and duty owed.
• From October 22, 2026, certain mail shipments, including some subject to Chapter 99 duties, must use formal entry or another approved process.

That summary is written for sellers and brokers, and it does not explain how an individual receiving one EMS parcel will be billed. If someone is sending you a parcel by post, ask how the US duty will be handled before it ships.

Large shipments. CBP's page says goods worth more than $2,500 need a formal entry, which may require a broker.

DDP or DDU?

	Delivered Duty Paid (DDP)	Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU/DAP)
Who pays duty	Sender, in advance	You, the recipient
When	Before shipping	At or after delivery
Extra carrier fee for advancing duty	Usually built into the sender's price	Billed to you
Surprise bills	Unlikely	Possible
Risk if the rate changes in transit	Sender carries it	You carry it

What items are restricted when shipping from Korea to the US?

Duty is only one layer. Other federal agencies have their own rules, and CBP enforces them at the border.

Food and snacks. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says you can import food for personal use, but prior notice may be required. Its prior notice guidance is specific: the personal-use exception covers food you carry with you when you arrive, not food shipped to you. Store-bought food mailed as a gift is also subject to prior notice. The US Department of Agriculture has separate rules for some foods, such as meat products. Ask us before you order any food.

Sunscreen. The FDA regulates sunscreen as an over-the-counter (OTC) drug, unlike Korea, where it is sold as a cosmetic. US sunscreens must meet FDA's sunscreen monograph. Korean formulas may use UV filters that are not on the FDA list for US products. The FDA's personal importation page says that, in most circumstances, it is illegal for individuals to import drugs for personal use, with limited exceptions. Ask us before ordering sunscreen to the US.

Medicines and supplements. The same drug rules apply. Korean pharmacy items and health supplements are not something to order casually. Ask first.

Cosmetics. Regular skincare and makeup usually clear as cosmetics, but products that make drug claims, such as some acne or whitening items, may be treated as drugs.

Batteries and aerosols. These are restricted by air transport rules, not just US customs. Lithium batteries, spray cans and perfumes often cannot fly on standard services. See what you cannot ship from Korea and ask us before you order.

Knives, counterfeit goods and other prohibited items. Counterfeit brand goods are seized.

Item type	Main rule	What to do
Skincare and makeup	Usually cleared as cosmetics; dutiable	Check country of manufacture
Sunscreen	OTC drug in the US	Ask us before ordering
Snacks, ramyeon, tea	FDA prior notice; USDA for some ingredients	Ask us before ordering
Supplements and medicine	FDA drug rules	Ask us before ordering
Clothing and shoes	Normal duty may exceed 12.5%	Check fabric and origin
Books and albums	Dutiable rules can differ for printed and recorded material	Check current CBP guidance
Items with batteries	Air transport limits	Ask us before ordering

How does a purchasing agent differ from a package forwarder for US orders?

There are three ways to get a Korean product to the US. Many big Korean stores do not ship abroad, need a Korean phone number for 본인인증 (bon-in injeung, identity verification), or reject foreign cards. If the store ships to the US itself, that is often the simplest route, so check first.

	Buy direct	You buy, we ship (package forwarding)	We buy for you (HaulKorea)
Who places the order	You	You, using a Korean address	We do, from your link
Korean phone or card needed	Often	Often	No
Who declares value and contents	The store	The forwarder, from your info	We do, from the actual receipt
Who handles US duty	Depends on the store	Usually you, at delivery	You, at delivery
Combining items from many stores	No	Yes	Yes
Inspection before shipping	No	Sometimes	Photos sent before shipping

After August 2025, every parcel owes duty, and the recipient pays it. With a forwarder shipping duty unpaid, you are the importer of record and the courier bills you. HaulKorea also ships duty unpaid: our total covers the item, Korean domestic shipping and international shipping, and you pay US duty and any carrier clearance fee on delivery. What an agent changes is the buying and the declaration, made from the actual receipt.

For more on the trade-offs, see purchasing agent vs package forwarding.

How does ordering through HaulKorea work for the US?

1. Find the product on a Korean site, such as Olive Young, Musinsa or Coupang, and copy the product link.
2. Send us the product link with your size, color or option.
3. We show one total for the item, Korean domestic shipping and international shipping. US duty and carrier fees are not included.
4. Pay once with PayPal. No Korean phone number, card or Korean language needed.
5. We buy the item. If you ordered from several stores, we combine everything in our Korean warehouse into one box.
6. You get inspection photos before the box leaves Korea.
7. If the actual weight comes in lower than estimated, we refund the shipping difference. We never ask for an extra shipping payment. Duty and tax are paid separately on arrival.

If an item falls into a restricted category, such as food, sunscreen or anything with a battery, we will tell you before you pay.

How can you avoid surprise costs on Korean orders?

Check the country of manufacture. It is the single biggest factor in what you pay. A Korean store does not mean a Korean product.

Combine small orders. If you ship duty unpaid by courier, each parcel can carry its own advancement fee. One box usually costs less to clear than five.

Describe items accurately. CBP classifies based on the description. "Gift" or "sample" is not a description and invites delays.

Watch for news on the overcapacity investigation. A new tariff on Korean goods would change the numbers here.

Do not refuse a parcel to dodge a bill. You may still owe return shipping, and the store may not refund the original shipping.

Track arrival yourself. CBP's page notes that it does not notify importers when goods arrive. If paperwork is not presented within 15 days, goods can go to a warehouse and storage charges apply.

FAQ

Is there still a duty-free limit for packages from Korea to the US?

No. The $800 de minimis exemption was suspended for all countries on August 29, 2025, and CBP made the suspension indefinite in June 2026. A statute also repeals it from July 1, 2027.

What tariff do Korean products pay in the US right now?

As of October 15, 2026, most Korean-made goods pay a combined 12.5%. Products whose normal duty is already 12.5% or higher pay only the normal rate.

Is the rate based on where I bought the item or where it was made?

Where it was made. CBP says the country of origin is not necessarily the country of purchase, so a China-made item from a Korean store is treated as Chinese.

Can I ship Korean snacks and ramyeon to the US?

Food can be imported for personal use, but FDA requires prior notice for food shipped to you, and USDA rules apply to some ingredients. Ask us before ordering any food so we can check the product.

Why are Korean sunscreens hard to get in the US?

The US treats sunscreen as an over-the-counter drug, and products must meet FDA's monograph. Korea sells sunscreen as a cosmetic, and Korean formulas may use filters that are not on the FDA list. Ask before ordering.

Who pays duty when I use a package forwarder?

Usually you do. If the forwarder ships duty unpaid, the courier pays CBP and then bills you, often with an extra fee for advancing the money.

Does HaulKorea include US duty in the price?

No. HaulKorea ships duty unpaid to every country, including the US. The recipient pays duty, any sales tax and the carrier's clearance fee on delivery.

Could the 12.5% rate change?

Yes. A separate US investigation into overcapacity that includes Korea was still pending as of early October 2026. Check for news before a large order.