Do I need a Korea PCC code for parcels from Thailand?

Korea's Personal Customs Clearance code is mandatory for personal imports. Registering takes minutes online at unipass.customs.go.kr. Thai Nexus collects the PCC before dispatch because parcels without one sit uncleared at Incheon.

Is there import duty on goods from Thailand to Korea?

Mostly reduced or zero under AKFTA or RCEP with a valid Certificate of Origin. VAT of 10 percent applies above the USD 150 per-consignment-per-day threshold. Multiple same-day parcels to one recipient can aggregate and lose the exemption.

How fast is shipping Thailand to Korea?

Sea freight is 8 to 13 days port to port to Busan. Air freight is 1 to 2 days ex Bangkok to ICN. Express parcels from our warehouse run 2 to 4 days door to door on available services.

Can I ship Thai cosmetics to Korea commercially?

Only after MFDS pre-registration of the products for commercial import. Personal-use quantities under the USD 150 threshold usually clear without registration. Thai Nexus refuses commercial beauty lines that cannot show MFDS clearance.

How much does a 20ft container cost from Thailand to South Korea?

Indicative FCL 20ft ocean freight on this lane is $1,180-1,720 (USD, port to port, not a binding quote). Rates move with sailing date, space and fuel. LCL for boxes and pallets is quoted on request. Thai Nexus publishes the band on this page and confirms a binding figure before you pay.

How long does air freight take from Thailand to South Korea?

Airport-to-airport is typically 1-2 days to ICN. Door-to-door takes longer once Thai export clearance, destination import and last-mile delivery are included. Cut-off at Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and the booked service class are the main variables. The transit table on this page lists the bands Thai Nexus quotes against.

What is the duty de minimis from Thailand to South Korea?

Destination duty threshold: USD 150. Import VAT treatment: 10% VAT. These apply to the consignee country, not Thailand export tax. Official authority links sit on the matching destination page. Thai Nexus states who pays duty and tax on the binding quote.

Which airport is used for air cargo from Thailand to South Korea?

International air cargo from Thailand leaves Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Deep-sea FCL and LCL load at Laem Chabang or Bangkok Port depending on the sailing. This lane page names destination airports and transshipment hubs where relevant. Thai Nexus books from BKK for air and from the quoted load port for sea.

Should I use a parcel courier or freight from Thailand to South Korea?

Express courier and door-to-door air share the same calculator from 0.5 kg to about 300 kg chargeable weight on most lanes. Airline AWB cargo and sea FCL/LCL fit heavier or palletised freight. Duty and VAT rules for South Korea are on the destination page. Thai Nexus books all modes from the same Hua Hin and Bangkok shops.

What export documents are needed from Thailand to South Korea?

Base set: Commercial invoice, packing list; AKFTA or RCEP CO; PCC (customs code) for personal imports. Extra certificates depend on commodity (food, plants, batteries, antiques). Thai export entries are filed through Thailand Customs e-Customs. When Thai Nexus is booked as origin forwarder, our team files the Thai side; you supply commercial invoice and packing list data.

Is LCL or FCL cheaper from Thailand to South Korea?

On most lanes LCL is quoted first below about 12 to 15 CBM; FCL usually wins above that break-even. Use the FCL vs LCL volume tool with lane code KR on this page for a first read. LCL prices are on request; FCL bands here are indicative only. Thai Nexus quotes both modes side by side when volume sits in the grey zone.

What is the difference between DAP and DDP from Thailand to South Korea?

DAP delivers to the address but the consignee pays destination duty and tax unless agreed otherwise. DDP includes those charges in the booked product when offered for that lane and commodity. Not every service or goods type supports DDP. The live Thai Nexus quote names the Incoterm and who pays import charges; see also the DAP vs DDP decision guide.

How do I get a shipping quote from Thailand to South Korea?

Start with the express parcel calculator for retail boxes, or this lane page for sea and air bands. A binding quote needs destination, weight or CBM, dimensions and a plain description of contents. Thai Nexus issues itemized quotes in the client app or at the Hua Hin and Bangkok counters before payment.

Who can ship freight from Thailand to South Korea?

Any licensed Thai forwarder or carrier can book export from Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Thai seaports. Thai Nexus Point operates walk-in and account shipping from Hua Hin HQ and Bangkok Din Daeng, with air cargo ex BKK and sea ex Laem Chabang. Registration / tax ID 0775567004498. You do not need your own Thai company for personal parcels.

How do I ship from Thailand to South Korea?

Walk in to Hua Hin or Bangkok with the goods, or open a Thai mailbox and forward orders to that address. Staff weigh, quote, pack to carrier rules and file Thai export documents. Parcels, air freight and sea FCL/LCL are quoted on the same account. Thai Nexus tracks with a TNX number once dispatched.

TH → KR

Find a country

Shipping from Thailand to South Korea: rates, transit and customs

Thailand to Busan takes 8 to 13 days with a 20ft container at $1,180 to $1,720, and most Thai goods enter duty-free or reduced under RCEP and the ASEAN-Korea agreement.

FCL (full container load) means you book a whole 20ft or 40ft container for your cargo only.

LCL (less than container load) is shared-container sea freight from 1 CBM. If you are shipping boxes or pallets that do not fill a container, this is usually what you need. Thai Nexus can prepare export pallets from cartons at intake. Quote on request.

Open the FCL vs LCL volume tool to see which mode to quote first for your CBM and lane.

Indicative USD ocean freight only. Rates change with sailing date, space and fuel. Confirm on quote before booking.

How much does freight from Thailand to South Korea cost?

Freight rates Thailand to South Korea
Mode	Indicative rate
Full container (20ft FCL)	$1,180-1,720
Full container (40ft FCL)	$1,540-2,260
Boxes / pallets by sea (LCL)	On request
Commercial air freight	Quoted per AWB - air freight service
Express air (0.5 kg, 10x10x10 cm)

Indicative USD ocean freight only. Rates change with sailing date, space and fuel. Confirm on quote before booking. Express parcel price is live from the express parcel calculator. Commercial air freight is quoted per shipment, not a published per-kg band.

Operator execution rules

Binding booking terms for this route. Indicative rates above are not a guarantee without a scoped quote.

14-day rate locks maxApplies on this route
Do not guarantee these rates past 14 days. Carrier war surcharges are floating weekly.
UAE high-risk clause
TH to AE requires an explicit floating insurance addendum in client contracts to cover sudden port blockages or diverted discharges at Jebel Ali.
Working capital squeeze
Ocean lines are demanding shorter payment terms on Middle East and European lanes. We need to collect 100% freight prepayment from clients before container loading.

Contract wording is in our Standard Trading Conditions.

FCL vs LCL volume tool for this corridor (LCL quoted on request).

How long does it take?

Transit times Thailand to South Korea
Mode	Transit band
Sea freight	8-13 days to Busan/Incheon
Air freight	1-2 days to ICN
Express door to door	2-4 days door to door

Routing: Laem Chabang direct weekly to Busan; air ex BKK direct to ICN multiple daily.

Customs in South Korea

Customs rules for imports into South Korea
Item	Rule
Duty threshold	USD 150
VAT / GST	10% VAT
Typical duty band	Mostly 0-8% under AKFTA/RCEP with CO
Required documents	Commercial invoice, packing list; AKFTA or RCEP CO; PCC (customs code) for personal imports

Parcel-level detail, prohibited items and a worked cost example are on the South Korea destination customs guide.

Export documents checklist

Commercial invoice with truthful values and HS description
Packing list with weights and dimensions
Thai export declaration filed by Thai Nexus before carrier handoff
Destination papers as required: Commercial invoice, packing list; AKFTA or RCEP CO; PCC (customs code) for personal imports

Worked landed-cost example for South Korea

Parcel example from our customs guide (not a freight FCL quote). Use it to see how duty and VAT stack on top of shipping.

2 kg parcel of Thai streetwear, declared USD 130

Cost line	Amount
Item cost	USD 130.00
Express shipping (2 kg)	See calculator
Duty and VAT (under USD 150)	USD 0.00
Illustrative total	USD 174.00

Express shipping is a live parcel-calculator rate in THB (0.5 kg, 10x10x10 cm). Duty, VAT and other lines use illustrative local-currency maths; total is a guide only until you confirm on the calculator.

Full South Korea customs guide

What is specific to this route?

01
Personal imports into Korea require the recipient's Personal Customs Clearance code (PCC); parcels without it sit in customs until one is supplied
02
AKFTA and RCEP can offer different preferential duty treatment. Confirm the applicable agreement and certificate requirements for the commodity before shipping.
03
The USD 150 de minimis is per consignment per day; multiple same-day parcels to one recipient get aggregated and taxed
04
Korean food and cosmetics imports need pre-registration with MFDS, which catches first-time Thai beauty shipments off guard

Seasonality: Chuseok (September/October) and Lunar New Year each close clearance for most of a week.

Related operator pages

This page owns freight bands for the lane. Use the destination guide for duty thresholds, the express parcel calculator for package rates, and the FCL vs LCL volume tool for sea mode guidance.

Thailand to South Korea: questions we get asked

Need a binding quote on this route?

Open client login Get a quote