Can you bring tobacco or cigarettes to South Korea?
Short answer
Allowed, within limits
Tobacco
allowed, within limitsDuty-free from age 19 (counted by year of birth), separately from the US$800 general allowance, one kind only: 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 200 heated-tobacco sticks, or 20 ml of nicotine liquid (under 1% nicotine), or 110 g of other e-cigarette types, or 250 g of other tobacco.
Declare anything above the allowance. If you declare it yourself, customs duty is reduced by 30%; if undeclared goods are found, a penalty of 40% of the tax due is added (60% if it happens twice or more within 2 years). Tobacco above the allowance is charged customs duty, VAT and individual consumption tax, plus local taxes (tobacco consumption tax and local education tax) billed separately.
Also covers: tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, heated tobacco
Source Korea Customs Service — 여행자 휴대품 통관 (traveller baggage clearance: duty-free allowances, declaration)Checked against the source on 2026-10-26
Check your specific trip →Compare tobacco or cigarettes in every destination →Full South Korea guide →
Other things to check for South Korea
Rules for tobacco or cigarettes in other countries
Informational only — not legal advice. Customs rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. See update history