Exhibition showcases new customs clearance technologies

Visitors take a look at an exhibition running as part of Korea Customs Week 2023 at The Shilla Seoul hotel in central Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Yi Whan-woo

By Yi Whan-woo

More than a dozen technological labs, engineering schools and businesses participating in Korea Customs Week 2023 are showcasing up-to-date technology that can make customs clearance more efficient and better safeguard borders across the world.

The technologies are on display during the two-day exhibition running through Thursday as part of Korea Customs Week 2023.

The areas of focus encompass electronic customs clearance systems, e-commerce platforms, express cargo management, forensic examinations, virtual reality (VR)-based training on customs clearance, big data-based analysis to prevent the entry of criminals and illegal goods, drug detection, artificial intelligence-assisted X-ray scanning, robot-assisted check-on containers and three-dimensional searches on goods carrying radioactive materials, and automatic language translation.

Customs UNI-PASS International Agency (CUPIA) promotes Korea's indigenously-developed electronic customs clearance system, UNI-PASS, as the system's official operator and maintenance service provider.

The Korea Customs Service (KCS) has exported UNI-PASS to more than 10 countries since 2015, and CUPIA has been developing a localized version for customer countries.

Tasked with making trade possible without complicated paperwork, the government-affiliated Korea Trade Network (KTNET) showcases a platform aimed at helping global e-commerce firms to manage orders, inventory, declaration on exports and imports, shipping and payment through exclusively online.

Two Seoul-based private logistics companies, JNDK and SICK, introduce their respective automatic sorting system of express cargoes by using AI, sensors, and other relevant technological tools.

Two system integration (SI) programming companies, JETCO and GMDSOFT, showcase digital forensic devices and solutions that can be used in search and investigation, including customs clearance.

Specializing in VR-based content, startup HO Entertainment features a VR training program in relation to customs procedures.

In relation to UNI-PASS, IT company KCNET promotes big data, blockchain and other technologies that can upgrade electronic customs clearance systems while preventing crimes across the border in advance.

Philmedi and Thermo Fisher Scientific, both life science firms, have come up with devices that can detect cocaine and other narcotics. In particular, Thermo Fisher Scientific's portable chemical analyzer can find illegal chemicals, explosives and chemical weapons.

Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) is showcasing an AI-based monitoring program for customs officers to find drugs, firearms and other prohibited goods contained in luggage when using X-ray.

KAIST is also showcasing a microrobot that can climb and go inside a container and detect if it carries any illegal goods.

Hanyang University is introducing three-dimensional measurement devices that can detect radioactive materials and visualize the results in real-time, and help protect a nuclear hazard.

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) is presenting a translation program for Korean, English, as well as Chinese, French, Spanish, Vietnamese, Thai, Russian and German.