By Lee Hyo-sik
A growing number of Korean travelers have been caught attempting to sneak luxury brand bags and high-end watches through Incheon International Airport to avoid paying duty and much higher domestic prices.
Incheon Airport Customs said Sunday that there have been 361 cases of smuggling in the first six months of the year, up 36 percent from 266 cases during the same period last year.
Under Customs Law, the allowed amount of purchases abroad must be equal to or less than $400, and when Koreans and non-Koreans enter with items exceeding that amount, they are obliged to declare them and pay due taxes.
Those caught smuggling the items without properly filing a customs report will see their possessions confiscated. The seized products are sold through a public bid and the earnings go to the state coffers.
In order to recover their goods, violators must pay fines on top of due taxes. If the items are subject to an import ban, they will be destroyed.
“In the past, many travelers tried to smuggle pills and other stamina-boosting items from China and other Asian countries, most of which are prohibited. But these days more and more Koreans, particularly young women, attempt to bring luxury brand bags and other expensive consumer items without paying due taxes,” an Incheon airport customs officer said.
It is much cheaper to buy luxury bags and watches in Europe because they are sold here at substantially higher prices, he said.
“Many Koreans try to bring high-end items into the country either for their own use or for sale to others. We will continue to thoroughly check those who traveled to Europe, Hong Kong and other Southeast Asian nations if their purchases are over the legally-allowed amount,” the officer said.
French brand Louis Vuitton topped the list of confiscated brand bags at 47 in the first half of this year, followed by Italian luxury brand Prada at 43, Gucci at 29 and Chanel at 27.
Among the seized luxury watches, Cartier came in first at nine, followed by Omega at eight and TAG Heuer at seven.