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Exporting clothing, footwear and textiles from South Korea

For Korean clothing and textiles, export documents centre on origin: a certificate of origin under the Foreign Trade Act, or FTA proof of origin issued by an agency or made out by the exporter. Duties on imported fabric used in exports may be refunded, and children's clothing made for export may be exempted from Korean safety rules.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Certificate of origin
Applied for under Article 37, Foreign Trade Act
FTA proof of origin
Agency-issued or self-certified, per the agreement
Approved exporter
KCS certification to prove origin itself
Origin records
Kept up to five years, or as the agreement says
Drawback
Duties on imported materials refunded within five years
Export declaration
To the head of a customs office (Customs Act)

Before the goods leave

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Does the buyer need a certificate of origin, or FTA proof of origin for a lower duty? Read more
  2. 2Does the garment meet the agreement's origin rule, and are the supplier records kept? Read more
  3. 3Is the exporter an approved exporter, or does an agency issue the certificate? Read more
  4. 4Were imported fabric, trims or packing used, and is drawback being claimed? Read more
  5. 5Is it children's clothing that would need Korean safety certification if sold in Korea? Read more
  6. 6Is the export declaration ready? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Origin marking and certificates of origin

Marking origin on goods, certificates of origin for exported goods, and proving origin to claim a free trade agreement rate in the destination.

  • Goods the Minister has publicly announced as subject to origin marking are marked when exported or imported; false or misleading marks are prohibited (Article 33, Foreign Trade Act).
  • A certificate of origin for exported goods is applied for under Article 37 of the Foreign Trade Act, on payment of a fee.
  • Under a free trade agreement, a certificate of origin is either issued by an agency after it verifies the origin, or prepared and signed by the exporter, producer or importer, as the agreement provides (Article 11, FTA Customs Act).
  • An approved exporter certified by KCS may prove origin itself and use simplified procedures where the agreement allows (Article 12).
  • An exporter or producer that finds an error in a document evidencing origin notifies the customs office and the importer (Article 14); documents evidencing origin are kept for up to five years, or longer where the agreement says so (Article 15).
  • KCS issues a Certificate of Non-Manipulation for goods in transit or stored in a bonded area, used to show direct consignment under an FTA.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps origin workings, certificates and supplier declarations with the shipment, dated, and reads them against what the destination asks for. Ask about this

Drawback of duties on imported materials

Refund of customs duties paid on imported raw materials and packing used in exported goods.

  • Raw materials for export include materials combined into or used up in making the export goods, their packing materials, and goods imported and exported unchanged (Article 3, Drawback Act).
  • Exports eligible for refund include those with an export declaration accepted under the Customs Act (Article 4).
  • Duties are refunded on raw materials imported within two years before the date set by Presidential Decree, or three years in prescribed cases (Article 9).
  • The refund is applied for at a customs office designated by KCS within five years from the date the goods are offered for export (Article 14).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the import entries and export declarations that tie a refund to each lot, dated, so the record can be shown when customs asks. Ask about this

Children's clothing made for export

Exemptions in the Special Act on the Safety of Children's Products for products made or imported for export.

  • Children's products are goods, or their parts or accessories, used by or for children not over 13 years of age, excluding listed goods such as drugs, cosmetics and food contact articles (Article 2, Special Act on the Safety of Children's Products).
  • The Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources may exempt children's products manufactured or imported for export from safety certification and safety verification (Articles 18(1)1 and 22(8)1).
  • Products manufactured or imported for export are listed among the cases in which no mark of supplier's declaration of conformity may be placed (Article 25(1)1).

How we help: Compliant Always records whether each children's line is made for export and keeps the destination's test reports with the lot, dated. Ask about this

Export declaration to customs

The Customs Act declaration for goods leaving Korea, and the checks customs makes on it.

  • A person who intends to export goods declares their names, standards, quantities and values, and other matters set by Presidential Decree, to the head of a customs office (Article 241(1), Customs Act).
  • The declaration is filed in the name of the owner of the goods or a licensed customs broker; an export declaration may also be filed in the name of the manufacturer that supplied the goods to the owner (Article 242).
  • For personal effects, consignments, unaccompanied goods and postal items, the declaration may be omitted or simplified as Presidential Decree prescribes (Article 241(2)).
  • Goods needing a permit, approval or label under other statutes at export are checked by customs for it at clearance (Article 226).
  • Korea Customs Service (KCS): the declaration goes to the customs office with jurisdiction over the place where the goods are stored, and customs may review documents or inspect the goods.
  • Goods are loaded onto the means of transport within 30 days of the declaration being accepted, extendable up to one year; otherwise acceptance may be revoked (Article 251).
  • KCS: a false declaration, or export without one, may be punished as a false report, smuggling or price manipulation under the Customs Act.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the invoice, packing details and permits behind each declaration with the shipment and lot, dated, and shows what is missing before the goods are declared. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ExporterThe certificate of origin or FTA proof of origin, the export declaration and any drawback claim.Origin workings, certificates and declarations kept with each shipment, dated.
Garment maker or producerThe production records and supplier declarations that show origin.Bills of materials and supplier records ready for an origin check.
Fabric and trim suppliersDocuments on where their materials come from.Supplier declarations kept with the lots they cover.
Customs broker or forwarderFiling the export declaration and loading within 30 days of acceptance.The documents behind each declaration in one record.

Where are the goods going?

Most of what clothing, footwear and textiles have to meet is set where they are sold. Each guide sets out the rules on arrival, with the official source for each.

Questions businesses ask

How do I get a certificate of origin for clothing exported from South Korea?
A person who wants a certificate of origin for exported goods applies under Article 37 of the Foreign Trade Act and pays the fee. Guidelines, validity and fees are set by Presidential Decree.
Who issues FTA certificates of origin in Korea?
Depending on the agreement, an agency named by Ministerial Decree issues the certificate after verifying origin, or the exporter, producer or importer prepares and signs it (Article 11, FTA Customs Act).
What is an approved exporter?
An exporter KCS certifies as able to prove the origin of exported goods. It may prove origin itself where the agreement allows and use simplified procedures (Article 12, FTA Customs Act). KCS offers an online check of approved exporter status.
What if I find a mistake in an origin document I already sent?
The exporter or producer notifies the competent customs office and the importer in the partner country within the period set by ministerial decree (Article 14, FTA Customs Act).
How long do I keep origin records for textiles?
Up to five years as Presidential Decree sets, or longer where the agreement specifies (Article 15, FTA Customs Act). Customs may ask for them with at least 20 days to reply (Article 16).
Can I get duty back on imported fabric used in exported clothing?
Duties on imported materials combined into exported goods, and their packing, may be refunded if the materials were imported within two years before the date set by decree; apply within five years of export (Drawback Act, Articles 3, 9 and 14).
Do I need to mark origin on exported clothing?
Goods the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources has publicly announced as subject to origin marking are marked when exported or imported, and false or misleading marks are prohibited (Article 33, Foreign Trade Act).
Does children's clothing made for export need Korean safety certification?
The Minister may exempt children's products manufactured for export from safety certification and safety verification (Articles 18 and 22, Special Act on the Safety of Children's Products).
What is a Certificate of Non-Manipulation?
A KCS certificate that goods in transit or stored in a bonded area were not altered beyond unloading, reloading and preservation, used to show direct consignment under an FTA.
How does Compliant Always help with exporting from South Korea?
Our team reads the rules for the routes you ship. Compliant Always shows which export documents apply to your product, keeps them with the shipment beside what the destination asks for, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

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