Korea Origin Marking: When Must Your Import Carry It?

Korea requires an origin mark only on goods listed in Appendix 8 of the Foreign Trade Management Regulations. Not every import is covered, but if a designated product arrives unmarked, customs can hold it, and correction orders and administrative fines can follow.

Key takeaways

• The duty applies only to the HS 4-digit headings in Appendix 8. According to the Korea Customs Service, as of July 2025 that was 687 of 1,219 headings, about 56% of all import items.
• The mark must use one of the prescribed formats, such as “원산지: [country]” or “Made in [country]”, be easy for the final buyer to find and read, and not rub off or fall off easily.
• Raw materials imported to earn foreign currency, inputs for manufacturing, personal shipments and travellers’ effects, and samples not for display or sale can be exempt. Violations can bring fines of up to KRW 300 million and criminal penalties.

Which goods need an origin mark in Korea?

Under Article 33(1) of the Foreign Trade Act, anyone importing goods the trade minister has designated as origin-marking items must mark the origin on them. Whether a product is covered is set by Article 75 and Appendix 8 of the Foreign Trade Management Regulations, at the HS 4-digit level.

The Korea Customs Service origin-marking page says that, as of July 2025, 687 of 1,219 HS 4-digit headings were covered (513 industrial and 174 agricultural or fishery), about 56% of all import items. In a published customer Q&A, customs states that wallets, belts, bags, clothing and accessories are all designated items. So the first step is always to confirm your HS code; see how to look up and classify an HS code.

Origin is the country where the whole product was obtained (the wholly-obtained rule) or, when two or more countries are involved, the country where substantial transformation took place. A country that only carried out simple processing is not recognised as the origin. For how substantial transformation is tested, see RVC vs CTC origin rules.

How must the origin mark be applied?

Article 76 of the Foreign Trade Management Regulations allows the mark in Korean, Chinese characters or English, using one of the prescribed formats. It must be easy for the final buyer to spot and read during a normal purchase, and it must not be easily erased or detached.

Format	Example
원산지: [country] / [country] 산(産) / [country] 제(製)	원산지: 베트남
Made in [country] / Product of [country]	Made in Vietnam, Product of Japan
Made by [maker’s name, address, country]	Made by ABC Co., Hanoi, Vietnam
Country of Origin : [country]	Country of Origin : China

In principle the mark is applied at the manufacturing stage by printing, stencilling, branding, moulding, etching, stitching or a similar method. Stamps, labels, stickers or tags are allowed when those methods are unsuitable or could damage the product.

Where another law, such as the Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act or the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods, already prescribes a marking method, that method may be used for the origin mark. The full text is on the National Law Information Center.

When is origin marking exempted?

Article 82 of the Foreign Trade Management Regulations lists cases where even a designated product may go unmarked. Most involve goods that are not for sale or that will be substantially processed in Korea.

• Raw materials and capital goods imported to earn foreign currency
• Free consignments or unaccompanied baggage sent to individuals, and travellers’ effects
• Parts and raw materials that undergo substantial transformation in manufacturing, imported by the end user (including through an import agent)
• Goods not for sale or rental, imported directly by the end user
• Temporary imports such as R&D items, samples not for display or sale, and goods duty-free on condition of re-export
• Goods imported for personal use that the head of the customs office accepts as appropriate

Customs may later check whether an exemption was justified, for example whether foreign-currency earning took place or the goods were used for another purpose (Article 82(2)). Keep records showing how the goods were used. A sample that is put on display or sold does not qualify.

What penalties apply if the mark is missing or false?

Article 33(4) of the Foreign Trade Act prohibits false or misleading origin marks, damaging or altering a mark, and failing to mark designated goods. Violators can face correction orders and administrative fines of up to KRW 300 million (Article 33-2), and in some cases criminal penalties.

Correction orders can include suspension of sale, restoration and marking the origin. Under Article 53-2, a violation of Article 33(4) can lead to up to five years in prison or a fine of up to KRW 100 million, or both.

According to the Korea Customs Service, clearance is restricted at the border, and minor defects can be corrected before release. Goods within three months of clearance can be ordered back into a bonded area. The customs Q&A explains that a first finding of a missing mark usually brings a correction order, and later findings can add a fine.

What mistakes do importers commonly make?

The most common mistakes are putting the mark where buyers can’t easily see it and attaching it in a way that falls off. Many importers also confuse the origin mark with a certificate of origin.

A mark that sits only inside the packaging or on the bottom of a carton is hard for the final buyer to find during a normal purchase. Using only a loose tag or sticker on a product that could carry a permanent mark can also be challenged.

Some importers think the mark must be in Korean only, but Korean, Chinese characters or English are all fine if the prescribed format is followed. A certificate of origin is mainly a document for claiming FTA preferential tariffs, while the mark on the goods is a separate legal duty. For certificates, see how to issue a certificate of origin.

FAQ

Must every product imported into Korea carry an origin mark?

No. Only items listed in Appendix 8 of the Foreign Trade Management Regulations are covered. Customs puts that at about 56% of HS 4-digit headings, so check your HS code first.

Does the origin also have to appear on an online store?

The Foreign Trade Act duty is to mark the goods themselves. Origin information on an online listing can fall under other laws, so check the rules for each sales channel separately.

Are samples and exhibition goods exempt?

Samples not for display or sale, and goods not for sale or rental imported directly by the end user, can be exempt. Goods that will be displayed or sold must be marked.

What happens if a missing mark is found during clearance?

If the defect is minor, customs releases the goods after the mark is added or corrected. False marks or deliberately missing marks can lead to fines or a criminal referral.

Sources

• Korea Customs Service: origin marking guide (Korean)
• Korea Customs Service customer Q&A on origin marking (Korean)
• Foreign Trade Act Articles 33, 33-2 and 53-2
• Foreign Trade Management Regulations Articles 75, 76 and 82, Appendix 8 (National Law Information Center)