[Global Economic Times] The Korea Customs Service announced on the 21st that from this year until last month, it had detected 60.8 billion won worth of imported goods (143 cases) that had abused the simplified taxation system for overseas direct purchases.

This is a 13% increase from the same period last year (54 billion won, 136 cases).

Goods under $150 ($200 in the U.S.) intended for direct use can be imported into the country exempt from tariffs, etc., without import declaration, but cases of abuse of this are increasing.

Specifically, customs criminals who smuggled goods under the pretense of using them themselves accounted for the largest amount at 53 billion won (110 cases). Public health offenses, including smuggling of illegal food and pharmaceutical products, amounted to KRW 5.8 billion (11 cases), so-called 'counterfeit' offenses that violated intellectual property rights amounted to KRW 1.9 billion (four cases), and drug offenses amounted to KRW 100 million (18 cases).

The Korea Customs Service announced that it will conduct a special crackdown for five weeks starting on the 28th as crimes abusing the overseas direct purchase system are increasing.

The plan is to strictly crack down on illegal activities by strengthening information analysis and planning crackdowns during periods when overseas direct purchases are concentrated, such as Singles' Day in China and Black Friday in the United States.

In cooperation with major domestic and foreign e-commerce companies, we plan to conduct intensive monitoring of illegally imported goods distributed online and take measures such as suspension of use of those who sell illegally imported goods.