Do you need to register for your personal customs code to order from overseas vendors while living in South Korea? Have you tried to obtain your personal customs code online and experienced difficulties? Do you live in Pyeongtaek? If that’s the case, then you have the option of going to the Pyeongtaek Customs Office in Pyeongtaek Port area to obtain the code in person.
What is the Personal Customs Code?
The Personal Customs Clearance Code (PCCC) is a 13-character alphanumeric identifier issued to individuals by the Korea Customs Service. It replaces the need for residents to provide their Resident Registration Number (RRN) when importing goods. The code is designed to protect personal information and streamline the customs process.
Please note that the PCCC code may be referred to by different names in English by different people or organizations. For this blog post, we used a common name we hear from online shopping sites. For example, on the customs form they translate the name as the Clearance Unique Code. Other translations of the name might exist.
Why does the Personal Customs Code Exist?
The PCCC exists primarily for two reasons:
- Privacy Protection: By using the PCCC instead of the RRN, the system helps protect individuals’ sensitive personal information, reducing the risk of identity theft and misuse of personal data.
- Simplified Customs Processing: The code allows for a more efficient and straightforward customs clearance process, reducing the administrative burden on both the importers and customs officials.
What It’s Used For: The PCCC is used in several contexts related to online shopping and importing goods:
- Online Orders: When residents in South Korea purchase items from international online retailers, they must provide their PCCC for customs clearance. This code is entered during the checkout process.
- Customs Declarations: The PCCC is used by customs officials to track and process incoming packages, ensuring that the correct duties and taxes are applied.
- Import Documentation: It facilitates the completion of necessary import documentation, making the overall process more efficient and less error-prone.
Getting Your Personal Customs Code
Usually, Legal Residents in Korea can obtain their PCCC by visiting the Korea Customs Service website and registering with their personal information. Once issued, this code can be used for all future imports, streamlining the process and enhancing security.
Getting Your Code in Person
However, my circumstances were unique. I could not obtain the code online. Other people who live in Korea without Legal Residency such as tourists or US military-affiliated people living in South Korea under SOFA Status might have similar issues.
Therefore, I found another way to solve the problem by making my way to the customs office, and I wanted to share the process.
Step 1: Preparation
You need to bring a few things with you:
- Passport and/or Foreign Registration Card.
- Korean address.
- Cellphone number.
Step 2: Go to Pyeongtaek Customs Building
Yes! We have a customs building in Pyeongtaek near the Pyeongtaek Port. This is a benefit to living in a district that is also an international shipping hub.
Pyeongtaek Location
Naver Address for the customs office
Name: 평택세관
Address: 경기 평택시 포승읍 평택항만길 45
Naver Link: https://naver.me/GQ4rdwrX
Distance Estimates
Since most of the folks using this article will likely be part of the US Military and living in Korea on under SOFA status, here are the time estimates for driving.
- From Sinjangdong (Osan Air Base) area, it is about a 50-minutes.
- From Paengseong (Camp Humphreys) area, it is about a 40-minutes.
Parking
Parking is free, but it may be limited as when I went around 1000, there weren’t a lot of spaces available.
Step 3: Go to the Personal Customs Code Office
Once you enter the building, the elevator will be in the center-right. Get off on the third floor, veer left, make another left, and the office will be the first one on the left. Their sign will say: 통관 총괄과
Ask someone for help. You can use Papago or Chat GPT for this. You may then be taken to another room, and there you will fill out the form.
Step 4: Complete the Form
Once you fill out the form with your information, they will take the form and your passport and/or FRC, and they will return to their workstation to process your information.
When I did mine in June 2024, there was a sign there that stated that if the officer in charge of this process is out, then they will take your information and process it later. There was also a POC phone number and email at the bottom of the sheet for you to reach out if your code is not made after three days.
Step 5: Get the Code
For me, I received a confirmation message with my new personal customs code on my KakaoTalk in a few minutes. Then they came back with my FRC (and a sticky note with my personal custom codes), and I was good to go!
All in all, the process really took less than 10 minutes. Others have mentioned that they were in and out quickly but be prepared for it to take longer if their offices are ever busy.
Step 6: Celebrate!
Seriously, rejoice that now you have your personal customs code and can order online with it! While you’re in the area, stop by Main Street, which is super close by!
Tara Popp holds a Master of Arts degree in Youth Development with an emphasis on youth and technology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Romantic and Modern literature and poetry. Ms. Popp was born and raised in Seoul for 30+ years as a Korean-American living around military and civilian communities. She moved down to Pyeongtaek officially in 2018. Though she misses the big city life in Seoul, she has grown to love the Pyeongtaek area and country living.
