Inchon Airport to simplify customs procedures

Inchon International Airport plans to streamline customs procedures for foreign passengers when it opens at the end of March. According to the Ministry of Construction and Transportation and Inchon International Airport, the government decided to improve customs clearance procedures beginning March 29, opening day at the new airport.

Under the plan, X-ray examinations of baggage will not be required and the obligatory presentation of a written declaration will be limited to travelers possessing goods valued at more than $400. With the measure, designed to reduce the time necessary to pass through customs, which currently takes about 40 minutes at Kimpo International Airport, the total time required is expected to be shortened to 10-20 minutes.

To guard against negative effects arising from the changes, closed circuit TVs will be set up and the Korea Customs Service will inaugurate a special task force responsible for guarding against criminal activity.

These measures are in line with the practices of advanced countries, where customs inspections are carried out based on the principle of self-regulation. Under the existing system, few illegal acts by incoming passengers were found.

With the announcement of the new plan, the number of desks for customs inspections was reduced to 50 from the originally planned 90 and space allocated for those with nothing to declare was increased.