On our Korean storefront, knivesandstones.co.kr, prices are shown in Korean won. For an order over US$150 they are not the whole cost: Korean customs duty and VAT are not collected at our checkout, so the courier collects them when the parcel is delivered. This page explains how much that is and how to work it out.
The US$150 line
A personal order from overseas is free of duty and VAT when the goods are worth US$150 or less. The line is in US dollars, not ₩150,000, so its won value moves with the exchange rate. (The higher US$200 line applies only to goods shipped from the United States; our orders ship from Australia.)
Over US$150 nothing is deducted: duty and VAT are charged on the whole value, the goods plus international shipping (and insurance).
The rates
- Customs duty on kitchen knives (HS 8211.92): 8%.
- VAT: 10% of the goods, shipping and duty together.
Together that is about 18.8% of the goods plus shipping. The Korea-Australia FTA does not lower it: our knives are made in Japan.
Personal customs clearance code
Every personal import into Korea needs a personal customs clearance code (개인통관고유부호). It is free and issued at once at p.customs.go.kr.
Kitchen knives can be imported
Kitchen knives are outside Korea's sword (도검) permit rules: no permit is needed to import or own one, and there is no blade length limit for kitchen knives.
What our checkout charges
On the Korean storefront prices are shown in won, and shipping is charged at checkout (₩27,000 to ₩57,000 on recent orders, depending on the order). We do not collect duty or VAT at checkout, so for an order over US$150 the courier collects them at delivery. The price on our page is not the total for an order over US$150.
Worked example (an estimate)
Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD nashiji gyuto 210mm, October 2026:
| Knife | ₩470,000 |
| Shipping (about) | ₩35,000 |
| Goods + shipping | ₩505,000 |
| Duty, 8% (about) | ₩40,400 |
| VAT, 10% of ₩545,400 (about) | ₩54,500 |
| Total (about) | ₩600,000 |
A knife under US$150, for example one at ₩121,000, pays no duty or VAT. These figures are an estimate: the Korea Customs Service's own estimator, 해외직구물품 예상세액 조회 (customs.go.kr), gives the exact amount.
Hard to find in Korea
When we checked in October 2026:
- The Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane SKD nashiji line was sold out at many Korean shops.
- The SKD nashiji bunka 165mm and the Yu Kurosaki Raijin bunka 165mm were not found on sale in Korea.
We also make our own wenge saya for the Hatsukokoro x Yoshikane line, and our K&S handles.
Returns
Returns are accepted within 30 days, wherever you order from.
Questions Korean buyers ask
Is US$150 the same as ₩150,000?
No. The line is US$150; its won value depends on the exchange rate on the day.
I bought a knife on a trip to Japan. How do I bring it home?
In checked baggage only. Each traveller has a US$800 allowance; above it you declare the goods, and declaring them yourself can take 30% off the tax.
