• 5 years ago
For those who love taking advantage of some duty-free shopping at the airport,... South Korea's largest airport is opening duty-free stores in arrivals zones on Friday,... removing the hassle of having to travel with items purchased before departure.
Oh Soo-young reports
Starting on Friday at 2PM, Korea time, you can buy duty free as soon as you land at South Korea's main airport,... not just last minute before you leave the country.
Incheon International Airport is opening three duty free stores near the baggage claim,... two in terminal one and the other inside terminal two.
Operated by SM Duty Free and Entas Duty Free,... the stores will sell products from ten categories,... including cosmetics, perfumes and liquor.
Excluded items include tobacco products,... although e-cigarette devices will be on sale.
Fruit and other agricultural goods also won't be on the shelves.
There is also a cap on purchases a limit of 600 U.S. dollars for both Koreans and foreigners.
For Koreans travelling abroad,... however,... that's the maximum tax exemption they can get on total purchases made at duty-free stores at arrivals, departures as well as in-flight stores and shops overseas.
Tax waivers will be applied on Korean-made products first.
Local shoppers can spend an extra three-thousand dollars in duty free stores, or overseas, which will be subject to duties.
Before leaving the security area,... locals must report their purchases,... if they exceed the duty-free limit,... and pay a 30-percent tax on the goods,... with up to 125 dollars deducted.
If unreported,... a duty of 40 percent will be applied upon discovery.
Special duty-free products which include liquor, perfume, and cigarettes will not have taxes applied,... regardless of the amount purchased.
Despite the convenience the stores are expected to bring to travelers,... there are some concerns the stores could clog up the baggage claim area,... and pose security hazards.
Incheon International Airport has said it will add more personnel to the shopping zones to regulate human traffic,.. and place more CCTV cameras and personnel to prevent security lapses.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

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