International Removals to South Korea (2026)
Moving to South Korea is a big step, and getting your home there in one piece should be the easy part. Flyto Relocation runs door-to-door international removals from Europe to Seoul, Busan, Incheon and every city in between, whether you are relocating for a job in Gangnam, a research post in Daejeon, or a fresh start on the coast. We combine our own European packing hubs with vetted local partners in Korea, so one English-speaking coordinator handles your entire move from your front door in Europe to your new apartment in Korea. No handoffs, no language barrier, no guesswork.
Whether you are shipping a studio flat’s worth of belongings or a full four-bedroom family home, we plan the sea and air routing, the packing, the customs paperwork and the final delivery around your visa timeline and your budget. Below is exactly how it works, what it covers, and what you need to know about Korean customs and visas before you go.
How Flyto works: European hubs plus trusted partners in Korea
Here is the honest version, because it is also our biggest advantage. Flyto is a European international mover with our own operational hubs across Northern, Central and Southern Europe. We do not run a Flyto office in Seoul, and we will never pretend otherwise. Instead, your goods are professionally packed and consolidated at our European hub, shipped to Korea by sea or air, and cleared and delivered by carefully vetted local partners on the ground in Korea.
What ties it together is a single coordinator who owns your move end to end. You deal with one person in your own language, not a chain of agents in different time zones who each blame the last. Most sea shipments route into the Port of Busan, one of the busiest container ports in the world and Korea’s main gateway, or into Incheon for the Seoul metropolitan area. Time-sensitive or smaller consignments go by air freight into Incheon International Airport. We recommend the routing that fits your deadline and your budget, then manage the whole chain so nothing falls through the cracks.
Our removal services to South Korea
We tailor the shipping method to the size of your move:
- FCL (Full Container Load): Your own 20ft or 40ft container, ideal for whole-house moves. Fastest to clear and the most secure, because your goods travel alone.
- LCL and groupage (Less than Container Load): You pay only for the space you use in a shared container. The economical choice for apartments, partial moves and smaller households.
- Air freight: For urgent items or lighter shipments where speed matters more than cost.
Every option is genuinely door-to-door and insured. Our teams handle professional export packing and materials, loading, customs documentation on both sides, and final delivery. We also offer secure storage in Europe or Korea if your dates do not line up, plus unpacking and debris removal on request.
Delivery into Korean apartments deserves a special mention. Most people arriving in Korea rent under jeonse (a large lump-sum deposit, often refunded at the end) or wolse (a smaller deposit plus monthly rent). Either way, you are usually moving into a high-rise flat with lift access, tight corridors and building rules about delivery times and service lifts. Our local partners are used to this environment and coordinate access, parking and lift bookings with your building so delivery day runs smoothly.
What drives the cost of your move
We do not publish one-size-fits-all prices, because an honest quote depends on your specific move. The main drivers are:
- Volume: How much you ship, measured in cubic metres, is the single biggest factor.
- Shipping method: FCL versus LCL groupage versus air freight.
- Origin and destination: Which European hub you ship from, and whether you deliver to Seoul, Busan, Incheon or a smaller city.
- Access: Floor level, lift availability, distance from the truck to the door, and any long-carry or shuttle needs at either end.
- Services: Full packing versus self-pack, storage, insurance cover level, and unpacking.
- Season: Peak periods and vessel availability can affect transit and cost.
Tell us what you are moving and where, and we will give you a clear, itemised quote with no hidden extras.
Customs and paperwork for South Korea
Korea Customs allows used household goods and personal effects to be imported duty-free when you are genuinely relocating, which is a significant saving. The key conditions to know:
- The goods must be owned and used abroad, generally for more than three to six months before your move.
- Your shipment should arrive within roughly six months of your own arrival in Korea.
- You will normally need your Residence Card (formerly the Alien Registration Card / ARC) or resident registration to clear the relief, so shipment timing is planned around your card being issued.
- A detailed English-language inventory of everything in the shipment is required.
Some items are excluded from the duty-free relief or restricted, including motor vehicles, new goods still in packaging, high-value single items, and certain foodstuffs, plants and controlled goods. Your Flyto coordinator prepares and checks the paperwork with you in advance so your shipment is not held at the port.
Visas and your residence card
You will need the right long-stay visa before your goods and your customs relief line up. Common routes for people relocating to Korea include the E-7 (skilled or specialist professional), E-1 (professor), E-2 (foreign language instructor) and D-8 (corporate investor or intra-company transfer) visas.
Once you arrive, if you are staying longer than 90 days you must register with immigration and obtain your Residence Card within 90 days of entry, counted from your passport entry stamp. Because customs relief on your household goods generally hinges on that card, we build your shipping timeline around it, so your belongings arrive when you are ready and eligible to receive them rather than sitting in demurrage at the port.
Why choose Flyto
Flyto Relocation holds a 4.9 rating from more than 500 reviews, and the reasons come up again and again: one English-speaking coordinator who actually answers, fully insured shipments, transparent quotes, and the honesty to tell you what we do ourselves and what our vetted Korean partners do on the ground. You are never left explaining your move to a stranger in a foreign office. We own the outcome from your door in Europe to your door in Korea.
How long does it take?
Sea freight from Europe to Busan or Incheon typically takes several weeks in transit, plus time for packing at origin, port handling, customs clearance and final delivery. As a rough guide, a full door-to-door sea move usually spans around six to ten weeks end to end, depending on your origin hub, routing and sailing schedules. Air freight is far quicker, often within one to two weeks door to door, at a higher cost. We give you a realistic timeline with your quote and keep you updated at every milestone.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay import duty on my household goods in Korea?
Usually no. Used personal effects owned and used abroad before your move are eligible for duty-free relief, provided they arrive within about six months of your arrival, you can show your Residence Card, and you supply a detailed inventory. We prepare the paperwork to secure that relief.
Which Korean cities do you deliver to?
All of them. Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Ulsan and beyond. Sea shipments usually route through Busan or Incheon, and our local partners handle final delivery to your address.
Do you deliver into high-rise apartments?
Yes. Delivery into Korean flats, including buildings with service-lift bookings, restricted access times and tight corridors, is standard for our local partners. We coordinate lift, parking and access with your building in advance.
Should I ship by sea or air?
Sea (FCL or LCL groupage) is the cost-effective choice for most household moves. Air freight suits urgent items or smaller, time-critical shipments. We advise the best mix for your deadline and budget.
Do you have your own office in Korea?
No, and we are upfront about that. Flyto runs its own hubs in Europe and works with vetted local partners in Korea, all coordinated by one Flyto contact. This hubs-plus-partners model keeps quality high and communication simple.
Is my shipment insured?
Yes. All our international removals are insured, and we will talk you through the cover levels available so you can choose what suits the value of your goods.
Get your quote for South Korea
Ready to move to Korea with a mover who tells you the truth and handles the whole journey? Get a clear, no-obligation quote and a single English-speaking coordinator for your entire relocation.
Get your free South Korea moving quote