Regulatory & compliance · International household goods

International: South Korea

To itself arrange the international sea or air leg of a move, a mover needs International Logistics Forwarding Business registration: a genuine, separate credential from the domestic trucking permission

Regulated byInternational Logistics Forwarding Business (국제물류주선업) registration under Article 2 of the Framework Act on Logistics Policy, administered by local/metropolitan government (a delegated local-government function); required for a company arranging import/export cargo logistics in its own name and account using others’ logistics facilities or equipment. It is the credential a mover needs to itself provide the international sea or air leg of a relocation, rather than handing the shipment to an unrelated forwarder

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

International Logistics Forwarding Business Registration Required: Yes, where the mover arranges the international leg in its own name. A company that arranges international (import/export) cargo logistics in its own name and account, using another party’s logistics facilities or equipment (ships, aircraft, etc.), needs International Logistics Forwarding Business registration under the Framework Act on Logistics Policy. This is the credential a mover needs if it intends to itself arrange the ocean or air leg of an international relocation, rather than simply handing the shipment to an unrelated, separately-registered forwarder.
Minimum Guarantee Insurance of 100 Million KRW: Yes, with exemptions available. Registration generally requires a guarantee insurance policy of at least 100 million KRW, unless the applicant meets an exemption threshold based on paid-in capital (for a corporation) or business asset valuation (for a non-corporate applicant).
Disqualification Conditions: Yes. An applicant is barred from registration if it has been sentenced to imprisonment for violating the Marine Transportation Act, the Aviation Act, or the Trucking Transport Business Act, until 2 years have passed since completion or exemption of the sentence; a prior registration cancellation also bars re-registration for 2 years.
Registered Locally, With a Currently Evolving Administrative Structure: Registration is administered by local or metropolitan government as a delegated function, but as of 2026, a legislative amendment was under public comment specifically to address inconsistent local management (attributed to frequent staff turnover and the absence of a unified computer system) by allowing delegation of registration administration to a specialized professional body such as an industry association. Confirm the current administering body directly, given this area is actively being reformed.
Ongoing Reporting Obligations: Yes. Failure to report required changes (including matters tied to the 3-year mark) within the applicable window can result in a fine (approximately 2 million KRW) and registration cancellation.

OverviewOverview & Scope

A South Korean mover intending to itself arrange the ocean or air leg of an international relocation, rather than routing the entire international portion through an unrelated, separately-registered forwarding company, needs International Logistics Forwarding Business registration under the Framework Act on Logistics Policy. This is a genuinely distinct credential from the domestic MOLIT trucking permission covered on the South Korea page. The registration requires a minimum guarantee insurance policy (100 million KRW, with capital-based exemptions available) and carries disqualification conditions tied to violations of Korea’s maritime, aviation, or trucking transport laws. A mover that instead hands the international leg to a registered forwarder, or subcontracts the underlying carriage to shipping lines and airlines, relies on those companies’ own licences and registrations for the transport they perform.

The administrative structure for this registration was itself under active legislative reform as of 2026, given documented inconsistency in local government management, so the current administering authority is worth confirming directly rather than assuming a static structure.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers that arrange the international sea or air leg in their own name must:

Register for International Logistics Forwarding Business with the relevant local/metropolitan government.
Obtain guarantee insurance of at least 100 million KRW, unless eligible for a capital/asset-based exemption.
Have no disqualifying violations of the Marine Transportation Act, Aviation Act, or Trucking Transport Business Act.
Meet ongoing reporting obligations, including any 3-year reporting requirement, to avoid fines or registration cancellation.

Movers that subcontract the international carriage must:

Use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

International Logistics Forwarding Business registration held with the local/metropolitan governmentWhere applicable (mover arranges the international sea or air leg in its own name)Verified by DocumentRequired
Guarantee insurance of at least 100 million KRW in force, or capital/asset-based exemptionWhere applicable (mover holds International Logistics Forwarding Business registration)Verified by DocumentRequired
No disqualifying violations under the Marine Transportation Act, Aviation Act, or Trucking Transport Business ActWhere applicable (mover holds International Logistics Forwarding Business registration)Verified by AffirmationRequired
Ongoing reporting obligations for the registration met, including any 3-year reportWhere applicable (mover holds International Logistics Forwarding Business registration)Verified by AffirmationRequired

Subcontracted transport

Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired