This figure indicates that more and more Koreans are choosing to make direct purchases abroad while focusing on the protection of their personal information. (image: Kobiz Media/Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, April 20 (Korea Bizwire) – With many Koreans enjoying online shopping overseas, the number of consumers issued customs clearance codes for overseas direct purchases has tripled in the past year.
To purchase goods directly from overseas online retailers, some 3.38 million Koreans had been issued personal customs clearance codes as of February 2016. According to the Korea Customs Service (KCS) on Tuesday, the number of issued codes increased threefold compared with that of last year.
This figure indicates that more and more Koreans are choosing to make direct purchases abroad while focusing on the protection of their personal information.
The KCS issues 13-digit codes that can be used instead of resident registration numbers for overseas direct purchasing. “Issuing the codes is a goodway to prevent identity theft,” said a KCS official.
Meanwhile, women (56%) were more willing to purchase items than men (44%) through overseas direct purchasing. The most passionate overseas shoppers were those over 30 years old. Among all age groups, people in their 30s were issued the most codes, taking up 45.3% of the total.
To directly purchase goods from abroad, 3.38 million Koreans had been issued personal customs clearance code as of February 2016.
Seon Cho (seon@koreabizwire.co.kr)
