The Korea Customs Service announced that it will only send out text messages to those whose phone number on the import declaration documents is different from the one that was provided when issuing a private customs code. (Image : Kobizmedia / Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Korea Bizwire) – It turns out that the Korea Customs Service’s text message service, which sends out texts to customers who purchase products directly overseas to inform them that their parcel has arrived, was stopped recently without notice. Due to the increase in the number of direct overseas purchases, the Korea Customs Service stopped the text message service due to budgetary constraints.
The Korea Customs Service announced that it will only send out text messages to those whose phone number on the import declaration documents is different from the one that was provided when issuing a private customs code.
A private customs code is a number issued when making overseas direct purchases. The program was started in 2011 to stop camouflaged imports from purchase agencies and to protect customers’ personal information.
The Korea Customs Service used to send out text messages to consumers that were issued a private customs code when import declarations were made. However, as the number of overseas purchases increased explosively, budget constraints forced the agency to stop the service in late July.
The number of private customs codes issued was 2,204 in 2012 and 16,355 in 2013, before skyrocketing to 709,994 last year, and 1,625,700 as of August this year,
As the number of direct imports increased, the 50,000,000 won budget set for sending out text messages (16 won per text) had been completely exhausted as of August.
Officials from the Korea Customs Service emphasize that additional funding to send out text messages should be secured. “Since businesses use personal information to import products from overseas, we need an increased budget to send out text messages to prevent camouflaged imports. If not, the costs will have to be imputed to transport companies due to the beneficiary principle.”
By Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
