Looks like that foreigner was deemed to need an inspection.
Afternoon of 30th, three days before the Chuseok holiday, at the arrivals hall of Gimhae International Airport. When a customs officer gestured at a foreign traveler, the traveler was immediately guided to a separate inspection area. The officer had the passenger stand in a millimeter-wave body scanner to check the whole body, then reopened the bag and examined it closely. After confirming there was no problem, the customs officer quickly moved off to scan those entering the arrivals hall again.
Gimhae Airport is the key gateway to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and the first gateway to this meeting, which Korea is hosting as the chair country for the first time in 20 years since 2005. With visa-free entry for Chinese nationals allowed and the Chuseok holiday overlapping with surging overseas travel demand, the airport was filled with more palpable tension than usual.
◇ Selecting risky "passengers" with AI analysis… Uncovering hidden items with millimeter-wave scanners
Because thousands of overseas arrivals pour in each day, the customs inspection process at Gimhae Airport is not conducted as a 100% full screening. Instead, officers select "suspicious entrants" at each stage for further checks.
First, in the integrated customs reading room, all checked baggage unloaded in the collection area is screened by X-ray. If something suspicious appears on the inspection monitor, a yellow electronic seal is attached to the baggage. Customs officers use this mark to open the bag separately and conduct a thorough inspection.
An officer watching about 30 monitors in the integrated reading room said, "With visa-free entry for Chinese nationals beginning and the National Day holiday (1–8) overlapping, arrivals have surged and we are on high alert," adding, "Ahead of the APEC summit, we are paying particular attention to blocking potential threats such as drugs or terrorism."
Carry-on baggage that entrants bring off the plane themselves without going through a separate collection area is no exception. Customs conducts X-ray inspections on some carry-ons as well. Furthermore, after these steps, some of the entrants who come out to claim their bags are designated for separate verification procedures.
The tool used here is the "millimeter-wave body scanner." A millimeter-wave scanner emits short millimeter waves (mmW) with wavelengths of about 1–10 mm and detects the reflections. It scans and detects metal and nonmetal items, such as guns or drugs concealed under clothing, in three seconds.
A Gimhae Airport Customs official said, "There are frequent cases of hiding drugs in discreet body areas such as the thighs or inside coats," adding, "If items are hidden inside the body by swallowing, a hospital exam would be necessary, but such cases are rare, so most can be caught with the millimeter-wave equipment."
So what criteria are used to select inspection targets? The exact criteria are confidential. If they become known, drug or gun smugglers could more easily evade them.
An official at the Korea Customs Service said, "We analyze advance information such as entry and exit patterns and whether the route is from a high-risk country with artificial intelligence (AI) to classify high-risk passengers," adding, "After entry screening, we monitor suspicious entrants with a separate matching program and conduct inspections."
Millimeter-wave body scanners were first introduced at Incheon Airport in 2023, and by the end of last year they had been deployed at 10 airports, including Gimhae Airport. Fifteen units are currently deployed nationwide, and 11 more are scheduled to be put into the field next year.
◇ 24-hour shifts in preparation for APEC… Blocking drugs and terror through stronger domestic and international cooperation
The Korea Customs Service plans to mobilize all human and material resources to prepare Gimhae Airport flawlessly as APEC's "first face" for the APEC summit to be held on 31st.
The core measures are to strengthen cargo inspections by deploying explosive detectors, container scanners, and vehicle-mounted mobile X-ray equipment, and to maintain a round-the-clock response posture by organizing 24-hour shifts. Although Gimhae Airport bans flights during late-night hours (11 p.m.–6 a.m.) to protect nearby residents' right to sleep, special planes carrying heads of state for the summit are exempt from the no-flight hours.
In addition, authorities plan to expand cooperation at home and abroad with the customs authorities of drug-origin countries; U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and domestic agencies such as the prosecution and police.
Visiting Gimhae Airport that day to check preparations for the summit, Korea Customs Service Commissioner Lee Myeong-gu said, "Breaking major drug cases hinges on obtaining information," adding, "Drug smuggling routes can change at any time, so we will tighten enforcement on all entry channels, including travelers, express consignments, mail, and general cargo."
◇ What to keep in mind when traveling abroad during the holiday is "duty-free voluntary declaration"
Along with blocking the inflow of illegal items such as drugs and guns, the Korea Customs Service also urged special caution against failing to declare tariffs during the Chuseok holiday period. This is because travelers often exceed the duty-free threshold due to large-scale shopping while overseas.
According to the Korea Customs Service, the basic duty-free allowance applied when travelers enter Korea is $800 per person. Alcohol up to 2 liters and $400, cigarettes up to 200 sticks, and perfume up to 60 ml receive separate duty-free benefits. However, combining allowances with family members or companions is not allowed.
Even if you exceed the duty-free allowance, you can get a 30% reduction in taxes by making a voluntary declaration, but if you do not declare, an additional tax amounting to 40% of the tax due is imposed. If you are caught again after being caught twice within two years, the additional tax rises to 60%.
Also note that if you pay more than $800 by card overseas or withdraw $800 or more in cash, the details are automatically reported to the Korea Customs Service. When taking more than $10,000 in foreign currency out of Korea, you must report it, and violations are subject to fines or criminal fines.
While authorities cannot immediately know what a Korean national who took out a large amount of foreign currency buys overseas, those judged likely to make high-value purchases based on information analysis may be subject to customs inspection.
Addressing nationals planning overseas trips during the Chuseok holiday, Commissioner Lee said, "If you enter without declaring and intent is recognized, you could face criminal punishment for smuggling," adding, "Please understand that voluntary declaration is the better choice, as it avoids disadvantages and also comes with benefits."