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9-8 · Business reports & registrations

Tobacco Import and Sales Business Registration

To import tobacco from abroad and sell it to wholesalers or retailers, you must register a tobacco import and sales business with the Mayor/Do Governor with jurisdiction over your head office or principal office under Article 13 of the Tobacco Business Act. The registration requirement under Article 5 of the Enforcement Decree is a tobacco supply contract with a foreign tobacco manufacturer, and under Article 14 the following cannot register: minors and persons under adult or limited guardianship, bankrupts not reinstated, persons sentenced to imprisonment for violating the Tobacco Business Act within 1 year of completing the sentence or during a suspended sentence, and persons whose registration was revoked less than 2 years ago. The processing period stated on the application form is 5 days, and operating a tobacco import and sales business without registration is punishable by up to 6 months of imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 5 million. Article 2 of the same Act defines tobacco to include not only leaf tobacco products but also products made from nicotine and inhaled as vapor, so importers of e-cigarette liquid should also check whether registration applies.

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#Tobacco Import and Sales Business Registration#Official check#9-8
01

Procedure

Procedure

  1. 01

    Business type and disqualification check: Selling imported tobacco to wholesalers or retailers requires tobacco import and sales business registration with the Mayor/Do Governor, while buying from other businesses and selling to retailers is a tobacco wholesale business requiring a separate registration with the city/county/district. First check whether the applicant or the corporate representative falls under any Article 14 disqualification.

  2. 02

    Review of the supply contract with a foreign manufacturer: Because the registration requirement is a supply contract with a foreign tobacco manufacturer, confirm the counterparty is identified as the manufacturer and that the product names and supply terms match what will be entered on the application. A contract with an intermediary that is not the manufacturer is reviewed separately for whether it meets the requirement.

  3. 03

    Preparing the registration application: Enter the trade name, representative, head office location, product names, manufacturer (supplier) name, and each branch's location and sales area on the tobacco import and sales business registration application, and attach one copy of the supply contract signed with the foreign tobacco manufacturer.

  4. 04

    Filing with the Mayor/Do Governor and receiving the certificate: File with the Mayor/Do Governor with jurisdiction over the head office or principal office; the processing period on the form is 5 days. If the requirement is met and there is no disqualification, a tobacco import and sales business registration certificate (Form No. 9) is issued, and the authority notifies the Korea Customs Service and other relevant agencies within 7 days of registration.

  5. 05

    Retail price report and post-registration management: Report the consumer retail price of imported tobacco by product to the Mayor/Do Governor at least 6 days before sales begin and publish it. If the corporate name or representative, head office location, or tobacco supplier changes, file a change registration on Form No. 11, and for tobacco that is smoked, obtain fire-safety performance certification by product every half-year and submit the certificate.

02

Filing route

Filing route

Special City, Metropolitan City, Special Self-Governing City, Province, or Special Self-Governing Province with jurisdiction over the head office or principal office

Confirm the current filing office, jurisdiction, and online availability on the official website.

Official check
Actual processing agencyCompetent Korean authority or official service
Statutory and policy authorityCompetent Korean authority or official service
Online routeOfficial check
03

Deadlines & processing notes

Deadlines & processing notes

Check deadlines and next steps against the notice, filing date, and any request for additional documents.Official check
04

Basic documents

Basic documents

Basic documents0 / 7

Importing and selling tobacco without submitting the fire-safety performance certificate results in revocation of the registration, so schedule registration and certification together before the first import.

Scope of services

Scope of services

Hwang Yunsang Administrative Agent Office prepares and translates documents for administrative agencies, submits them on your behalf, and guides you through permit, application, and notification procedures. Services that require the principal’s personal appearance, principal’s application, or electronic signature may be limited in delegation.