Korean Personal Customs Code (PCCC)

The Personal Customs Clearance Code (PCCC) — called 개인통관고유부호 in Korean — is a 13-character identifier (P + 12 digits) used by Korean customs to verify your identity when goods enter the country. Most overseas shopping sites that ship to Korea require it.

How to get your PCCC

1. Go to unipass.customs.go.kr (Korea Customs UNI-PASS)
2. Click 개인통관고유부호 조회/신청 (Personal Customs Code inquiry/application)
3. Verify with your ID (주민등록번호 or ARS phone verification)
4. Your code is issued immediately — starts with P followed by 12 digits

It's free and takes about 5 minutes. You only need to do it once — the same code is used for all future purchases.

Where to enter it

Important rules

• The name and phone number on the PCCC must match the orderer — mismatches cause customs delays
• One PCCC per person — family members each need their own
• Format: P followed by exactly 12 digits (e.g., P123456789012)

FAQ

Can I use a family member's PCCC?

No. The PCCC name must match the actual buyer. Using someone else's can cause delays or seizure.

What if I forget my code?

Look it up again at unipass.customs.go.kr — same process, same code.

How to get one — a few minutes on UNIPASS

The Personal Customs Clearance Code is issued free by Korea Customs Service through UNIPASS (unipass.customs.go.kr). The recipient enters their name and phone number, completes identity verification, and the code — "P" followed by 12 digits — appears immediately. Foreign residents of Korea can register with their Alien Registration Card. If you are shipping to someone in Korea from abroad, it is the recipient who obtains the code and passes it to you; the sender's own details are not what customs wants.

Rules that actually matter

• The format is strict: P + exactly 12 digits. The most common failure is a letter O or I standing in for 0 or 1.
• The name registered to the code must match the recipient name on the parcel. Borrowing a family member's code stalls the shipment at clearance.
• The code never expires and works across every site — issue it once, reuse it everywhere.

Where it goes, site by site

AliExpress and most Korea-aware retailers have a dedicated field in the address form. Where no field exists, forwarders take it in their member dashboard, and for direct shipments the common practice is appending it after the recipient name, e.g. Hong Gildong P012345678901. Forgot the number? UNIPASS can look up an existing code — it won't create a duplicate.