Incheon airport customs, airport operator join forces to boost detections and voluntary declarations
A joint effort between Incheon International Airport Customs and Incheon International Airport Corporation to intercept undeclared foreign currency at departure halls is showing tangible results, with both detections and voluntary declarations on the rise.
The Korea Customs Service said Wednesday that fines issued for violations of foreign currency export reporting rules totaled 66 cases from April through May, a 73.7 percent increase from 38 cases in the same period last year. Referrals for investigation also rose 41.7 percent, from 12 to 17 cases, reflecting a significant improvement in enforcement effectiveness.
The gains stem from a dual-screening system that links the airport corporation's security checkpoint with a dedicated customs X-ray review stage, allowing the two agencies to catch violations that either might miss alone.
The two agencies have been enforcing restrictions on illegal currency exports under a memorandum of understanding signed to combat illicit outflows and strengthen aviation security. Since late last year, they have worked closely together — with the airport corporation building out the infrastructure, facilities and equipment needed for enforcement, while customs established and began operating a dedicated foreign currency inspection unit.
The agencies also ran public awareness campaigns inside and outside departure halls, using broadcasts and electronic signboards to remind travelers of reporting requirements and encourage voluntary declarations. Voluntary declarations climbed 16.3 percent year-on-year, from 1,298 to 1,510 cases over the same period, suggesting growing awareness among travelers.
Looking ahead, the two agencies plan to pilot an AI-powered banknote auto-detection algorithm as part of efforts to upgrade enforcement with advanced technology. Once deployed, the system would allow AI to automatically identify large amounts of cash inside bags during security screening, improving both the accuracy and speed of detection.
Park Heon, head of Incheon Airport Customs under the Korea Customs Service, said the results reflect the trust built through years of cooperation under the MOU. "It was that foundation of trust that allowed us to seamlessly establish a dedicated customs unit and have the airport corporation put the necessary infrastructure in place," he said. "We will continue to strengthen our collaborative framework to thoroughly block illegal foreign currency outflows through Korea's gateway."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
