The clerk circles “purpose,” and your cheerful gift box suddenly feels like a small diplomatic crisis. You know it is a present, but the counter still needs the contents, quantity, value, and a truthful reason for shipping. In about 15 minutes, this guide will give you the exact Korean phrases, pronunciation help, sample declarations, and calm follow-up answers you can use at Korea Post, a courier desk, or a customs counter. You will learn how to say it is a gift, declare a real value, and avoid the vague wording that sends parcels into paperwork fog.
The Fast Phrase to Use at the Counter
이거 선물이에요.
Igeo seonmur-ieyo.
“This is a gift.”
This polite sentence works when a clerk asks what the parcel is. For a customs declaration, add the purpose, exact contents, and value. One afternoon I watched a sender repeat “선물” while the clerk kept pointing at three skincare bottles. The clerk was not questioning the generosity. She needed the product names.
Useful stronger versions
판매용이 아니고 개인적인 선물이에요.
Panmaeyongi anigo gae-injeogin seonmur-ieyo.
“It is not for sale. It is a personal gift.”
세관 신고서에 선물로 표시해 주세요.
Segwan singoseoe seonmullo pyosihae juseyo.
“Please mark it as a gift on the customs declaration.”
- Purpose: 선물, gift
- Contents: the actual objects inside
- Value: a reasonable monetary amount
Apply in 60 seconds: Write one specific English description and one honest value before joining the line.
Decision card: Pick the sentence you need
What is this?
이거 선물이에요. “This is a gift.”
Is it merchandise?
판매용이 아니에요. “It is not for sale.”
What is the purpose?
용도는 선물입니다. “The purpose is a gift.”
Can you check my form?
이렇게 적으면 될까요? “Should I write it like this?”
Who This Is For, and Who Needs More Help
This guide is for:
- Personal birthday, holiday, wedding, or thank-you gifts sent from Korea
- Korea Post, EMS, private courier, and customs-counter users
- Ordinary items such as clothing, books, toys, and packaged goods
- Senders who need basic Korean for purpose, contents, and value
This guide is not enough for:
- Online sales, business inventory, paid samples, or bulk exports
- Controlled medicine, alcohol, tobacco, cash, plants, animal products, or dangerous goods
- Shipments requiring licenses, invoices, HS codes, or a customs broker
- Anyone unsure whether the destination country permits the item
A parcel may feel like a gift but still be commercial. A company sending free promotional products, for example, may face different documentation from a private person mailing a birthday present. Marking a paid order as “gift” does not turn a sale into affection wearing a ribbon.
For broader mailing language, open this related guide: Korean post office vocabulary for international shipping.
Gift, Purpose, and Contents Are Different
Customs forms usually separate why you are shipping from what is physically inside. That distinction is the hinge on which the parcel swings.
Purpose: Why are you sending it?
용도는 선물입니다.
Yongdoneun seonmur-imnida.
“The purpose is a gift.”
Contents: What is inside?
내용물은 면 티셔츠 두 장과 책 한 권입니다.
Naeyongmureun myeon tisyeocheu du jang-gwa chaek han gwon-imnida.
“The contents are two cotton T-shirts and one book.”
Do not write only “gift” in the contents field. USPS explains that customs forms require contents and value, and its guidance says broad descriptions such as “gift” are not specific enough. “Two cotton T-shirts” gives customs something usable. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Value: What are the goods worth?
신고 금액은 총 8만 원입니다.
Singo geumaegeun chong palman won-imnida.
“The total declared value is 80,000 won.”
The value is not what the recipient paid. A gift may be free to them and still have a purchase price or reasonable current value. Customs forms have no box for “priceless because my aunt made it,” charming though that would be.
Visual Guide: The Three-Box Test
선물, gift. Explain why it is being sent.
Name each article and quantity clearly.
State the reasonable amount for each item.
개인적인 생일 선물이고, 안에는 티셔츠 두 장이 들어 있으며, 총 가치는 8만 원입니다.
Gae-injeogin saeng-il seonmur-igo, aneneun tisyeocheu du jang-i deureo isseumyeo, chong gachineun palman won-imnida.
“It is a personal birthday gift, it contains two T-shirts, and the total value is 80,000 won.”
How to State the Declared Value
Declared value is where confident adults begin bargaining with arithmetic. Prepare the total before reaching the counter, and keep receipts or screenshots when available.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 신고 금액은 5만 원입니다. | The declared value is 50,000 won. |
| 실제 구입 가격은 7만 원입니다. | The actual purchase price is 70,000 won. |
| 영수증이 있습니다. | I have the receipt. |
| 중고라서 현재 가치는 약 3만 원입니다. | It is used, so its current value is about 30,000 won. |
Mini value calculator
Add only three figures:
New items + used items at reasonable current value + other declared goods = total goods value.
Example: New scarf 35,000 won + used book 10,000 won + toy 20,000 won = 65,000 won.
Do not write zero merely because it is a gift
선물이지만 가치가 없는 것은 아닙니다.
Seonmur-ijiman gachiga eomneun geoseun animnida.
“It is a gift, but it is not without value.”
Zero can trigger questions, distort duty assessment, or affect compensation if the parcel is lost, depending on the service. For a handmade item, use a reasonable value based on materials and the finished object, then ask the carrier if the method is unclear.
I once described a handmade pouch as “having no price.” The clerk asked what it would cost to replace. That practical question rescued me from my own poetry.
Show me the nerdy details
Valuation methods differ by destination and shipment type. Non-sale goods may be assessed using purchase price, similar goods, production cost, or another reasonable method. Electronic customs data should match the label, quantity, weight, value, and purpose. A form saying “one book” beside a parcel containing cosmetics can cause inspection even when the error is innocent.
A Complete Counter Script
1. Say where the parcel is going
이 소포를 미국으로 보내고 싶어요.
I soporeul Miguk-euro bonaego sipeoyo.
“I would like to send this parcel to the United States.”
2. Explain the personal purpose
친구에게 보내는 개인적인 선물이에요.
Chinguege bonaeneun gae-injeogin seonmur-ieyo.
“It is a personal gift for a friend.”
3. Name the contents
안에는 새 면 티셔츠 두 장과 종이책 한 권이 들어 있어요.
Aneneun sae myeon tisyeocheu du jang-gwa jong-ichaek han gwon-i deureo isseoyo.
“Inside are two new cotton T-shirts and one paper book.”
4. Give the value
티셔츠는 각각 3만 원이고, 책은 2만 원이에요. 총 8만 원입니다.
Tisyeocheuneun gakgak samman won-igo, chaegeun iman won-ieyo. Chong palman won-imnida.
5. Confirm the form
선물로 표시하고, 품목과 금액은 이렇게 적으면 될까요?
Seonmullo pyosihago, pummokgwa geumaegeun ireoke jeogeumyeon doelkkayo?
“Should I mark it as a gift and write the items and values like this?”
6. Ask about restrictions and charges
보낼 수 없는 물건이 있나요? “Is there anything here that cannot be sent?”
받는 사람이 세금이나 수수료를 낼 수도 있나요? “Could the recipient have to pay tax or fees?”
At one counter, I carefully pronounced the destination but forgot the recipient’s phone number. The clerk solved the problem with a pen tap and a patient eyebrow. Fluency is useful; complete contact details are often more useful.
Short Story: The Birthday Box That Became “Merchandise”
A friend mailed a birthday box from Seoul with socks, tea, stationery, and a ceramic cup. She checked “gift” and wrote “present” as the contents. The clerk asked, “What kind of present?” She named the four items, then declared 1,000 won because the recipient had paid nothing. The clerk explained that recipient price and item value were different. She reopened her receipts, listed each article, and changed the total to 64,000 won. The parcel was accepted without drama. The lesson was not that customs forms are impossibly technical. One vague answer had simply been asked to carry three separate facts: purpose, description, and value. Once those facts were separated, the form became ordinary paperwork again, which may be the finest compliment paperwork can receive.
- Lead with the shipping request
- Name each article clearly
- Confirm charges before payment
Apply in 60 seconds: Save the six-step script as a screenshot for the counter.
Words You Will See on Forms
| Korean | Meaning | What it asks for |
|---|---|---|
| 세관 신고서 | Customs declaration | Shipment information |
| 내용물 / 품목 | Contents / item | Specific item name |
| 수량 / 중량 | Quantity / weight | Units and weight |
| 가격 / 금액 / 가치 | Price / amount / value | Declared value |
| 용도 | Purpose | Gift, sale, return, sample |
| 원산지 | Country of origin | Where the item was made |
| 발송인 / 수취인 | Sender / recipient | Names and contact details |
| 금지 품목 / 제한 품목 | Prohibited / restricted item | Items needing checks |
For more form language, see essential Korean form vocabulary. For the parcel label, use Korean address formats and common mistakes.
Polite clarification phrases
- 이 칸에는 무엇을 써야 하나요? “What should I write in this field?”
- 영어로 적어도 되나요? “May I write it in English?”
- 이 주소 형식이 맞나요? “Is this address format correct?”
- 다시 한번 천천히 말씀해 주세요. “Please say that once more slowly.”
I once filled the sender and recipient boxes in reverse. The clerk rotated the form toward me without comment. Some lessons arrive wrapped in merciful silence.
Ready-to-Use Item Examples
| Weak | Better description | Korean |
|---|---|---|
| Gift clothes | Two new cotton T-shirts | 새 면 티셔츠 두 장 |
| Book | One used paperback novel | 중고 종이 소설책 한 권 |
| Toy | One polyester plush toy | 폴리에스터 봉제 인형 한 개 |
| Beauty gift | Two sealed face creams, 50 ml each | 미개봉 얼굴용 크림 두 개, 각각 50밀리리터 |
Clothing
선물용 새 면 셔츠 한 장이고, 가격은 4만 원입니다.
“It is one new cotton shirt as a gift, valued at 40,000 won.”
Used book
제가 읽던 중고 책이고, 현재 가치는 약 1만 원입니다.
“It is a used book I read, and its current value is about 10,000 won.”
Handmade item
제가 만든 손뜨개 목도리이고, 가치는 5만 원입니다.
“It is a hand-knitted scarf I made, valued at 50,000 won.”
A traveler beside me once wrote “stuff” for a box of stationery. The clerk asked for nouns. “Three notebooks and five pens” ended the mystery in six seconds.
- Use a count and material
- Add new, used, sealed, liquid, or battery-powered
- List values by item when possible
Apply in 60 seconds: Replace every broad noun with a countable description.
Tricky Items That Need Extra Checking
A battery, liquid, supplement, seed packet, meat snack, or prescription item can change the mailing rules. Ask before sealing.
Food
포장된 식품이 들어 있는데, 이 나라로 보낼 수 있나요?
“There is packaged food inside. Can I send it to this country?”
Name the food precisely and keep original packaging. Meat, dairy, fresh produce, homemade food, seeds, and plant materials often need closer checks.
Medicine and supplements
일반 의약품인데 국제우편으로 보낼 수 있나요?
“It is an over-the-counter medicine. Can it be sent by international mail?”
Do not hide medicine under “health gift.” Keep labels, ingredients, dosage details, and prescriptions when relevant.
Batteries and electronics
기기 안에 리튬 배터리가 들어 있습니다.
“There is a lithium battery installed in the device.”
Say whether the battery is installed, packed separately, or loose. A power bank is not merely a cute charger in the eyes of transport rules.
Cosmetics and perfume
밀봉된 화장품이고, 각각 50밀리리터입니다.
“They are sealed cosmetics, 50 milliliters each.”
Perfume and aerosols may be limited because of alcohol, pressure, or flammability. I once finished a perfect tape fortress before learning the perfume could not travel by that service. Cardboard remembers such heartbreak.
Risk scorecard
Add one point for each yes:
- Battery, liquid, aerosol, alcohol, or magnet?
- Food, medicine, supplement, plant, seed, or animal product?
- High-value, antique, fragile, or difficult to replace?
0: normal checks. 1: ask before sealing. 2–3: verify with the carrier and destination authority.
Common Mistakes That Delay Parcels
Writing only “gift”
Gift is the purpose. List the actual contents, quantity, and value separately.
Using zero or an implausibly low value
Use a value you can explain with a receipt, screenshot, current resale estimate, or reasonable replacement amount.
Assuming gift means tax-free
Gift relief differs by destination, item, relationship, and value. U.S. Customs and Border Protection explains that mailed gifts receive special treatment only when stated conditions are met. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Hiding a risky feature inside a broad word
Say perfume, aerosol, power bank, or lithium battery when that feature affects transport.
Mixing a personal gift with a paid order
A gift card inside the box does not erase a sale. Declare commercial goods under the proper category.
Forgetting recipient contact details
Customs or the local carrier may need the recipient’s phone or email. Missing details can stall clearance.
Sealing too early
Keep the parcel easy to inspect until the clerk confirms acceptance. A removable strip of tape beats a cardboard sarcophagus.
When to Ask for Help
This is a language guide, not legal, tax, customs-broker, or carrier-specific advice. Rules vary by destination, service, item, value, and transport method. Follow current Korea Post, courier, and destination-customs instructions.
Ask before mailing when:
- The parcel includes food, medicine, perfume, alcohol, batteries, plants, or animal products
- The item is expensive, antique, repaired, returned, or insured
- The shipment is tied to a business, giveaway, sponsorship, or online sale
- The recipient may refuse taxes or cannot complete clearance
- You are asked for an invoice, HS code, license, or origin document
이 물건은 세관 신고를 어떻게 해야 하나요?
“How should I declare this item to customs?”
목적지 국가의 제한 사항을 확인해 주실 수 있나요?
“Could you check the destination country’s restrictions?”
상업송장이 필요한가요?
“Is a commercial invoice required?”
USPS states that international merchandise generally needs a computer-generated customs form, and the correct form depends on the service and value. Other postal operators also transmit electronic customs data, so accuracy matters before the parcel begins its conveyor-belt pilgrimage. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
FAQ
How do you say “This is a gift” in Korean?
Say 이거 선물이에요, pronounced igeo seonmur-ieyo. On the declaration, also list the actual contents and value.
How do I say “It is not for sale” in Korean?
Say 판매용이 아니에요, pronounced panmaeyongi anieyo. Add 개인적인 선물이에요 for “It is a personal gift.”
What should I write for customs contents?
Use specific descriptions such as “two new cotton T-shirts” or “one sealed face cream, 50 ml.” Mark gift as the purpose separately.
Should I declare a gift as zero value?
No. The recipient may pay nothing, but the goods still have value. Use a reasonable, defensible amount.
How do I say the declared value in Korean?
Say 신고 금액은 5만 원입니다, meaning “The declared value is 50,000 won.” Replace the amount with your real total.
Does marking a parcel as a gift prevent customs charges?
Not automatically. Conditions, value limits, excluded items, taxes, and handling fees vary by destination.
Can I write the description in English at Korea Post?
International descriptions are commonly entered in English or Roman letters. Ask 영어로 적어도 되나요?, meaning “May I write it in English?”
How do I ask whether an item is prohibited?
Say 이 물건은 보낼 수 있나요?, meaning “Can this item be sent?”
How should I describe a handmade gift?
Name the finished object and material, then state a reasonable value. Example: 손뜨개 목도리 한 개이고, 가치는 5만 원입니다.
What if the clerk speaks too quickly?
Say 다시 한번 천천히 말씀해 주세요, meaning “Please say that once more slowly.” Showing the written sentence on your phone is fine.
A Calm 15-Minute Shipping Plan
The awkward counter moment is rarely about “bad Korean.” It usually comes from several customs questions hiding inside one ordinary word. “Gift” answers why you are sending the parcel. It does not answer what is inside, how many items there are, what they are worth, or whether they are restricted.
Your next step takes less than 15 minutes: make a four-column note with item, quantity, value, and special feature. Add the purpose, 선물, at the top. Keep a receipt or price screenshot, leave the box easy to reopen, and save this sentence: 선물로 보내는 물건이고, 품목과 실제 금액을 정확하게 적었습니다. It means, “These items are being sent as a gift, and I listed the contents and actual value accurately.” Clear, calm, and sturdier than asking one word to carry the whole box.
Last reviewed: 2026-07
