In the global economy, trade between countries is increasing, so there are more and more opportunities in this field. One of the jobs in international trade is a customs broker. Here you will find information about the role, qualifications, and prospects of this job.
● Role
Roles of customs brokers can be divided into two fields: customs clearing procedures for imports and exports, and consulting. All products must be declared to the customs offices when they cross the border. However, import and export declaration is not easy for trade companies or the public because import/export laws change rapidly and classifying products using HS (harmonized commodity description and coding system) is difficult. Customs brokers take care of this task instead of them. In the consulting field, there are jobs such as classifying products, examining enterprises, and substituting administrative litigation. Also, when disputes related to customs occur, customs brokers solve the disputes using their knowledge of customs law.
● Qualifications
To be a customs broker, you should pass a customs broker examination. Anyone who is over 20 can take the exam regardless of academic background, sex, or age, which is given twice a year. Subjects for the first exam are basic customs law, trade English, internal consumption tax act, and accounting. Subjects for the second exam are customs law, tariff schedule and the study of merchandise, customs assessment, and trade business affairs. The first exam is multiple choice and the second exam is essay. Both are very difficult, so you will need to study hard. After you pass the exam, you can get a job performing tasks related to imports and exports. Even so, you will also need knowledge about various products and foreign language skills.
● Prospects
The Korean economy is highly dependent on trade through imports and exports, so the future of customs brokers is bright. In addition, since trade is increasing, the number of customs brokers needed is increasing every year. Customs brokers also have flexibility in that they can establish their own firms, work at enterprises related to trading, get hired at customs offices, or work for international corporations.
