Peddlers protest over number of dutiable items

October 7, peddlers using international car-ferries between Korea and China went on a sit-down protest, refusing customs clearance for their hand luggage in the first and second international passenger ferry terminals in the Port of Inchon.
From 9 o’clock in the morning that day, 50 peddlers entered the first international passenger ferry terminal with Oriental Pearl II from Dandong and Huadong Pearl from Shidao but refused to clear customs by silently demonstrating. So did 150 peddlers among passengers in the second international passenger ferry terminal from Weihai and Tianjin.
The peddlers asked that Customs reduce the list of 10 dutiable items to 3 or 4 items, keep the 5 kg limit on each of those items, and maintain the total 50 kg limit for all imports.
However, the Inchon Customs Service declined to discuss the matter with representatives from the peddlers, saying that customs regulations are not subject of negotiation. The situation may last.