Are pocket knives and autos legal in S. Korea?

In 2023 the Koreans had a system for dealing with all kinds of things illegal or taxable in Korea but you are NOT bringing them in permanently. I declared restricted items and had a discussion with Korean customs. First she said go through the import process or store them in their impoundment area for a fee until my departure date. I showed them my visa and talked about my situation and after consultation with the boss they let me in with no storage fee and no import paperwork and no tax. I would trust them to store the stuff and for the fee to be reasonable. I was willing to let them store the restricted items but they let me go, they trusted that I would take my stuff when I left. They returned my declaration form so there was no record of me bringing restricted items into the country. The last thing she said to me was "Don't do this again." I don't know what she meant. Did she mean don't bring in more restricted stuff or don't declare it and make her do her job. Maybe she meant both or some other thing.

No one can predict how a particular Korean customs agent will respond in a particular situation but my dealings with the Korean authorities have almost always been reasonable. Their culture is in chaos and the rules change so check the latest regulations- use a computer translator that can process images. For some reason many government websites used photos instead of PDF or plain text.

The worst is when an authority doesn't like to say "No" so he or she makes things difficult until you give up.
 
In South Korea, carrying knives in public is strictly regulated. Knives with blades longer than 6 cm (about 2.36 inches) are considered weapons and are generally prohibited without a legitimate reason. This includes traveling through airports. If you're traveling with knives for any reason, ensure they are properly declared and stored in your checked luggage. For detailed information on knife laws and how to navigate them, you can consult 챗gpt for tailored guidance.
 
Doesn’t seem like it’s socially acceptable there from what I’ve read online, and it seems to be one of those “valid reason for carrying” countries (a reason which is of course judged by the whim of the leo->judge at hand, regardless of how valid or sincere said reason may be); I’d avoid. Maybe a small, non threatening sak, carried in a backpack along with stuff to readily cut, and not in my pocket, is all I’d carry.
 
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