International Knife Laws: South Korea

[symphonyincminor]

Going to South Korea for a job assignment in February - can't find any information pertaining to knife carry/ownership laws over there.

I understand that it's a capitol offense to possess firearms or ammunition there - which leads me to believe that the knife laws are probably pretty strict.

Searched Google... nothing except you can't import "flick knives" when traveling there.

Any help?

 

[lohengrin]

You are allowed to carry a knife on you (if you can motivate to a cop what you are carrying it for), but you are NOT allowed to defend yourself with it if attacked. In fact, you are not allowed to defend yourself at all against attackers.

Korean martial artists walk around with swords, knives and all manner of weaponry. If a foreigner carries a swiss army knife in public he is sure to see the inside of a Korean jail if the cops are in a bad mood (and they usually are when dealing with non-Koreans )

 

[symphonyincminor]

Probably better I don't bring anything over there then, maybe except a multitool to use around my apartment.

Their country, their rules.