Indonesian Vegetables: Korea HS Codes & Tariffs 2025 Guide

A practical, step-by-step playbook for classifying Indonesian frozen vegetables under Korea’s 10‑digit HS, comparing MFN vs RCEP vs IK‑CEPA tariffs, and claiming the lowest 2025 duty with the correct Certificate of Origin and origin proof.

If you export frozen vegetables to Korea, you already know the paperwork can make or break your margin. Over the past few seasons, we’ve seen clean shipments clear in under a day when the HS code, tariff basis and origin documentation are aligned. We’ve also seen perfectly good products hit penalty duty because an extra line of oil or salt moved the code from 0710 to 2004. Here’s the 2025 playbook we actually use when shipping Indonesian frozen vegetables to Korea.

The fast path: confirm 10‑digit HS, compare tariffs, then set your origin story

The reality is simple. Korea clears on a 10‑digit HS code. Your final duty depends on that code and which agreement you claim. So the job is to pick the right 10‑digit line under HS 0710, compare MFN vs FTA rates for 2025, then lock in the best agreement you can substantiate with origin.

Here’s the thing most people miss. Two almost identical descriptions can map to different 10‑digit lines, and those lines can have different FTA outcomes. We always validate the 10‑digit with Korea’s tariff database before we print labels or book freight.

Step-by-step: using Korea’s Integrated Tariff database

We’ve found these steps reduce back-and-forth with the broker and save a day at port.

Go to Korea Customs Service’s Integrated Tariff database. Switch to the English interface. Use either the HS search by keyword or the chapter tree.
Navigate to Chapter 07. Open 0710 Vegetables, uncooked or cooked by steaming or boiling in water, frozen.
Expand to the 10‑digit level. This is crucial. Korea’s national lines sit below the 8‑digit level and can differ by product state or variety. Examples you’ll likely see:

0710.40.xx for sweet corn
0710.30.xx for spinach
0710.80.xx for other vegetables like okra or bell peppers
0710.90.xx for mixtures of vegetables
0710.2x.xx for beans and leguminous vegetables, including immature soybeans (edamame) when frozen and only blanched

Open the “Duty/FTA” or “Preferential Tariff” tabs. Compare MFN vs RCEP vs ASEAN‑Korea FTA (AKFTA) vs IK‑CEPA for 2025. Watch for footnotes like TRQ or staged reductions.
Read the “Classification notes” and any rulings. Korea often publishes classification guidance clarifying borderline cases such as pre-fried potatoes or seasoned edamame.

Takeaway. Never copy a 10‑digit code from another market. Korea’s national lines and FTA outcomes are unique and updated annually.

Where our products usually classify (and why it matters)

We export a range of frozen vegetables from Indonesia. These are the typical HS headings we see in Korea, and the traps to avoid:

Frozen sweet corn. Usually under 0710.40. Products like our Premium Frozen Sweet Corn fit when they’re IQF and only blanched, with no added sugar or sauces.
Frozen mixed vegetables. Usually under 0710.90 for mixtures. Our Frozen Mixed Vegetables are a textbook 0710.90 when the mix is just vegetables, blanched and IQF.
Frozen bell peppers. Typically 0710.80. Our Frozen Paprika (Bell Peppers) stay in 0710.80 as long as they’re just washed, de-seeded, cut, blanched and frozen.
Frozen okra. Typically 0710.80 when whole or sliced, blanched and IQF. See Premium Frozen Okra.
Frozen edamame. Usually under 0710.2x as an immature soybean when only blanched and frozen. If there’s added salt or seasoning, you risk heading 2005. Our Premium Frozen Edamame is produced to remain in 0710.
Pre-fried potato products. Often fall under 2004, not 0710. Our Premium Frozen Potatoes are pre-fried by design, which is perfect for QSRs but means you should expect heading 2004 in Korea.

Takeaway. A single word in the spec such as “pre-fried,” “breaded,” or “seasoned” can flip you out of 0710. Align your product description, process flow, and HS choice before you confirm the PO. You can browse our full range here: View our products.

Which tariff is lower in 2025: IK‑CEPA, RCEP or AKFTA?

In our experience, many HS 0710 lines are already duty-free under IK‑CEPA in 2025, and a growing number are zero under RCEP as well. AKFTA can still show residual rates on certain sensitive lines. But this varies by the exact 10‑digit code and any quota notes.

Our workflow:

Check MFN first to understand the baseline.
Compare IK‑CEPA and RCEP for the specific 10‑digit line. In 2024-2025, we often see IK‑CEPA hitting 0% sooner, but RCEP sometimes matches it.
Use the agreement that gives the lowest firm rate you can prove origin for. If IK‑CEPA is 0% but you can’t meet the origin rule or documentation in time, take RCEP or AKFTA if it’s competitive and feasible.

Takeaway. Let the database decide, not assumptions. We re-check rates every January, and again before booking, because a 10‑digit change or footnote can move the goalposts.

What origin rule applies to HS 0710 under IK‑CEPA, and how do we prove it?

For Chapter 07, the Product Specific Rule under IK‑CEPA typically provides two workable paths:

Wholly obtained. Vegetables grown and harvested in Indonesia, then frozen without non-originating ingredients. This is the cleanest route for items like sweet corn, okra, spinach and bell peppers.
Alternative rule. Change in tariff classification or a regional value content threshold, depending on the exact line. Useful if you source some non-originating inputs for processing, though for vegetables this is less common.

Proof we prepare as standard:

Farm origin records. Farm name and address, harvest dates, purchase invoices from growers or aggregators in Indonesia.
Processing records. Blanching and freezing logs, HACCP batch IDs, and a simple process flow showing no pre-frying, battering, or sauces.
Product spec and label. Ingredient list limited to the vegetable itself and water from blanching. No salt or oil for 0710 classifications.

Takeaway. If your raw vegetables are Indonesian and the process is just wash, cut, blanch, IQF, you usually qualify as wholly obtained. Keep the paperwork tidy and consistent with the HS choice.

Which Certificate of Origin do I need to claim IK‑CEPA?

Use the Indonesia–Korea CEPA Certificate of Origin issued through Indonesia’s e‑SKA system in the format prescribed for IK‑CEPA. Your Korean importer will declare the claim at import based on this CO. If you operate as an approved exporter, check if self-certification or electronic CO options are available to you and your buyer under current procedures.

How do I check Korea’s MFN vs FTA rates for my HS 0710 item?

In the tariff database, open your 10‑digit line. Switch to the “Preferential Tariff” view and toggle MFN, IK‑CEPA, RCEP and AKFTA. Read the notes. If you see TRQ, open the quota details to verify the in-quota rate, quota period and who holds the quota. Screenshot the page for your shipment file.

Does IK‑CEPA give a lower 2025 tariff than RCEP for HS 0710?

Often yes, but not always. We’ve seen 0710.40 and 0710.90 lines at 0% under IK‑CEPA in 2025, with RCEP also at or near zero. Always compare the exact 10‑digit line and use the best rate that you can support with origin.

Avoiding the 0710 vs 2004 misclassification trap

We see this mistake most with potatoes, peppers and edamame.

0710 covers vegetables uncooked or cooked by steaming or boiling in water, frozen. Blanching is fine. Cutting or slicing is fine. No added salt, sugar, oil, or sauces.
2004 covers vegetables prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid, frozen. Pre-frying, roasting, battering, butter or seasoning pushes you to 2004. Seasoned edamame or pre-fried potatoes belong here.

Side-by-side comparison: on the left, unseasoned blanched frozen vegetables with frost; on the right, golden pre-fried potato wedges glistening with oil—visually illustrating the 0710 vs 2004 classification distinction.

Two practical tips:

Keep your process sheet literal. If you add oil for “surface protection,” that’s still oil. Expect 2004.
Match the invoice description to the HS choice. “Frozen okra, IQF, blanched, no seasoning” supports 0710. “Pre-fried potato wedges” signals 2004.

Takeaway. You don’t win by forcing 0710. You win by matching the real process to the right heading and planning your tariff strategy accordingly.

Documents to claim the FTA tariff at Korean customs

Here’s the short list that actually moves the needle:

Commercial invoice and packing list showing the exact product description consistent with 0710.
Bill of lading or air waybill.
Certificate of Origin for the chosen agreement. IK‑CEPA CO via e‑SKA if you claim IK‑CEPA. RCEP proof of origin if you choose RCEP. AKFTA uses Form AK.
Origin support file. Farm origin, process flow, batch records. Not always requested up front but invaluable during verification.

Need help with your specific situation or a pre‑shipment review of HS and origin? You can Contact us on whatsapp. We’re happy to sanity‑check your 10‑digit pick and FTA choice.

Common questions we get

What’s the correct Korea 10‑digit HS code for frozen mixed vegetables from Indonesia?

Usually a 0710.90.xx line. The exact 10‑digit depends on Korea’s national subheading text for mixtures. Confirm it in the tariff database and check if any mixture-specific notes apply.

HS code for frozen broccoli or spinach in Korea 2025?

Broccoli typically sits under 0710.80.xx. Spinach usually sits under 0710.30.xx. Always validate the final two digits in Korea’s database because national lines change over time.

How do I correct a wrong HS code after import in Korea?

Your importer can file a post‑clearance amendment with Korea Customs. In our experience, voluntary correction with a solid technical explanation and supporting spec gets a better outcome. Do it quickly to minimize penalties. Korea has multi‑year assessment windows, so don’t wait.

A quick compliance checklist we actually use

Product spec matches 0710. Unseasoned, blanched only, IQF. If not, you might be 2004.
Korea 10‑digit confirmed by database screenshot and shared with the broker.
2025 tariff comparison done. MFN vs IK‑CEPA vs RCEP vs AKFTA checked for the exact 10‑digit.
Origin route chosen. Wholly obtained file ready, or alternative PSR path documented.
Certificate of Origin secured in time for vessel departure. CO details match invoice and HS.
Labels and invoices consistent with the HS and origin claim wording.

When this checklist is followed, Korean clearance is usually uneventful. Skip any step and you invite delays.

Final word

We’ve shipped everything from simple 0710.40 sweet corn to complex 0710.90 mixtures. The exporters who win in Korea do three things well. They classify at the 10‑digit level with Korea’s own database. They compare 2025 tariffs across MFN, IK‑CEPA and RCEP instead of guessing. And they build an origin story that can survive an audit.

If you’re mapping a new SKU to Korea and want a second set of eyes before you confirm the HS and FTA choice, Contact us on email. We’ll give you a practical read in plain language and help you avoid the costly missteps we’ve seen too many times.