Customs administration in Korea dates back to the 15th century, during the reign of King Sejong, when three ports were opened to foreign vessels. This early development laid the foundation for Korea's modern Customs system, which formally began with the establishment of the first Customs office at Dumojin in Busan in 1878, as the nation was transitioning toward modernization.

However, between 1910 and 1948, Korea’s Customs administration faced significant challenges due to military and political intervention by foreign powers. With the launch of the independent government of the Republic of Korea on August 15, 1948, the Customs Bureau was created in the Ministry of Finance.

Then in 1970, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) was established as an independent organization to meet an increasing demand for effective Customs administration that could keep up with the growing trade volume and the number of passengers. Under the Government Organization Act, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance (MOSF) continues to support the KCS through its three divisions: The Customs Policy Division, the Industry and Tariff Division, and the International Customs Cooperation Division.