Flying out of Korea: the 100 ml liquids rule and the two-power-bank limit

Korea's airport security rules for liquids are the familiar international ones. What changed in 2026 is power banks: Korea now has one of the strictest rules, and it was adopted as an international standard.

Liquids in hand luggage (international flights)

• Each container 100 ml or less — judged by the size of the container, not how much is left in it
• All containers in one clear, sealed plastic bag of up to 1 litre per person
• Food counts if it is liquid or gel-like — gochujang and kimchi included
• Domestic flights inside Korea have no liquid limit

Exceptions

• Baby items for a child aged 6 or under — milk, water, juice, baby food, wet wipes — in the amount needed for the flight
• Liquid medicine over 100 ml (insulin, for example) with a doctor's note or prescription in Korean or English, in the amount needed on board; the rest goes in checked baggage
• Duty-free liquids, whatever the volume, only inside the sealed duty-free bag, unopened until you board the flight to your final destination

Source: Incheon International Airport — restricted items (Korean)

Source: Incheon International Airport — restricted items FAQ (Korean)

Power banks since 20 April 2026

• At most 2 power banks per person, each 160 Wh or less
• Power banks between 100 and 160 Wh need the airline's approval; over 160 Wh are not allowed at all
• Carry-on only — power banks are not allowed in checked baggage
• No charging the power bank on board, and no using it to charge your phone or anything else

Korea introduced the rule after a power bank fire on an Air Busan aircraft in January 2025. The International Civil Aviation Organization adopted it into its dangerous goods instructions on 27 March 2026. Some countries already apply stricter rules, so check your airline's limits for the return leg too.

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport — power bank rules, 8 April 2026 (Korean)