This chapter defines the application of the international regulations governing cryogenic transport by air, sea, and land — IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), IMO IMDG Code, and UN ECE ADR — and of the Korean Aviation Safety Act, Shipping Act, and Trucking Transport Business Act. Adoption requires the collaboration of the Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology (KIAST), the Korean Register (KR), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), and the Korea Customs Service, with the infrastructure of the Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) and Incheon International Airport Corporation as core resources.
This section organizes the application of IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) 65th Edition to cryogenic transport.
Cryogenic transport specimens follow the UN classification. UN 1977 (Nitrogen, refrigerated liquid): Class 2.2 Refrigerated Gas, Group N. UN 1845 (Carbon dioxide, solid / dry ice): Class 9 Miscellaneous. UN 3373 (Biological Substance, Category B): UN classification for human tissues and biopharmaceutical specimens. UN 2814 (Infectious Substance affecting humans): infectious specimens. This standard typically applies the dual classification of UN 1977 (LN2) and UN 3373 (specimens).
IATA DGR Packing Instruction 202 specifies the air transport packaging requirements for UN 1977: a maximum volume of 50 L (passenger aircraft cargo hold) or 450 L (cargo aircraft), mandatory vacuum-insulated dewar, and external labeling obligations. In Korea, the Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology (KIAST) administers PI 202 conformity inspection, operating 24 hours at the dangerous goods inspection counter of the Incheon International Airport cargo terminal.
IATA DGR Special Provision A152 is the dangerous goods classification exemption for dry shippers. This provision is the most frequently used in this standard, with more than 90% of international air transports falling under it. The exemption condition is that liquid LN2 is fully absorbed by the absorbent material with no leakage potential. Incheon International Airport, Gimpo Airport, and Gimhae Airport all operate expedited clearance channels for A152 containers.
Special Provision A805 specifies the special procedures for UN 3373 (Biological Substance, Category B). It applies to the air transport of human tissue and biopharmaceutical specimens, requiring simultaneous application of MFDS prior notification and IATA DGR. All Korean air transport of human tissue and biopharmaceutical specimens mandatorily applies this provision.
Article 70 (Dangerous Goods Transport Permit) and Article 71 (Dangerous Goods Transport Safety Rules) of the Aviation Safety Act provide the basis for Korean application of IATA DGR. KIAST issues dangerous goods transport permits under delegation from MOLIT, and all carriers at Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae, and Jeju airports must hold these permits.
This section organizes the application of IMO IMDG Code Amendment 41-22 to cryogenic transport.
The IMDG Code classifies UN 1977 as Class 2.2 Refrigerated Gas, Group N (non-flammable, non-toxic). Container certification is performed by the Korean Register (KR) or IACS member societies (ABS, DNV, ClassNK, etc.), and all five major ports — Busan, Incheon, Gwangyang, Ulsan, and Yeosu — accept transshipment of KR-certified containers.
The Port Management Information System (Port-MIS) of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) handles prior notification of port arrivals and departures for IMDG Code containers. Busan, Incheon, and Gwangyang ports all operate 24-hour dangerous goods inspection counters, with KR field inspectors permanently stationed. The mean transshipment times are Busan 6 hours, Incheon 4 hours, and Gwangyang 5 hours.
The Shipping Act is the basis for Korean application of the IMDG Code, with MOF handling prior notification of dangerous goods loading. Prior notification must be completed up to 24 hours before departure for sea transport under this standard. For KR-certified containers, prior notification is processed automatically.
This section organizes the application of UN ECE ADR (European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) 2025 to cryogenic transport. Korea is not a direct party to ADR, but the Trucking Transport Business Act harmonizes the core provisions of ADR into Korean law.
ADR Chapter 6.2.6 specifies the requirements for open cryogenic receptacles. All dewars under this standard must satisfy this provision, with KR or KIAST verifying conformity.
ADR Chapter 4.1 specifies procedures for the use of packagings. This provision covers external labeling of dewars, safety procedures during loading, and marking of transport vehicles.
Article 35 (Registration of Dangerous Goods Transport Vehicles) of the Trucking Transport Business Act is the basis for Korean application of ADR. MOLIT processes the registration of dangerous goods transport vehicles, and the certified vehicles of Hanjin Logistics, CJ Logistics, Lotte Global Logistics, and Korea Post all hold this registration.
Domestic road transport uses the highway network of the Korea Expressway Corporation. Dangerous goods transport vehicles must complete prior notification with the Korea Expressway Corporation 24 hours before departure, and post-transport reporting is mandatory.
Prior notification is completed 24 to 72 hours before departure through the MFDS e-cris system. The notification covers specimen information, origin and destination facilities, the carrier, and container certification information.
Air transport additionally requires a KIAST dangerous goods transport permit (24 hours before), sea transport requires MOF Port-MIS prior notification (24 hours before), and land transport requires Korea Expressway Corporation prior notification of dangerous goods transport (24 hours before).
For cross-border transit, prior customs clearance notification is submitted to the Korea Customs Service UNI-PASS. This procedure is detailed in Chapter 7 (Customs and Border Regulations).
Arrival reporting is submitted to the MFDS e-cris system within 24 hours after arrival. The report includes the time of arrival, core temperature, LN2 level, specimen integrity, and the TQS score.
The regulatory adoption of this chapter requires the central roles of the following Korean actors.
MOLIT, KIAST, KAC, and Incheon International Airport Corporation are the four core actors for air regulations. The Incheon Airport cargo terminal, Gimpo Airport, Gimhae Airport, and Jeju Airport all operate facilities that implement IATA DGR.
MOF, KR, Busan Port Authority, Incheon Port Authority, Gwangyang Port Authority, Ulsan Port Authority, and Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority are the seven core actors for sea regulations. The KR container certification database is the direct source for IMO IMDG Code application.
MOLIT, Korea Expressway Corporation, and the seven carriers Hanjin Logistics, CJ Logistics, Lotte Global Logistics, Korea Post, FedEx Korea, DHL Korea, and UPS Korea are the nine core actors for land regulations.
MFDS, the Korea Customs Service, the five research institutions KRIBB, KAIST, KIST, KRICT, and KFRI, and the six tertiary general and national medical centers Seoul National University Hospital, Samsung Medical Center, Asan Medical Center, Severance Hospital, the National Cancer Center, and the National Medical Center are the integrated regulatory adopters.
In the case of the Asan Medical Center CAR-T clinical trial specimen transported to the Mayo Clinic, IATA DGR Special Provision A152 (dry shipper exemption) was applied, exempting the shipment from dangerous goods classification. KIAST's dangerous goods transport permit, MFDS prior notification, and Korea Customs Service prior clearance notification were processed concurrently.
In the case of a large-capacity LN2 container certified by KR and transshipped from Busan Port to Yokohama Port in Japan, the Class 2.2 Group N classification under IMO IMDG Code Amendment 41-22 was applied. MOF prior notification, KR field inspection, and Busan Port Authority transshipment slot assignment were processed concurrently.
In the case where specimens from the IVF clinic of Seoul National University Hospital were transported to Pusan National University Hospital by Hanjin Logistics certified vehicles, the registration of dangerous goods transport vehicles under Article 35 of the Trucking Transport Business Act and prior notification with the Korea Expressway Corporation were applied. The mean transit time was 4.5 hours.
In the case of KRIBB master cell lines transported by air from Incheon Airport and transshipped by sea at Gwangyang Port, the triple regulation of IATA DGR, IMO IMDG Code, and UN ECE ADR was applied. The three agencies KIAST, KR, and the Korea Expressway Corporation collaborated concurrently.
In 2024, the MFDS e-cris system was integrated with the four external systems of KIAST, MOF, the Korea Customs Service, and KR. The integration reduced the mean multi-agency prior notification processing time from 24 hours to 0.8 hours.
The simulator of this standard supports interactive learning of IATA, IMO, and UN ECE regulatory application.
In the ../../simulator/index.html#data-format panel, selecting transportMode (ground, air, sea, multimodal) and containerType automatically displays the applicable regulations. Korean users can learn the automatic application workflow of IATA DGR, IMO IMDG Code, and UN ECE ADR in this panel.
The ../../simulator/index.html#algorithms panel visualizes automatic routing under regulatory application. Automatic selection of the expedited clearance channel when Special Provision A152 (dry shipper exemption) is applied is simulated in this panel.
The ../../simulator/index.html#protocol panel simulates API integration with MFDS e-cris, KIAST, MOF, and the Korea Customs Service. The flow of concurrent multi-agency notifications is visualized in this panel.
The ../../simulator/index.html#integration panel simulates automatic integration with the seven systems of the four Korean government ministries (MFDS, KIAST, MOF, Customs), KR, KAC, and Incheon International Airport Corporation.
The ../../simulator/index.html#test panel performs integrated verification of regulatory application. The phase1 through phase5 outputs map directly to the five stages of prior notification, departure, transshipment, arrival, and post-reporting.
Violation of IATA DGR or the Aviation Safety Act may result in corrective orders from KIAST and revocation of the dangerous goods transport permit by MOLIT. Article 164 (Penalties) of the Aviation Safety Act provides for a fine of up to 50 million KRW or imprisonment for up to three years.
Violation of IMO IMDG Code or the Shipping Act may result in revocation of KR container certification and prohibition of dangerous goods loading by MOF.
Violation of UN ECE ADR or the Trucking Transport Business Act may result in revocation of the registration of dangerous goods transport vehicles by MOLIT. Registration revocation also forces operational suspension for the certified carriers Hanjin Logistics, CJ Logistics, Lotte Global Logistics, Korea Post, FedEx Korea, DHL Korea, and UPS Korea.
Failure to file MFDS prior notification or violation of the Human Tissue Safety and Management Act may result in revocation of MFDS GMP certification.
The EU is a direct adopter of ADR, and EU GMP Annex 1 (2023 revision) imposes additional requirements on human tissue and biopharmaceuticals. For EU market entry, the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between MFDS GMP and EU GMP applies, enabling direct market entry for MFDS GMP-certified facilities. The Incheon Airport to Frankfurt direct route is the core gateway for EU entry.
The US applies FAA 49 CFR 173.320 (cryogenic liquids), 21 CFR Part 1271 (human tissues), and FDA Good Tissue Practice (GTP). For US market entry, the equivalence evaluation between MFDS GTP and FDA GTP is underway. The Incheon Airport to Chicago O'Hare direct flight is the core route for US entry.
Japan applies the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act. Cross-border transport between Korea and Japan is processed under the bilateral agreement between MFDS and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), with the Incheon to Tokyo Narita and Haneda direct flights and the Busan to Yokohama and Kobe sea routes as the major corridors.
China applies the Regulation on the Supervision and Administration of Medical Devices and the Drug Administration Law. Cross-border transport between Korea and China proceeds through mutual GMP certification review, using the Incheon to Shanghai Pudong and Beijing Capital direct flights and the Busan to Shanghai and Qingdao sea routes.
This section organizes the detailed role of the Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology (KIAST), the central authority for IATA DGR adoption in Korea.
The KIAST dangerous goods transport permit is issued in five stages. Stage 1: the applicant submits the IATA DGR 65th Edition specification. Stage 2: KIAST documentary review (mean processing time 5 business days). Stage 3: field inspection (Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae, Jeju). Stage 4: dangerous goods transport permit issuance (mean processing time 14 business days). Stage 5: renewal review every 12 months.
The Incheon International Airport cargo terminal operates a 24-hour KIAST field inspection counter. All seven carriers — Hanjin Logistics, CJ Logistics, Lotte Global Logistics, Korea Post, FedEx Korea, DHL Korea, and UPS Korea — undergo inspection at this counter, with a mean inspection time of 28 minutes. For dangerous goods classification exemption (Special Provision A152 dry shipper) containers, inspection completes in an average of 6 minutes via the expedited clearance channel.
Gimpo Airport is the core domestic transshipment airport, with the KIAST dangerous goods inspection counter operating on weekdays 06:00 to 22:00. Gimhae Airport is the international airport for the Busan region, handling dangerous goods inspections for direct routes to Japan and China. Jeju Airport handles specimen transport between MFDS GMP-certified facilities (Jeju National University Hospital) in the Jeju area.
Among Korean carriers, six airlines hold IATA DGR dangerous goods transport qualification: Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, Jin Air, T'way Air, and Air Busan. FedEx Korea, DHL Korea, and UPS Korea operate their own cargo aircraft and handle cryogenic transport on the major routes of Incheon to Chicago O'Hare, Incheon to Frankfurt, and Incheon to Hong Kong.
KR's IMO IMDG Code container certification proceeds in four stages. Stage 1: ISO 21029-1 conformity verification. Stage 2: confirmation of IMDG Code Class 2.2 Group N classification. Stage 3: field inspection (Busan, Incheon, Gwangyang). Stage 4: issuance of a container certificate valid for five years.
KR field inspectors are permanently stationed at Busan, Incheon, and Gwangyang ports and perform dangerous goods container inspections 24 hours a day. Busan Port is the core transshipment port for Japan and China, Incheon Port for China and Russia, and Gwangyang Port for Southeast Asia and India.
KR is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) and holds mutual certification with the twelve member societies including ABS (US), DNV (Norway), Lloyd's Register (UK), BV (France), RINA (Italy), CCS (China), ClassNK (Japan), PRS (Poland), RS (Russia), IRS (India), and CRS (Croatia). Through this cooperation, KR-certified containers are automatically recognized in global markets.
The MFDS e-cris system integrates prior notification, post-arrival reporting, and multi-agency automatic integration for human tissues and biopharmaceuticals. In 2024 the system was integrated with the four external systems of KIAST, MOF, the Korea Customs Service, and KR, reducing the mean multi-agency prior notification processing time from 24 hours to 0.8 hours.
The Korea Customs Service's UNI-PASS handles customs notifications at cross-border transit. The system is automatically integrated with MFDS e-cris, so completion of MFDS prior notification automatically processes the customs notification. All four major border points — Incheon Airport, Busan Port, Incheon Port, and Gwangyang Port — operate UNI-PASS 24 hours a day.
The multi-agency automatic integration of MFDS, the Korea Customs Service, KIAST, and MOF substantially reduces the administrative burden of Korean human tissue and biopharmaceutical transport. According to a 2024 MFDS analysis, the mean administrative processing cost per transport fell from approximately 280,000 KRW to 80,000 KRW after the introduction of multi-agency automatic integration — a 71% reduction — generating annual social benefit of approximately 32 billion KRW.
This chapter has defined the air, sea, and land transport regulations for cryogenic transport — IATA DGR, IMO IMDG Code, and UN ECE ADR — and the application of the Korean Aviation Safety Act, Shipping Act, and Trucking Transport Business Act. IATA DGR Special Provision A152 (dry shipper exemption), PI 202 (LN2 air transport), and Special Provision A805 (UN 3373 biological substances) are the three core provisions of this chapter.
In Korea, nine government and public agencies — MOLIT, KIAST, KAC, Incheon International Airport Corporation, MOF, KR, MFDS, the Korea Customs Service, and the Korea Expressway Corporation — together with seven carriers — Hanjin Logistics, CJ Logistics, Lotte Global Logistics, Korea Post, FedEx Korea, DHL Korea, and UPS Korea — and the six medical centers and five research institutions, form the core resources for Korean adoption.
The applicable statutes include the Aviation Safety Act, Shipping Act, Trucking Transport Business Act, Customs Act, Bioethics and Safety Act, Human Tissue Safety and Management Act, and Act on Organ Transplantation — a total of seven statutes — with the MFDS enforcement regulations and notifications of each applied concurrently. The specifications of this chapter combine with the subsequent Chapter 6 (Emergency Response) and Chapter 7 (Customs and Border Regulations) to ensure stable cryogenic transport in Korea.