A Study on the Development of the Account Management Program in Korea Customs Service

한국 관세청의 기업상담전문관 제도 발전방향에 관한 연구

Under the circumstance of increasing international trade volumes and limitation of customs human resources, it is necessary to shift the customs' revenue collection activities and audit method from a transaction-based approach to an account-based approach. Thus, in 1997, U.S. Customs services established the Account Management Program. The Account Management Program is designed to increase importer compliance and improve customer service through one-on-one interaction with business entities and a designated Customs representative(Account Manager). The Account Management Program is a comprehensive process that includes the following stages and activities ; selection of a potential Account, establishment of the Account, management of the Account. In 2009, Korea Customs service introduced and executed the Account Management Program. But owing to its early stages, Korea Customs service does not suggest effective direction of development of the AM program. So I can propose the following improvements of the Account Management Program in Korea. Firstly, the Account Managers have to be assigned more traders than AEOs(Authorized Economic Operators). Secondly, it is necessary that Customs service appoints part-time port Account Managers to help more traders to improve customs compliance. Thirdly, thought should be given as to Account can be expanded to encompass both small and medium enterprises(SME) by providing customs brokers managing their customs business on the behalf of the SME with the Account Managers. Lastly, Customs service has to establish performance measures and action plan for the Account Management Program.