Since it became the 56th member country of the Customs Cooperation Council in July 1968, the Republic of Korea has been playing an active role in the organization, adopting internationally standardized customs systems such as CCC customs tariff nomenclature, which is now essential for the export and import procedures. Korea is evolving toward the status of a developed country in the field of customs matters, as shown, in particular, by the decision to hold in Seoul the 1984 annual meeting of the Customs Cooperation Council. Public understanding and cooperation, as well as countinuing efforts to make improvement on the part of the persons concerned and the active cooperation among nations, are required if a really effective customs administration is to be produced.