CNC machine tools from Korea: used and new machining centers, lathes, 5-axis, grinders and EDM
Korean-built CNC machine tools are sold used by factories that change models or close a line, and new through the builders’ domestic channels. HANA for U, a trading company based near Incheon, buys the machine in Korea in its own name, arranges inspection, export classification, dismantling and packing, and ships it to you with the export documents.
WhatsApp +82-10-4568-0258Request a quoteWhat to check before buyingCan a foreign company buy a CNC machine tool from Korea?
This page is part of our Korea export sourcing service. We do not hold stock. Send the machine type, size, controller preference, year range and destination country, and we look for matching machines in Korea. The fastest way is WhatsApp: +82-10-4568-0258.
Used CNC machines
Sourced from Korean factories selling working machines. Sold in the condition shown at inspection, with the running test, hour counters and included items written on the quote.
- Typical sellers: automotive parts, die and mold, general machining shops
- Price depends on year, hours, controller and condition
- Vietnam and some other countries apply an age limit
New CNC machines
Bought new in Korea from the builder’s domestic sales channel or an authorised domestic dealer, then exported by us. HANA for U is not an authorised dealer for any builder, so the warranty that applies outside Korea is confirmed with the seller and written on the quote before you order.
- Specification, options and controller chosen with you from the builder’s catalogue
- Lead time is the builder’s production schedule plus shipping
- Korean origin: a certificate of origin can usually be issued
Korean CNC machine tool brands by machine type
The Korean builders buyers ask for most often, with the specification points that decide whether a machine fits your work.
| Machine type | Representative Korean brands | Specification to send us |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical machining centers (VMC) | DN Solutions (earlier machines carry the Doosan or Daewoo name), Hyundai WIA, Hwacheon, SMEC | X, Y and Z travel, table size and load, spindle taper (BT30, BT40, BT50, HSK) and maximum speed, controller make and series, tool magazine capacity, 4th axis, chip conveyor, year range |
| Horizontal machining centers (HMC) | DN Solutions, Hyundai WIA, Hwacheon | Pallet size and number of pallets, travels, spindle taper and speed, controller, tool magazine capacity, year range |
| CNC lathes and turning centers | DN Solutions, Hyundai WIA, Hwacheon, SMEC | Chuck size, bar capacity, maximum turning diameter and length, live tooling, sub-spindle, Y axis, controller make and series, year range |
| 5-axis machining centers | DN Solutions, Hyundai WIA, Hwacheon | Table diameter and load, rotary axis arrangement (trunnion or swivel head), spindle taper and speed, controller; these machines are the most likely to need a Korean export classification |
| Grinding machines (surface, cylindrical, centerless) | Various Korean makers | Grinding type, table or workpiece size, wheel size, CNC or manual, year range |
| Wire and sinker EDM | Various Korean makers | Wire or sinker, work tank and table size, generator, maximum workpiece weight, year range |
| Boring mills and large machines | Various Korean makers | Spindle diameter, travels, table size and load, controller; shipping method (flat rack, open top or breakbulk) is decided from the packed dimensions |
Brand names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify machines. HANA for U is an independent exporter. It is not affiliated with, authorised by or a dealer for any of these manufacturers.
What to check before buying a used CNC machine from Korea
| Item | Why it matters | How it is confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Year of manufacture | Several importing countries set an age limit for used machinery, and age drives the price | Photo of the builder’s nameplate with model, serial number and year |
| Hour counters | Power-on time, operating time and cutting time can differ widely. A large gap between power-on time and cutting time usually means the machine sat idle; cutting time close to operating time means heavy use. Counter values are stored on the controller and can be changed, so they are read together with the visible wear | Photo of the controller timer screen; the readings are written on the quote |
| Controller | The controller make, series and installed options (FANUC, Siemens, Heidenhain or the builder’s own control) decide what programs and tooling you can use and whether local service is available | Photos of the controller system information screen showing series, software version and options; display language |
| Spindle condition | Spindle bearings are the most expensive wear item. Noise, heat or runout mean a rebuild | Spindle run at low, medium and maximum speed with sound and temperature noted; runout measured on a test bar where the seller allows; photo of the taper |
| Ways and backlash | Worn guideways or ballscrews show as backlash, noise and poor surface finish | Axes jogged over full travel; backlash checked with an indicator on request; backlash and pitch-error compensation values on the controller photographed |
| Tool changer and turret | A misaligned arm or turret causes crashes and downtime | Full magazine cycle or turret indexing run on video; alarm history screen photographed |
| Voltage and frequency | Korean industrial power is 380V three-phase at 60Hz. A 50Hz country or a different voltage needs a transformer, and sometimes more | Main nameplate and motor nameplates. See Korea 380V 60Hz machines: will they run in your country? |
| Accessories and documents | Missing manuals, electrical drawings, tool holders, chip conveyor or parameter backups are expensive to replace | A written list of what ships with the machine, agreed before payment; parameter and ladder backups requested from the seller |
| Export control | Some high-precision machine tools are strategic items under Korean law and need a classification before export | We file the classification request before you pay; see the section below |
How inspection works
- Photos and screens. You receive photos of the machine, nameplates, controller system and timer screens, alarm history, spindle taper, way covers, tool magazine and accessories.
- Running test under power. Where the machine is still connected, it is run for you by live video or during your visit: axes over full travel, spindle at several speeds, a full tool-change or turret cycle, a dry run of a program, visible leaks and alarms. If the machine has already been disconnected, we say so before you decide.
- Measured checks on request. Runout on a test bar and axis backlash with a dial indicator can be shown on camera. A ballbar circular test (ISO 230-4) or a laser positioning test (ISO 230-2) by a third-party service is arranged at the buyer’s cost where the seller agrees.
- Your own inspector. You may send a third-party inspector or your own engineer. We arrange access with the seller.
- Agreed condition. The condition seen at inspection, the counter readings and the list of included items are written into the proforma invoice.
Step-by-step guide: How to import a used CNC machining center from Korea.
Dismantling, packing and shipping
- Disconnection and dismantling. The machine is disconnected by an electrician, coolant and hydraulic oil are drained as the carrier requires, the axes are parked and locked for transport, and tall machines have the column, magazine or chip conveyor removed so the packed height fits the container.
- Rust protection and packing. Bare metal surfaces are coated against corrosion at sea. The machine is bolted to a skid and wrapped, or crated. Wood packaging is treated and marked to the ISPM 15 standard that most countries require.
- Loading. Most VMCs and lathes travel in a 40ft or 40ft high cube container, lashed and blocked. Machines too tall or wide for a standard container go on a flat rack or in an open top container, and very large units ship as breakbulk. You receive loading photos. Use the container load calculator to check the packed dimensions.
- Documents and shipment. Shipment is from Incheon or Busan on FOB, CFR or CIF terms. You receive the commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading. See FOB vs CIF from Busan.
Installation, levelling and commissioning at your site are arranged by the buyer unless the quote says otherwise.
Korean export control for machine tools
Korea controls the export of high-precision machine tools as strategic items under the Foreign Trade Act (Articles 19 and 20). An exporter who is unsure whether a machine is controlled applies for a classification from the Korean trade ministry’s designated body, and a controlled machine needs an export licence before shipment.
| Question | What it means for your purchase |
|---|---|
| Which machines are likely to be controlled? | Korea applies the Wassenaar Arrangement list. The EU dual-use list, which follows the same list, controls turning and milling machines with unidirectional positioning repeatability of about 0.9 µm or better on linear axes under 1 m of travel (about 1.1 µm on longer axes), 5-axis contouring machining centers and grinders at similar levels, and EDM machines with two or more contouring rotary axes. Positioning repeatability is measured under ISO 230-2. Most used general-purpose VMCs and lathes fall outside these thresholds; 5-axis and high-precision machines are the ones to check. |
| Who files the classification? | HANA for U, as the exporter, files the classification request for each machine before you pay. The builder’s accuracy specification and the machine’s serial number are used. |
| What if the machine is controlled? | An export licence is then needed, and the destination and end user are assessed. We tell you the classification result before payment so you can decide. |
| Your side | Your country may also require an import licence or an end-user statement for controlled machine tools. Confirm with your customs office or broker. |
Sources: Foreign Trade Act of Korea, Articles 19 and 20 (law.go.kr); Regulation (EU) 2021/821, Annex I, entry 2B001 (thresholds as reproduced on thetradehub.eu, checked 16 October 2026; the Official Journal text governs). The exact values and the Korean list are confirmed in the classification for each machine.
Import rules for used CNC machines in your country
Rules for used machinery differ by country and change. The examples below were checked against official sources on 14 October 2026. Confirm the current rule with your customs broker before you commit.
| Country | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | Decision 18/2019/QD-TTg, amended by Decision 02/2026/QD-TTg of 8 January 2026, sets a general age limit of 10 years for used machinery. Appendix I gives machine-tool headings 84.56 to 84.62 (machining centers, lathes, milling, grinding, EDM and forming machines) a limit of 20 years. The importer submits a manufacturer’s certificate or an assessment certificate from a designated body. | Decision 18/2019/QD-TTg (English), consolidated text with the 2026 amendment (Vietnamese) |
| India | Under paragraph 2.31 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, second-hand capital goods, including machine tools, are freely importable except listed items that need an authorisation. | DGFT, Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Chapter 2 |
| Other countries | Many countries apply an age limit, a pre-shipment inspection or a licence to used machinery. Tell us the destination and we will ask you to confirm the rule with your customs office before we quote. | Your customs office or broker |
Certificate of origin: a used machine located in Korea is not automatically of Korean origin, so preferential duty under a trade agreement is often not available for used machines. For new Korean-built machines a certificate of origin can usually be issued. We tell you before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have a list of used CNC machines in stock?
No. We source against your request among machines currently offered for sale in Korea. Send the machine type, travels or chuck size, controller preference, year range and your country, and we come back with what is available.
Which controllers are on Korean CNC machines?
FANUC controls are common on Korean-built machining centers and lathes, and Siemens and Heidenhain controls appear on some models. We photograph the controller system information screen so you can confirm program compatibility and local service before you pay.
Will a Korean 380V 60Hz machine run in my country?
In a 60Hz country with a different voltage, a step-down or step-up transformer is normally enough. In a 50Hz country, the servo and spindle drives on most CNC machines accept 50Hz or 60Hz input (check the drive nameplate), but line-connected coolant pumps, lubrication pumps and fan motors run slower at 50Hz and should be checked by your electrician. Our 380V 60Hz guide explains the options.
Is every CNC machine exportable from Korea?
No. High-precision machine tools, including many 5-axis machines, are strategic items and need a classification and sometimes an export licence. We file the classification before you pay and tell you the result.
Can I buy a new DN Solutions, Hyundai WIA, Hwacheon or SMEC machine through you?
We buy new machines in Korea through the builder’s domestic sales channel or an authorised domestic dealer and export them. We are not an authorised dealer, so the warranty and service that apply in your country are confirmed with the seller and written on the quote before you order.
Is there a warranty on a used CNC machine?
A used machine is sold in the condition shown at inspection. Any seller commitment or agreed test condition is written on the quote.
How is the price quoted?
Each quote states the price, the Incoterm (FOB, CFR or CIF), the port, what is included with the machine, the classification status and the payment terms.
Request a quote
Tell us what you need. The quickest reply is on WhatsApp at +82-10-4568-0258. You can also use the form below.
The buttons open WhatsApp or your email app with the request filled in. You can also write to ohytto@naver.com.
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