Kang Joo Kyung, 35, was stopped at Tan Son Nhat International Airport last Thursday after customs officials checked his luggage and found 200 used cellphones worth VND1.6 billion ($68,915). Among the phones were brands popular in Vietnam, like Apple and Samsung.
Having no valid documents for the phones, Kang confessed to the investigators he was hoping to sell the phones and earn some money.
The case has been handed over them and will be pursued with further, police said Tuesday.
In 2017, a Ho Chi Minh City court sentenced two South Korean men, Her Min Chul and Cho In Soo, to three years in jail each for smuggling 96 used cell phones to Vietnam.
Vietnamese regulations require mobile phone importers to register for quality inspections with the Department of Telecommunications.
Importers who fail to do so will be fined and ordered to re-export their goods.
However, passengers arriving in Vietnam are allowed to freely carry a second mobile phone with them if it is for personal use. The second phone is still subject to duty if its value exceeds VND10 million ($430).