A recent surge in domestic gold prices, which pushed the value of gold 10 to 20 percent higher than international prices, has led to a surge in gold smuggling, authorities said Wednesday. According to the Korea Customs Service, attempts to smuggle gold bars in particular, among various gold items, surged to 7.4 billion won ($5.08 million) in January this year, from just 20 million won for the entire year of 2024. Gold smuggling overall, including gold bars and other items, increased from 200 mil