Tax Refund Guide — Korea

Oct 13, 2026 ✓ Price checked Oct 2026

Foreign tourists get VAT (10%) back on shopping. Two systems — know which one you're in.

1. Immediate refund (at the shop)

At stores with a "Tax Free" / "Immediate Tax Refund" sign, the discount comes off on the spot — you pay the tax-free price directly.

Show your passport (not a copy, not a photo) at checkout.
The shop scans it and deducts the tax immediately.
Caps: up to ₩1,000,000 per receipt, ₩5,000,000 total per trip across all immediate refunds. Over that (or at shops without instant service) → post refund at airport/downtown counters.
Figures as of Oct 2026 — tax rules change; confirm current thresholds before your trip.

This is the easiest path. Olive Young, major department stores, and big Myeongdong/Hongdae shops nearly all support it.

At "Tax Refund" shops without immediate service, you pay full price and claim later:

At purchase: show passport, get a tax refund slip from the cashier.
At the airport, before security: find the tax refund kiosks. Scan your slips/passport. For larger amounts you may need a customs stamp — follow kiosk instructions.
After security: collect the refund in cash (KRW, USD, etc.) or to your card at the refund counter.

Arrive at the airport 30–60 minutes earlier than usual if you have refunds to process. Lines at Incheon refund counters get long in peak season.

Passport is mandatory. No passport, no refund — at the shop or the airport.
Minimum spend per receipt: ₩15,000 at most stores; some smaller shops set the bar at ₩30,000.
Consumables (cosmetics, food) must leave Korea unopened within the validity window; general goods (clothes, electronics) have no sealing requirement but must be taken out of the country.
Refunds are for short-term visitors — check eligibility if you're on a long-term visa.