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Tax-free shopping in South Korea

Yes. Visitors who don't live in South Korea can get back about 4–8% of the price on purchases of at least ₩15,000 by claiming the VAT refund before they leave.

VAT
10%
Minimum spend
₩15,000
Net refund
4–8%
Refund at till
Often

Minimum basis: Per receipt, at one tax-refund store

Cap: ₩1,000,000 (Immediate (in-store) refund only: up to KRW 1,000,000 per purchase and KRW 5,000,000 per trip; above that, claim at departure)

Who can claim

  • You are a foreign national staying in Korea less than 6 months.
  • Or you are an overseas Korean who has lived abroad 2+ years and is staying less than 3 months.

How to get the money back

  1. Shop at a store with a Tax Free or Tax Refund sign and spend at least KRW 15,000 on one receipt.
  2. Show your passport at the till.
  3. For immediate refund stores, pay the price with the tax already taken off (within the per-purchase and per-trip limits).
  4. For other purchases, keep the refund receipt and take it to a refund kiosk at your departure airport before check-in.
  5. If the kiosk asks for customs inspection, show the goods and receipts to customs before checking your bags.
  6. Collect the refund at the operator counter or kiosk after passport control.

Where to validate: At the tax refund kiosks or customs desk at your departure airport (e.g. Incheon) before check-in; immediate-refund purchases need no validation.

Deadline: Leave Korea within 3 months of the purchase date.

Paid out as: Deducted at the till (immediate refund); Cash at the airport refund counter; Card

Not refundable

  • Services (hotels, restaurants)
  • Goods that are opened or used in Korea
  • Purchases under KRW 15,000 per receipt

Worth knowing

  • Use immediate refund stores for everyday buys; the saving is taken off at the till.
  • If the kiosk asks for customs inspection, keep high-value items out of checked luggage until it is done.

Estimate your refund for South Korea

Sources

Rules last checked 24 September 2026. Refund operators and customs can change procedures at short notice; confirm at the store before you buy.

Before you go: check the entry rules for your passport and the best time to visit South Korea.

Other refund rules: Australia, Austria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam