Tax refund
Tax refund
Roughly 7% back, instant, at the counter.
Approximate. Exact bracket depends on receipt total + retailer's affiliate (Global Tax Free, Cube Refund).
- Back at the counter Roughly 7%
- Per receipt ₩15,000 min
- Departure window 3 months
Minimum
₩15,000 on a single receipt. Smaller receipts can be aggregated at the airport tax-refund counter on departure, but the in-store instant flow needs the per-receipt floor.
Passport at checkout
Hand it to the cashier and ask for the tax refund. They scan it; the refund is applied to your total immediately.
Departure window
leave Korea within 3 months of purchase. The passport scan ties the refund to your trip; staying longer voids it.
Where it works
the retailer needs to be affiliated with a tax-refund operator. Look for the Global Tax Free / Cube Refund decal at the entrance. Olive Young flagships (Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gangnam, Garosu-gil), department-store cosmetics floors (Shinsegae, Lotte, Hyundai, Galleria), and most brand flagships (Sulwhasoo Bukchon, Tamburins, Hince) are affiliated.
Duty-free is different
Lotte / Shilla / Incheon duty-free stores sell tax-free at the source: no refund flow because no tax was charged. Goods are picked up at the airport before boarding.
Higher receipts
single receipts above the per-receipt instant-refund cap (currently ₩600,000 to ₩1,000,000 depending on operator) still earn the refund, but the in-store cap may shift to the airport counter for the overflow. Ask at checkout.
