How to Get a VAT Tax Refund in Korea as a Tourist

If you've done any shopping in Korea — cosmetics, clothing, electronics, souvenirs — you may be able to reclaim part of the VAT you paid on eligible purchases. Korea's VAT (Value Added Tax) refund system for tourists is well-developed and straightforward once you know how it works. Many visitors miss refunds simply because they learn the process too late.

Quick Answer

Tourists visiting Korea on a temporary visa can claim a VAT refund of up to 10% on eligible purchases made at participating stores. The minimum purchase is ₩30,000 per receipt at a single store. You can get your refund immediately at the store (if they offer on-site refunds), at airport kiosks before departure, or at designated refund counters at Incheon Airport. Keep all tax refund receipts and have your passport with you when shopping.

The Full Answer

Korea charges a 10% VAT on most goods. Tourists who are not Korean residents can reclaim part of this tax on qualifying purchases — the actual refund is often lower than 10% after fees, and the exact amount varies by store, refund operator, and payment method.

Who Qualifies

You qualify for a VAT refund if you are: - A foreign national visiting Korea on a tourist or short-stay visa - Departing Korea within 3 months of the purchase date - Not a Korean resident (even if you hold foreign nationality)

Korean nationals and foreign residents with a registered address in Korea do not qualify.

Step 1 — Shop at Participating Stores

Not every store in Korea offers tax refunds. Look for one of these logos or signs at the entrance or checkout counter:

Global Blue (blue and white logo) — largest international network
Global Tax Free — common in department stores and duty-free shops
KT Tax Refund — operated by Korea Tourism Organization
Easy Tax Refund — common at smaller independent stores

Minimum spend: ₩30,000 per receipt at a single store. Multiple small purchases at different stores on different visits cannot be combined to reach the threshold.

Show your passport at the register. Tax refund receipts are issued in your name and tied to your passport number. Always carry your passport (or a clear photo of it) when shopping.

Step 2 — Choose Your Refund Method

There are two main ways to collect your refund:

Option A — Immediate In-Store Refund

Some stores — particularly in Myeongdong and major department stores — offer on-the-spot cash refunds at the register or at a dedicated refund desk. This is not available at every participating store, so it is worth asking at the time of purchase whether immediate refunds are offered.

Advantage: Instant cash. No airport queue. What to bring: Passport, same-day purchase receipt, tax refund slip issued by the store. Note: You will be asked to sign a form and show your outbound flight booking. A credit card may be pre-authorized as security — this hold is released once the store confirms you've departed Korea.

Option B — Airport Refund at Incheon

If the store does not offer in-store refunds, or if you prefer to collect everything at once, bring all your tax refund receipts to Incheon Airport on departure day.

At Incheon T1 (Terminal 1): - Customs stamp counter: 3rd floor, before check-in - Refund kiosks and counters: after immigration, in the departure lounge

At Incheon T2 (Terminal 2): - Same process — customs stamp area is on the 3rd floor before check-in - Refund counters are located after security in the departure hall

Important: As a general guideline, for purchases over ₩75,000 per receipt, you may need to get a customs stamp before checking in your luggage. Requirements can vary, so check with the store when you receive your refund slip — and if in doubt, visit the customs desk before dropping your bags.

Step 3 — At the Airport Refund Counter or Kiosk

Once through security, take your stamped receipts to:

Global Blue kiosk or counter — self-service or staffed
Global Tax Free counter
KT Tax Refund kiosk (touchscreen, supports English)

You can receive your refund as: - Cash (Korean won) — most common, no fees - Credit card refund — returned to the card you used for the purchase, takes 1–3 billing cycles

Traveler using a self-service tax refund kiosk at Incheon Airport departure terminal

How Much Do You Actually Get Back?

Korea's VAT rate is 10%, but the actual refund you receive is typically 7–9% after the service fee charged by the refund operator.

Purchase Amount	Approximate Refund (after fees)
₩30,000	~₩2,100–2,700
₩100,000	~₩7,000–9,000
₩300,000	~₩21,000–27,000
₩1,000,000	~₩70,000–90,000

For heavy shoppers — K-beauty hauls, electronics, clothing — the refund can add up to a meaningful amount.

What Items Qualify

Eligible: Clothing, shoes, bags, cosmetics, skincare, electronics, food products (packaged, sealed), souvenirs, accessories.

Not eligible: - Services (restaurant meals, massages, haircuts, tours) - Accommodation costs - Alcohol and tobacco - Items consumed or partially used in Korea

What You Need to Know

Myeongdong is the easiest place to start. The density of tax-free participating stores is highest in Myeongdong, and many stores there have English-speaking staff familiar with the refund process. Olive Young, Innisfree, and most major cosmetics chains participate.

Department stores handle it differently. Lotte, Shinsegae, and Hyundai department stores often have a dedicated tax refund desk on a specific floor. Ask at the information counter — the process is centralized rather than handled at each individual shop counter.

The ₩75,000 customs inspection threshold matters. For receipts under ₩75,000, you can skip the pre-check-in customs desk and go straight to the airport refund counter after security. For receipts at or above ₩75,000, you technically need a customs stamp. In practice, this is most relevant for electronics and high-value purchases.

Shopping bags from Korean cosmetics and fashion stores with tax refund receipts visible

Keep every receipt in one place. A common mistake is losing or separating refund slips from purchase receipts. Use an envelope or a single pocket in your bag from the start of your trip. The tax refund slip issued at the store and the purchase receipt both need to be presented at the airport.

Refund kiosks close before the last flights. Don't cut it too close. Refund desks at Incheon typically operate until around 9–10pm. If you're on a late-night flight, arrive early enough to process the refund before counters close.

Same-day purchases at the airport duty-free are different. Items purchased at duty-free shops inside the airport are already tax-exempt — you don't need to do anything additional for those.

Practical Tips

Always carry your passport when shopping. Tax refund receipts are issued on the spot in your name — you cannot get them retrospectively.
Ask "Do you offer tax refund?" before paying. The English phrase is understood at most tourist-area stores. Look for the tax-free logo near the register if unsure.
Take a photo of each tax refund slip immediately. In case you lose the physical copy, having a photo is useful for reference (though the original is required for the refund).
Arrive at Incheon at least 3 hours before your flight if you have multiple refunds to process. Customs stamping and refund counters can have queues, especially on peak travel days.
Choose cash over card refund at the airport. Card refunds are delayed by 1–3 billing cycles and occasionally involve currency conversion fees from your bank.
Check the Global Blue or KT Tax Refund app before your trip. Both have store locators that show participating shops near your location — useful for planning a shopping route.
For large purchases, consider in-store immediate refund. It avoids airport queues and gets you the money immediately in won — useful if you want to spend it on your remaining days in Korea.

Korea Travel Quick Start Guide