Visiting Korea and planning to shop? This guide explains how the tourist tax refund (택스리펀드, "tax free") works in 2026, how much money you actually get back, and which of the three refund methods saves you the most time. The short answer: spend at least KRW 15,000 in one tax-free shop, show your passport, and expect roughly 4 to 8 percent of the price back.
How much do you get back?
Most goods in Korea include 10% value-added tax (부가가치세, VAT) in the price on the tag. Because the tax is already inside the price, the tax part of a KRW 110,000 item is KRW 10,000, which is about 9.1% of what you pay. You will not get all of that back. Private refund companies (환급창구운영사업자) run the system and keep a service fee, so the cash you actually receive is usually about 4 to 8 percent of the price. Small purchases get the lower end; bigger purchases get a higher share.
| Purchase (VAT included) | VAT inside the price | Typical refund you receive (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| KRW 15,000 (minimum) | about KRW 1,360 | roughly KRW 600 to 1,000 |
| KRW 100,000 | about KRW 9,090 | roughly KRW 5,000 to 8,000 |
| KRW 500,000 | about KRW 45,450 | roughly KRW 25,000 to 40,000 |
| KRW 1,000,000 | about KRW 90,900 | roughly KRW 55,000 to 80,000 |
The exact amount depends on the refund company and the receipt total, so treat the right-hand column as a guide, not a promise. The refund company prints the exact refund on your receipt or refund slip (환급전표).
The 2026 rules in one table
There are three main ways to get your refund. Since January 1, 2024, the limits for the instant, in-store method were doubled, and those limits still apply in 2026.
| Method | Where and when | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate refund (즉시환급) | At the till, at the moment you pay. The refund is taken off the price. | Under KRW 1,000,000 per purchase; KRW 5,000,000 total per trip |
| Downtown refund (도심환급) | At a refund counter or kiosk in the city, after you shop. You get cash or card credit early, but customs still checks at departure. | Up to KRW 6,000,000 per purchase |
| Departure refund (출국 시 환급) | At the airport or seaport when you leave, after customs confirms you are exporting the goods. | No purchase cap |
Other key rules:
- Minimum spend: KRW 15,000 per receipt at one shop (the old minimum was KRW 30,000).
- Time limit: you must take the goods out of Korea within 3 months of the purchase date.
- Which shops: only shops showing a "Tax Free" or "Tax Refund" sign (사후면세점). Duty-free shops (면세점) are different; you already paid no tax there, so no refund.
- What is excluded: services that customs cannot check (restaurant meals, massages), opened or used goods, and items you cannot export, such as weapons or cultural property.
- Cosmetic procedures: the VAT refund for foreigners' cosmetic surgery and skin treatments ended on December 31, 2025. A bill to bring it back was in the National Assembly in mid-2026 but had not passed, so do not count on this refund.
- Cruise passengers: since April 2026, cruise tourists on a landing permit (관광상륙허가) can also use immediate and downtown refunds.
Step by step: the immediate refund (easiest)
This is the best choice for most visitors. Many department stores, cosmetics chains and fashion shops in tourist areas offer it.
- Look for the sign. Check for "Tax Free" or "Immediate Tax Refund" at the door or the till.
- Say it before paying. Tell the cashier "Tax free, please" (택스프리 해주세요) and hand over your passport. The shop scans it.
- Pay the lower price. The refund amount is removed from your bill on the spot. Keep the receipt.
- Watch your total. Each purchase must be under KRW 1,000,000, and all immediate refunds on one trip together cannot pass KRW 5,000,000. After that, the shop gives you a normal refund slip instead.
- Keep goods with you. You still need to leave Korea with the goods within 3 months. Customs can check at departure.
Step by step: refund at the airport
Use this for big purchases (KRW 1,000,000 or more per receipt) or when the shop did not offer an immediate refund.
- Get a refund slip. Show your passport when paying. The shop gives you a receipt plus a refund slip (환급전표). Do not lose it.
- Keep goods unopened. Pack them where you can show them. Customs can ask to see the item, and opened or used goods can be refused.
- Arrive early. Plan an extra 30 to 60 minutes before check-in, especially at Incheon in the afternoon.
- Do the check before check-in. Go to a tax refund kiosk or the customs counter (세관 반출확인). Scan your passport and slips. If the system asks for a customs check, show the goods to an officer. If you put the goods in checked baggage, do this before you drop your bag.
- Collect the money. After customs confirmation, collect cash (usually in won) or choose a refund to your credit card at the refund company counter or kiosk. Ports without a counter use a mailbox: put the confirmed slip in the refund company's box.
| Airport | Staffed refund counter | Kiosk |
|---|---|---|
| Incheon Terminal 1 | 07:00 to 22:00 | 24 hours |
| Incheon Terminal 2 | 07:30 to 21:30 | 24 hours |
| Gimpo | 06:30 to 20:00 | 24 hours |
| Gimhae (Busan) | 06:30 to 21:00 | 24 hours |
| Jeju | 06:00 to 22:00 | Check locally |
Hours come from the Korea Tourism Organization and can change, so check on the day you fly.
Downtown refund: get the money early
If you shop a lot in Myeongdong, Hongdae or a department store, a downtown refund counter (or kiosk) lets you collect your refund in the city before you fly. Bring your passport, the refund slips and a credit card. The card is a deposit: you still have to get customs confirmation at the airport. If you do not, the refund company can charge the money back to your card. The limit is KRW 6,000,000 per purchase.
Common mistakes that cost visitors money
- Forgetting the passport. A photo on your phone is not accepted.
- Splitting KRW 15,000 across two shops. The minimum is per receipt at one shop.
- Checking in the suitcase before the customs check, then being asked to show the goods.
- Opening and using cosmetics before departure.
- Shopping after you have lived in Korea for 6 months. Long-stay students and workers cannot claim, even if they show a passport.
Before your trip, also check whether you need a K-ETA. The exemption for 22 countries ends on December 31, 2026. See K-ETA Exemption Ends Dec 31, 2026: Do You Need a K-ETA in 2027?
Frequently asked questions
I live in Korea with an ARC. Can I get a tourist tax refund?
Usually not. The refund is for non-residents who have been in Korea less than 6 months and do not earn income here. If you hold an Alien Registration Card for work or long-term study and have stayed 6 months or more, you do not qualify. Your family visiting you on a short tourist trip can claim on their own passports.
Is the refund paid in won or my home currency?
Cash refunds at Korean airports are usually paid in Korean won. You can often choose a credit card refund instead, which is converted by your card company. With the immediate refund, you simply pay less in won at the till.
Can I combine receipts from different shops to reach KRW 15,000?
No. The KRW 15,000 minimum applies to a purchase at one shop. Several items bought together at the same shop on one receipt are fine.
What happens if I skip the customs check after an immediate or downtown refund?
For an immediate refund, customs can still ask to see goods when you leave. For a downtown refund, the customs export confirmation is required; without it, the refund company can take the money back from the credit card you registered.
Do I get a refund on cosmetic surgery or skin clinic treatments in 2026?
No. The special VAT refund for foreign patients' cosmetic procedures expired at the end of 2025. Lawmakers proposed bringing it back, but as of our last check it had not passed. Ask the clinic before booking if this matters to you.
Sources: Korea Tourism Organization: Tax Refund guide; Korea.net: Immediate tax refund limits doubled (2024); Korea Tax Times: Korea Customs Service on refund methods and cruise tourists (April 2026); Hankyung: Cosmetic procedure VAT refund lapse (July 2026); Trip.com: Korea tax refund guide
General information only. Rules, limits and refund company fees can change; check with the shop or refund counter for your exact refund. Last checked November 2026.
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