Tax refund
Tax refund
in Korea
Refund calculator
Plug in one receipt's total. We run the tiered refund schedule and show what you'll actually pocket.
Immediate refund at register: ₩15k-30k → ₩1k, ₩30k-50k → ₩2k, ₩50k-75k → ₩4k, ₩75k-100k → ₩5k, then ~7% bracket up to ₩1M per transaction. Above ₩1M it's airport refund only at ~7.5% net of fees.
Quick facts
Two ways to get it
-
Immediate refund, at the register
Show your passport when paying.
The store deducts the refund instantly.
Works for purchases under ₩1,000,000 per transaction (and total cumulative spend under ₩5M during your stay).
Most Olive Young, GS25, Daiso, ABC-Mart, and large brand shops do this. -
Airport refund, for big-ticket items
For receipts ₩1M+, you'll be issued a Tax-Free slip.
At Incheon T1 (near gate 28), T2 (near gate 249), Gimhae, and Gimpo, scan your passport at a self-service kiosk or counter.
Customs may ask to see the items, so keep them in carry-on if possible.
Refund paid in KRW cash, USD, card, or Alipay/WeChat Pay.
Full guide per flow
Tap any flow for the complete step-by-step, eligibility rules, what to bring, watch-outs, and verified sources.
Default flow
Immediate refund at the register
Show your passport at checkout. The refund deducts from your total instantly.
High-value or deferred
Airport refund kiosk
Self-service kiosk at Incheon T1, T2, Gimhae, and Gimpo for receipts above ₩1,000,000 or deferred refunds.
Different channel
Duty-free shopping
Not a refund - a separate sales channel that sells tax-free at the source. Picked up at the airport.
Tips
- Passport Keep your passport on you.
No passport at checkout means no refund.
Photos don't count.
Bring the physical book. - Packaging Don't open packaging until you're home if you can help it.
Customs at the airport occasionally inspects unopened goods. - Airport timing Arrive 30 min early for airport refunds.
T1 has long queues at the customs counter on weekend evenings. - Eligibility Stays ≤ 6 months only.
Long-term residents, students with D-2/D-4, and crew are not eligible.
Save another 2-3% on every swipe
Your home-bank debit/credit card typically charges a 2-3% foreign-exchange fee on every transaction in Korea, often more than the tax refund you just claimed.
A multi-currency card with no FX markup wipes that out.
Open the account from home before flying. Both ship a physical card; an app virtual card is usable for Apple Pay / Google Pay immediately.
Sources
Updated July 2026.
