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.
Enter a receipt total and we will run the schedule.
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
Each flow, when it applies, and what to bring.
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 September 2026.
