Korea Shopping Guide 2026: Tax Refund, Cards, Markets

TL;DR — 4 things to know before you shop

Tax refund starts at ₩15,000 per receipt. Shop at stores with a Tax Free or Tax Refund sign, show your passport, and ask for the refund slip. You must take the goods out of Korea within 3 months of purchase.
Instant refund at the till has limits. At stores that offer it, the tax comes off the price on the spot for purchases under ₩1,000,000 each, up to ₩5,000,000 in total per stay (limits in force since January 2024).
At Incheon Airport, sort the refund before your bag goes in. Tell the airline at check-in that you have refund goods, use the refund kiosk in the departure hall, and go to customs if the kiosk says so. The money is paid after security.
Cards work at chains; markets want cash. Convenience stores, department stores and big chains take foreign Visa and Mastercard. Traditional market stalls and street food often take only cash or a Korean bank transfer.

⚠ Before you rely on this guide

Prices, store hours and promotions change often, so this guide gives no product prices. Whether a single stall or small shop takes foreign cards can only be checked on the spot. Several travel guides say a refund above ₩75,000 needs a customs check at the airport, but we could not find this amount on an official page — follow what the airport kiosk tells you.

Tax Refund for Foreigners — Step by Step

Korea's VAT is 10%. Foreign visitors staying a short time can get it back on goods bought at registered tax-free (사후면세) stores.

Shop at a store with a Tax Free / Tax Refund sign. Department stores, many Olive Young branches and many shops in tourist areas such as Myeongdong take part. Bring your physical passport — the store needs it to issue the refund.

Spend at least ₩15,000 on one receipt. The minimum was lowered from ₩30,000 to ₩15,000 in 2024. Ask for the refund slip (or electronic record) at the till and keep receipts until you leave.

Option A — instant refund at the till. At stores that offer it, the tax is taken off at checkout. Limits: under ₩1,000,000 per purchase and ₩5,000,000 in total during your stay. Above that, pay the full price and claim the refund later.

Option B — downtown refund. Some refund operators pay you at a downtown counter or kiosk before you leave. You still need customs to confirm the export when you depart.

Option C — refund at the airport. At Incheon Airport, use the refund kiosk in the departure hall first. If the kiosk marks you for a customs check, show your passport, the unused goods and the slips at the customs desk. The refund is then paid at a kiosk or counter in the duty-free area after security, in cash or to your card.

Checked bag? Incheon Airport asks you to tell the airline at check-in that the bag holds refund goods. The bag is tagged and handed back so customs can see it, then you drop it at the oversized-baggage belt. Goods in your carry-on simply go through the kiosk with you.

How much you get back: the refund is less than the full 10% because refund operators keep a fee. On Global Tax Free's refund table, a ₩100,000 purchase returns ₩7,000 (about 7%) and a ₩15,000 purchase returns ₩1,000. Your slip or the kiosk screen shows the exact amount.

What changed in 2026

Cruise passengers can now use instant and downtown refund

From 6 April 2026, the Korea Customs Service linked cruise passenger lists to the refund system, so cruise visitors can also get the tax back at the till or downtown.

CHANGED No more VAT refund on cosmetic procedures

The VAT refund for foreigners on cosmetic surgery and skin treatments ended for procedures provided after 31 December 2025. Shopping refunds are not affected.

Olive Young — K-Beauty Stop

Korea's best-known health and beauty chain. Foreign visitors made up 33% of its in-store sales as of August 2026, according to CJ Olive Young.

Stores built for tourists

CJ Olive Young says 151 stores (August 2026) are in areas it treats as global tourist districts, with staff who speak foreign languages and multilingual signs. Some Seoul stores added an AI shopping assistant in June 2026 that supports 8 languages by voice.

What foreign shoppers buy most

By category, skincare sells best to foreign visitors, followed by makeup and hair care (CJ Olive Young, August 2026). Dermatological ('derma') skincare and beauty supplements were the fastest-growing categories.

Tax refund at the till

Many tourist-area branches offer instant tax refund. Have your physical passport ready before you pay and ask the cashier — the refund cannot be added after the payment is finished.

Promotions: Olive Young runs frequent bundle and discount events that change every month. Check the shelf tag on the day rather than any price you saw online.

Daiso — Fixed-Price Variety Store

Daiso sells everything from stationery to cosmetics and kitchen goods at six fixed price points.

Every Daiso item costs ₩500, ₩1,000, ₩1,500, ₩2,000, ₩3,000 or ₩5,000 — the chain does not sell anything above ₩5,000 (reported October 2026). It is a cheap place for stationery, snacks, travel items and small beauty products.

Tax refund at Daiso: Korea's official tourism site lists DAISO Myeongdong Main Branch as a tax refund shop. Because prices are low, you need ₩15,000 on one receipt to qualify, so buy everything in one payment.

Convenience Stores — GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, emart24

Open late or 24 hours in most areas, and the most reliable place to pay with a foreign card.

Foreign cards work

GS25, CU and 7-Eleven accept foreign Visa and Mastercard for in-store purchases nearly everywhere. If a card fails at a restaurant or market, a convenience store is the easiest fallback.

Cash from a Global ATM

Many convenience stores have an ATM that takes foreign cards. Look for the blue 'Global' sticker or Visa/Mastercard logos on the machine. Withdrawal limits and fees differ by machine and bank, so check the screen before you confirm.

Snacks and ramen to take home

Packaged snacks, instant noodles and drinks are easy, light souvenirs. Choose sealed, commercially packaged food if you plan to take it home.

Traditional Markets — Namdaemun & Gwangjang

Seoul's two best-known markets: Namdaemun for clothing, accessories and household goods, Gwangjang for food and fabric.

Namdaemun Market

Near Hoehyeon Station (Line 4). There is no single opening time — each building sets its own, and many open early in the morning. The merchants' association says the market's regular day off is Sunday; only some street-facing shops open on Sundays.

Gwangjang Market

Take Line 1 to Jongno 5-ga Station (Exit 8) or Line 2/5 to Euljiro 4-ga Station (Exit 4), as listed on the market's own site. The food alley — bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), mayak gimbap and yukhoe — is the main draw, and fabric shops sell hanbok cloth and pojagi wrapping cloths.

BRING CASH

Jongno District gave card readers to 58 food stalls at Gwangjang Market in 2024, but a reporter visiting in April 2026 found many stalls still asking for cash or a Korean bank transfer only. Get Korean won from a Global ATM before you go and carry small notes.

Alipay+ and WeChat Pay: visitors using Alipay+ partner wallets, Alipay, WeChat Pay or UnionPay apps can pay at shops that accept ZeroPay, Korea's QR payment for small merchants. Look for the ZeroPay sign.

Dongdaemun — Fashion Malls

A cluster of fashion malls and wholesale buildings around Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (Lines 2, 4, 5).

For tourists, the retail malls are the easiest place to start. Doota Mall keeps late hours — many of its shops open from 10:30, and some run until midnight; check the mall's hours page for each store. The building listed in older guides as Lotte Fitin Dongdaemun was rebranded DUNDUN in 2024.

Before you buy clothes: sizes and return rules differ from shop to shop, and stalls often do not take returns. Ask before paying and try items on where possible.

Card or Cash — By Place

Where foreign Visa and Mastercard usually work, based on our Foreign Cards in Korea guide.

Place	Foreign card	Tip
Department stores (Lotte, Shinsegae, Hyundai)	✓ Works	Most counters take Visa and Mastercard
Convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven)	✓ Works	Most reliable place to pay by card
Large chains, cafes, big supermarkets	✓ Works	Use a staffed lane if self-checkout fails
Mid-size restaurants and small shops	⚠ Inconsistent	Ask before you order or pick items
Traditional markets, street food	✗ Mostly cash	Carry small notes

Phone wallets: Apple Pay or Google Pay with a foreign card only works where the shop has a contactless terminal, and many Korean shops do not. Carry the physical card. WOWPass: its shopping balance works for in-store card payments, but it is separate from the T-money transit balance — see our WOWPass review.

Ask first: 외국 카드 되나요? (oe-guk ka-deu dwe-na-yo?) — "Do you take foreign cards?"

Customs — Taking Purchases Home

What applies when you leave Korea and when you arrive home.

Korea's USD 800 allowance is for people entering Korea

The Korea Customs Service's duty-free allowance of USD 800 per traveller applies to goods brought into Korea. It is not a limit on what you can take out. When you arrive home, your own country's allowance and declaration rules apply — check them before a big shopping trip.

DECLARE Cash over USD 10,000 must be declared

If you leave Korea with more than USD 10,000 in total cash or cheques (any currency, including Korean won), you must declare it to customs. Up to USD 10,000 needs no declaration.

Food and plants

Many countries restrict fresh food, meat and plants. Sealed, commercially packaged food is the safest choice, but check your home country's customs or biosecurity site first.

Souvenir Ideas

Light, easy-to-pack ideas. Prices vary by store, so check the shelf.

K-beauty basics

Sheet masks, sunscreen and skincare from Olive Young are light and pack flat. Ask for the tax refund if your receipt reaches ₩15,000.

Snacks and instant noodles

Convenience stores and supermarkets carry Korean snacks and ramen in many flavours — choose sealed packs for travel.

Stationery and small goods

Daiso and stationery shops sell character goods, washi tape and small gifts at low fixed prices.

Red ginseng and tea

Red ginseng candy, tea and extracts are sold at brand stores, department stores and duty-free shops. Gift boxes travel well.

Ceramics and crafts

Insadong shops sell celadon and other ceramics. Ask the shop to wrap fragile items for your luggage.

K-pop merchandise

Buy from agency-run stores or official online shops. Store locations change, so check the agency's official channels before you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does tax refund work for foreigners in Korea? ▾

Shop at a store with a Tax Free or Tax Refund sign, spend at least ₩15,000 on one receipt, show your passport and ask for the refund slip. You can get the tax off at the till where instant refund is offered, at a downtown refund counter, or at the airport. At Incheon Airport, use the refund kiosk in the departure hall first, go to the customs desk if the kiosk marks you for inspection, and collect the refund after security. Goods must leave Korea within 3 months of purchase.

What are the instant tax refund limits in Korea? ▾

Since January 2024, instant refund at the till covers purchases under ₩1,000,000 each, up to ₩5,000,000 in total during your stay. The minimum purchase is ₩15,000 per receipt. Above the limits, pay the full price and claim the refund at a downtown counter or the airport.

Is there a duty-free limit when leaving Korea? ▾

Korea's USD 800 duty-free allowance applies to travellers entering Korea, not to what you take out. Your home country's allowance applies when you arrive home. When leaving Korea, you must declare cash and cheques worth more than USD 10,000 in total.

Do traditional markets in Korea accept card payments? ▾

Some do, but do not count on it. Jongno District gave card readers to 58 food stalls at Gwangjang Market in 2024, yet in April 2026 many stalls still asked for cash or a Korean bank transfer. Bring Korean won in small notes, and use a Global ATM at a convenience store if you run out.

Do Olive Young and Daiso offer tax refund? ▾

Many Olive Young branches in tourist areas offer instant tax refund at the till, and Korea's official tourism site lists DAISO Myeongdong Main Branch as a tax refund shop. You need your physical passport and at least ₩15,000 on one receipt. Ask before you pay: the instant deduction cannot be added after payment, but you can still ask for a tax refund slip and claim it at a downtown refund desk or the airport.

Korea Shopping Guide for Foreigners