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MONEY · GUIDE
Shop only where tax refunds are offered, present your passport when required, keep the goods and voucher available for export confirmation, and finish the stated refund route before leaving Korea.
USE IT ON THE TRIP
QUICK ANSWER
WHAT TO DO
Look for a tax-refund sign and ask before paying. An ordinary receipt from a store outside the scheme is not enough.
Look for Tax Refund · Immediate Tax Refund
Watch out Duty-free purchases are already tax-exempt and do not receive a second refund.
Official guidance applies to qualifying non-resident visitors, eligible taxable goods and the current minimum purchase amount. Services, opened goods and prohibited items can be excluded.
Watch out Eligibility depends on traveler status, stay length, item type and export timing—not merely holding a foreign passport.
At an immediate-refund merchant, passport verification can deduct eligible tax at checkout. Otherwise pay the tax-inclusive price and keep the issued refund voucher for a later counter, kiosk, mobile or mailbox route.
Pack refund goods where they can be shown if customs asks for export confirmation. Do not check the relevant bag until you have followed the airport instructions for your terminal.
Watch out Opened or used goods may not qualify, and customs inspection can occur before baggage drop.
Find the customs and refund locations for the actual airport and terminal before travel day. Staffed counter hours and supported payout methods vary.
Watch out A downtown refund can still require export confirmation at departure.
Retain the voucher, transaction record and any card slip until the provider confirms the refund. Use only the provider named on the official voucher.
COMPARE OPTIONS
| Option | Best for | Cost | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immediate refund at purchase | Eligible purchases at participating immediate-refund stores. | Eligible tax deducted at checkout · During purchase | Passport verification and transaction limits apply. |
| Downtown counter or kiosk | Travelers who want to start the refund before airport day. | Provider terms apply · Before departure plus customs step | Goods may still need export confirmation when leaving Korea. |
| Airport counter or kiosk | Completing the process after customs confirmation. | Provider terms apply · Departure day | Terminal locations, operating hours and payout methods differ. |
| Mobile or mailbox route | Ports or circumstances without the preferred staffed route. | Provider terms apply · Submission plus later processing | Write and retain the required refund details exactly as the voucher instructs. |
AVOID THESE MISTAKES
Do this instead Confirm the store participates and that the item and traveler are eligible before paying.
Do this instead Keep eligible goods unused and available until the export confirmation requirement is complete.
Do this instead Check the airport's current sequence for your terminal and keep the goods reachable.
Do this instead Follow any remaining customs export-confirmation instructions at departure.
TRAVELER FAQ
No. Duty-free tax is removed at the duty-free store. Tax refund usually concerns eligible tax-inclusive purchases from participating merchants.
The official Korea Tourism Organization guide currently states KRW 15,000 for eligible purchases. Recheck the linked source because thresholds can change.
Opened or used goods can be ineligible. Keep refund goods unused and available until the required export confirmation is complete.
Passport verification is part of immediate refunds and some later processes. Follow the merchant's official verification method and do not hand the document to an unverified intermediary.
It depends on the airport, terminal, provider and customs sequence. Use the official guide for the current counter and kiosk locations before departure day.
Every changing rule stays attached to the organization responsible for it.
Last checked August 22, 2026. Korea Era edits these guides from official sources and does not decide eligibility, fares or schedules on your behalf.