Tax Refund in Korea: How to Claim It
Spend at least 15,000 won on one receipt at a tax-free shop and show your passport. You can take an immediate refund in the shop (under 1,000,000 won per purchase, 5,000,000 won per trip) or claim at the airport. Goods must leave Korea within three months. Expect to get back roughly 5 to 8% of the price.
- Minimum spend
- 15,000 won per receipt, per store
- Immediate refund
- Under 1,000,000 won per purchase; 5,000,000 won per trip
- Deadline
- Take goods out within 3 months
- Official guide
- VisitKorea tax refund guide
What should I know before I shop?
Rules checked October 6, 2026
Look for a "Tax Free" or "Tax Refund" sign before you pay, and carry your passport, because both refund routes depend on them. Korea charges 10% value-added tax (VAT) on most goods, and short-term visitors can recover part of it on items they take home.
- Worth knowing: The minimum purchase is now 15,000 won per receipt. Many older blog posts and some shop signs still quote the former 30,000 won figure.
- A common mistake: Opening or wearing the item before customs sees it. Goods should be new and unopened when you leave.
- Local tip: Ask for the refund at the till before you tap your card. An immediate refund is deducted at payment and is hard to arrange afterwards.
Who can claim a tax refund in Korea?
Foreign tourists, and overseas Koreans who meet the residency conditions, can claim a refund on goods they buy at certified tax-free shops and take out of the country within three months. According to the VisitKorea tax refund guide (published October 20, 2025), the purchase must be at least 15,000 won, and eligible shops carry a "Tax Refund" or "Tax Free" mark from an operator such as Global Blue or Global Tax Free.
- Eligible: clothing, cosmetics, bags, electronics and souvenirs bought in person at participating department stores, supermarkets, beauty shops and smaller stores.
- Not eligible: cooked food, items that are opened or used, and restricted goods such as firearms, explosives, cultural properties and narcotics.
- One receipt, one store: receipts from different shops cannot be added together to reach the minimum.
The lower 15,000 won threshold and the higher immediate refund limits took effect on January 1, 2024, as announced by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and reported by Korea.net.
Immediate refund or airport refund: which is better?
Take the immediate refund whenever the shop offers it, and use the airport route for everything else. An immediate refund removes the VAT at the till, so you skip the airport claim for that item, while the airport route covers shops that issue refund slips instead.
| Point | Immediate refund | Airport refund |
|---|---|---|
| Where you claim | At the shop, at payment | At the airport, after customs approval |
| Minimum spend | 15,000 won per receipt | 15,000 won per receipt |
| Limits | Under 1,000,000 won per purchase; 5,000,000 won per trip | No per-purchase cap named in the guide; confirm for large items |
| You need | Passport at the till | Passport, receipts or slips and the goods |
| Deadline | Goods leave Korea within 3 months | Goods leave Korea within 3 months |
| Payout | VAT taken off the price | Cash or card refund (see below) |
A practical example: if you buy two jackets at one department store for 400,000 won each, each purchase is under the 1,000,000 won cap, so the shop can refund on the spot. A single 1,200,000 won camera is over the cap and would go through the airport route instead.
How do I claim my refund at Incheon Airport?
Show your goods and slips to customs first, then collect the refund after security. Arrive earlier than usual, because customs approval comes before you drop your bags.
- Keep the goods accessible. Do not pack taxable items in checked luggage until customs has seen them. If they are packed, you may have to use the oversized baggage route.
- Go to the customs desk or kiosk. At Terminal 1 it is on the third floor near check-in counters E and J. At Terminal 2 it is near counters F and G, according to VisitKorea. Scan your passport and slips, and show the goods if asked.
- Check in and clear security. Once customs confirms the export, drop your bags and pass immigration.
- Collect the refund. At Terminal 1 the refund counters are near Gate 28 in the duty-free area. Terminal 2 has counters near Gates 225, 249 and 274, and signs on the day take priority.
Staffed counters pay in Korean won, US dollars, Chinese yuan or Japanese yen, while unmanned kiosks pay in won, Alipay or WeChat Pay, as listed on the official guide. Details on the Incheon International Airport site can change, so check there before you fly.
How much money will I really get back?
Less than 10%: travel guides generally estimate a net refund of roughly 5 to 8% of the price after operator fees. The official sources describe the VAT, not the exact payout, and the refund operators set their own service charges.
- Example: on a 100,000 won purchase, the VAT is roughly 9,000 won. After fees, the amount in your hand is likely to land between 5,000 and 8,000 won.
- Small purchases: a flat fee has a bigger bite on a 15,000 won receipt, so combine items into one receipt where you can.
- Payout method: cash at a counter or an e-wallet at a kiosk can differ in fee and rate, so compare the options on screen.
What mistakes lose a tax refund?
Missing the three-month window, using the goods, or losing the slip are the usual reasons a claim fails. Most can be avoided with two minutes of preparation.
- Packing goods in checked bags first: customs may need to see them.
- Splitting a purchase across receipts: each receipt is judged on its own.
- Arriving late: queues at customs and refund counters can be long on busy days.
- Relying on old information: the thresholds changed in 2024, and rules can change again.
FAQ
What is the minimum purchase for a tax refund in Korea?
The minimum is 15,000 won on a single receipt at one tax-free store, a threshold cut from 30,000 won on January 1, 2024. Smaller purchases do not qualify, and receipts cannot be combined.
Can I get the tax refund in the shop?
Yes, at certified tax-free shops. An immediate refund applies to purchases under 1,000,000 won per transaction and up to 5,000,000 won in total per trip. Show your passport at the till.
How long do I have to take the goods out of Korea?
Within three months of the purchase date. Items should be new and unopened when customs checks them, so keep them in your hand luggage or a bag you can open.
How much of the 10% VAT do I really get back?
Less than the full 10%, because refund operators charge a fee. Travel guides generally put the net refund at roughly 5 to 8% of the price, so treat the exact amount as approximate.
Official sources and useful links
Links open in a new tab. Limits and fees above are approximate; verify on these pages.
- VisitKorea: Comprehensive Tax Refund Guide minimum spend, limits, airport counters and deadlines
- Korea.net: immediate refund limits doubled the January 2024 changes announced by the finance ministry
- Incheon International Airport terminal maps and departure information
- VisitKorea (Korea Tourism Organization) official tourism information in English
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