Shopping in Seoul as a visitor: tax refunds explained, and a private shopping day

Who can claim

Foreign visitors staying in Korea for less than six months. Residents of Korea cannot claim.

At the store

Show your passport at checkout. At stores that offer instant refunds, the tax comes off the price straight away, up to ₩1,000,000 per purchase and ₩5,000,000 in total for your trip. Above those limits, or at stores without instant refunds, you get a refund receipt to claim at the airport.

At the airport

1. Before you check in your bags, go to a tax refund kiosk and scan your passport and refund receipts.
2. If the kiosk asks for a customs check, show the goods at the customs desk. Keep expensive items in your hand luggage until then.
3. Collect the refund in cash or to your card at the refund counter.

How much comes back depends on the amount and the refund operator's fee: usually a few percent of the price.

Where to shop

Gangnam has several of the city's big luxury department stores and the flagship boutiques of Cheongdam. Around Jamsil, Lotte World Tower has a large luxury mall at its base. Duty-free shops work differently: you buy tax-free with your passport and collect your purchases at the airport when you leave.

A private shopping day

Your car waits outside each store, so there is nothing to carry between them. Your host interprets, keeps track of receipts and passport paperwork, and plans the route so you are not crossing the city twice. Some boutiques see guests by appointment, and we can ask on your behalf.

Shopping fits easily into a full day, as in our example itinerary.

Questions guests ask

Do I need my passport in the store?

Yes. The refund cannot be processed without it.

Can I get the refund before I fly?

Yes, at stores with instant refunds, within the limits above. The rest is claimed at the airport.

I am short on time. Can you help?

Yes. Tell us what you are looking for, and we plan the shortest route to it.