Korea tax refund for tourists: instant, downtown, and airport
How Korea's tax refund actually works for foreign tourists — the three refund channels, the receipt minimum, and what to check before you pay.
Korea refunds VAT to eligible foreign tourists in three different ways, and they have different limits. The one thing they share: your receipt must be ₩15,000 or more, counted on what you actually paid after discounts — and receipts from different stores or days are never combined.
The three refund channels
| Channel | Where it happens | Per-transaction limit |
|---|---|---|
| Instant refund | At the checkout of participating stores | Under ₩1,000,000 |
| Downtown refund | City refund counters before departure | Up to ₩6,000,000 |
| Airport refund | At the airport after customs check | No upper limit |
Instant refund — conditions to check at the till
- You are buying at a store that participates in instant refund (ask if unsure)
- You show your physical passport at checkout
- The receipt total is ₩15,000 or more
- The transaction is under ₩1,000,000
- Your instant-refund purchases this trip stay within ₩5,000,000 total
After you buy
Goods must leave Korea within 3 calendar months of the purchase date, unopened and unused. For downtown and airport refunds, keep the refund slip the store gives you together with the receipt — you will need both, plus your passport, at the counter.
Refund amounts vary by operator and their fees, so treat any percentage you see as an estimate, not a promise.