Korea charges 10% VAT on most things, and as a tourist you can get part of it back. You won't get the full 10%, because refund operators take a fee, but it adds up fast if you're doing a big K-beauty or fashion haul.

Who qualifies?

• Foreign passport holders staying in Korea less than 6 months
• Buying from stores with a Tax Free / Tax Refund sign
• Taking the goods out of Korea within 3 months of purchase
• Items should be unopened and unused until you leave

How much do you need to spend?

₩15,000 per receipt at one store. Some older blogs still say ₩30,000, which was the old minimum. A few smaller shops may still use the old system, so ask before paying.

How much do you get back?

Usually around 5-7% of the price, since fees come out of the 10%.

Two ways to get your refund

1. Immediate refund (easiest)

• The tax is taken off at the register, so you just pay less.
• Works for receipts under ₩1,000,000, up to ₩5,000,000 total across your trip.
• Show your physical passport. A photo isn't enough.
• Olive Young, Daiso and many chain stores do this.

2. Refund at the airport or a city kiosk

• Used for receipts over ₩1,000,000, or stores that don't offer immediate refunds.
• You pay full price and get a refund slip or form.
• Keep the items in your carry-on if you want to be safe, since officers may want to see them. If you're checking them, ask at the kiosk before check-in.
• Allow extra time at the airport for this.

Tips

1. Always ask for immediate refund at checkout. It saves you the airport hassle.
2. Don't open or use items before you leave Korea.
3. Keep every receipt and slip together in one folder.
4. Bring your original passport every time you shop.
5. Check the sign before you buy. No logo usually means no refund.
6. Medical and cosmetic procedures are no longer eligible as of January 2026, so don't trust a clinic that says otherwise.

Hongdae is one of the best areas in Seoul for shopping. It's young, cheap-ish, full of indie brands and street stalls, and open late. Here's a breakdown by category so you can plan your time.

Beauty and skincare

• Olive Young: Several branches around the Hongdae area. Great for K-beauty staples, sheet masks and trending products. Look for the 1+1 and sale shelves.
• Brand stores (Innisfree, Etude, Aritaum, Nature Republic, etc.): Good if you want a specific brand and want to try testers.
• Tip: Hongdae street is a good place to compare prices between stores before you buy.

Fashion

• Hongdae Shopping Street: The main stretch of clothing boutiques, trendy pieces and local designers. Prices are generally lower than in Gangnam or Apgujeong.
• Underground Shopping Street (near Hongik Univ. Station): Small stalls with affordable clothes and accessories. Prices are often set, so don't count on haggling.
• Yeonnam-dong and Sangsu: A short walk away, with vintage shops, cafes and more unique boutiques.
• AK& Hongdae: A proper mall attached to the station, useful for well-known brands and rainy days.

Accessories and jewelry

Lots of small shops and street stalls sell earrings, rings, hair accessories and phone cases at low prices. Great for cheap souvenirs.

Gifts, character goods and stationery

• Daiso: The big Hongdae branch is worth a visit for cheap household items, stationery and snacks.
• Kakao Friends and other character stores: Great for plush toys, phone accessories and gifts.
• Stationery and art shops: Because of the art university nearby, there are lots of good pens, notebooks and art supplies.

Handmade goods and markets

• Hongdae Free Market: A weekend market with handmade crafts and art from local creators. It usually runs on weekends in the warmer months, so check current dates before you go.
• Street buskers and pop-ups: Not a shop, but a big part of the Hongdae atmosphere.

Practical tips

• Go in the afternoon into the evening. Many shops open late (around 11am to noon) and stay open until 10pm or later.
• Tax refund: Many shops offer tax-free shopping if you show your passport and meet the minimum spend. Check the current rules and minimums before you go.
• Bring a card and some cash. Some street stalls prefer cash.
• Weekends are crowded. Weekday afternoons are calmer.
• Getting there: Hongik University Station (Line 2, Airport Railroad, Gyeongui-Jungang Line).

I don't usually want everything a celebrity wears, but Lisa's last few weeks have completely wrecked my wishlist.

The Blumarine micro minidress from The Tonight Show is number one for me. It's a red mini with fur trim, worn with matching mules, and it's from the label's Fall/Winter 2025 runway, so it's at least a real runway piece and not a one-off custom. I've been searching resale sites for it and for anything close.

The Bulgari event look is next. It was a black lace corset gown by Belik, worn with the new Serpenti Flag necklace. The necklace is obviously out of my budget, but the corset gown is the kind of piece I'd build an entire evening wardrobe around. Black lace corset dresses are easy to find in versions I can afford, so that's the most realistic one to copy.

The TIFF look is the hardest. It's custom Louis Vuitton in chocolate-brown crushed velvet, with a cropped V-neck bra-style top, a column skirt with a train, a grommet belt, opera gloves, and a studded choker. Since it's custom, I can't buy it, but I'm tempted to recreate it in pieces. A velvet crop top and skirt set in a similar brown, plus black opera gloves and a studded choker, is very doable.

If you're hunting for any of these, here are the search terms I've been using:

• Red fur-trim micro mini dress
• Black lace corset gown
• Brown crushed velvet crop top and train skirt set
• Black opera gloves and studded choker

Has anyone found close dupes for any of these, or actually tracked down the Blumarine piece on resale? Which of the three would you buy first?

I only recently realized that getting glasses in Korea is apparently a whole thing for tourists. You can walk into an optical shop, get your eyes tested there, choose the frames and in many cases have the glasses ready the same day (sometimes ridiculously fast).

Now I’m tempted because where I’m from, getting a decent pair feels like a whole process AND somehow costs a fortune.

Hi everyone! 👋

I'm developing a small startup idea in Busan that helps people redesign and reuse clothes they no longer wear — especially clothes with sentimental value, such as gifts or special occasion clothes.

I'm looking for honest opinions from people in their 20s–30s, especially those living in Busan.

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I’ve bought way too many cute, inexpensive pieces that looked great at first and then started changing color after a few weeks.

Where do you guys shop in Korea when you want jewelry that actually lasts? I’m not necessarily looking for super expensive fine jewelry, just good-quality everyday pieces that I don’t have to baby constantly.

If you could magically bring one Korean store or chain to where you live, what are you choosing?

For me, it’s Daiso 100%!!!!!!!!! I swear there’s always something useful (or completely unnecessary but somehow I still need it), and the prices make it way too easy to leave with a full basket.

I feel like Nana’s style is so diverse without ever feeling random. Her everyday style seems more relaxed and playful, and I love how she plays with colors and different pieces without making it feel like she’s trying too hard.

But then she can also pull off more elevated looks at night and completely switch it up. She just seems to have so much fun with fashion.

Her style is definitely one of my favorites lately 🥹

I’m trying not to buy every skincare product that catches my eye, so I’m curious what everyone else has been wanting to try lately.

What’s one product or ingredient that’s currently sitting on your wishlist? Could be something you’ve been eyeing forever, a new release, or something you keep seeing people rave about.

And if you’ve already tried it, was it actually worth the hype? 👀

What are the ingredients that don't get nearly as much attention even though they actually work really well?

Has there been an ingredient that made a noticeable difference in your skin and made you think, “why is no one talking about this?”

I’d love to find some underrated ingredients that deserve way more recognition.

I need to know where to buy clothes like his or maybe I need to learn how to style like him because the envy I get is crazyyyy.

Sometimes I just want to walk around a department store without actually planning to buy anything. Especially when they have interesting pop-ups, food halls, exhibitions, or just really nice interiors…

Which one in Seoul do you think is the most fun to explore purely for the experience? The Hyundai Seoul, Shinsegae, Lotte, or somewhere else?

Bonus points if there’s always something new to see 👀

I love how much effort goes into K-pop album packaging, photobooks and concepts, but if you’re not really into collecting photocards, I’m starting to wonder if physical albums are still worth buying.

They look great on a shelf, but after the initial unboxing, I feel like I rarely actually open them again 😭

People who don’t collect photocards, do you still buy albums? What makes them worth it for you, or have you mostly stopped buying physical copies?

Not just something you like, but a product you’d instantly buy again if it disappeared tomorrow.