Shopping policies and official sources checked September 25, 2026.
At Olive Young, the shelf price, a member offer and a tourist tax refund can each affect what you pay. The useful part is knowing which ones apply to your purchase before you reach the cashier.
Here is how to try products, compare the right item, use the two refund routes and avoid mixing up Korean and Global memberships. The final section covers the separate checks for a cosmetic-clinic booking.
Before you shop
Bring your passport if you plan to request a tourist tax refund. At checkout, ask whether the store can deduct it immediately or will give you a voucher to claim later. VISITKOREA tax-refund guide.
Save the full product name, shade number and size you want. When comparing a shelf price with an online listing, check that you are comparing the same item and pack contents.
Try the testers before choosing
Use the designated display testers on the back of your hand or wrist to compare colour and texture. Follow the instructions for that product; if the tester is unclear, ask staff before opening anything.
이거 테스트해 봐도 돼요?ee-guh teh-seu-teu-hae bwah-doh dweh-yoCan I try this?
Keep the product you purchase unopened and unused for a tourist tax refund. You can still try the separate display tester before choosing.
그냥 볼게요. 감사합니다.geu-nyahng bohl-kkeh-yo. gahm-sah-hahm-nee-dahI’m just looking, thank you.
Scan a barcode to find the product and reviews
The Korean Olive Young app’s barcode scanner opens the product’s online page, where you can read reviews and check the item details. Olive Young’s scanner guide · official Korean app listing.
Compare the shade, size and pack contents before comparing prices: a single item and a set with a refill may look similar in search results. You can also search the full product name without using the scanner.
A short list of products you want is more useful in-store than trying to buy every step of a skincare routine.
Reading Korean product reviews before you shop? Our Korean beauty review glossary explains color payoff, staining, wear and other terms, with pronunciation and examples.
Can you get a tax refund at checkout?
For ordinary foreign visitors, the official eligibility guidance includes a stay of less than six months, new and unused goods, and departure within three months of purchase.
Different conditions apply to overseas Koreans. Keep refund purchases unopened and check your eligibility before paying. VISITKOREA eligibility guidance.
At a participating store, an immediate refund requires an eligible transaction of at least ₩15,000 and less than ₩1,000,000. Purchases processed through this system must total no more than ₩5,000,000 during your stay.
This is a limit on immediate-refund purchases, not your entire trip budget. Korea Tourism Organization refund guide.
Check the refund amount and final total at checkout instead of applying one estimated percentage to your whole shopping budget.
| Refund type | What happens next |
|---|---|
| Immediate refund | Deducted at checkout. Check your receipt before leaving. Do not claim the same refund again at the airport. |
| Regular refund | Keep your refund voucher. Follow the operator’s departure and export-confirmation instructions. A downtown refund can still require airport formalities. |
Source: Korea Tourism Organization refund procedures. Checked September 25, 2026.
Which Olive Young membership are you looking at?
Korean membership / CJ ONE: foreign-applicant signup asks for details from a Korean-issued foreign-resident identity document. A tourist carrying only a passport should budget around store offers and eligible tax refunds. Foreign residents with the required Korean documents have a separate signup route. CJ ONE signup instructions, Korean.
OLIVE YOUNG Global’s OY MEMBERS: this free program is for the Global platform. Its FAQ says its membership rewards do not work at local stores in Korea. OY MEMBERS FAQ.
Store welcome gifts and coupons have their own terms. Read the notice at the branch you visit for eligible products, minimum spend and dates.
Before adding an extra item to qualify for a gift or coupon, compare the final bill with what you planned to spend. A discount is useful when it applies to products you actually want.
Four questions to ask before paying
- Is this the right product? Match the name, shade, size and included items with what you intended to buy.
- Does this offer apply? Confirm whether the displayed price or gift has conditions.
- How is my refund being handled? Ask whether it is deducted now or requires a later claim.
- What will I pay, and what should I keep? Confirm the final amount, your payment method, and the receipts or vouchers you need.
Koriway · Korea, made easier.
Approximate pronunciation is shown below each Korean phrase.
즉시 환급 되나요?jeuk-ssee hwahn-geup dweh-nah-yo“Can you process an immediate tax refund?”
이 쿠폰 여기서 쓸 수 있어요?ee koo-pohn yuh-gee-suh sseul ssoo ee-ssuh-yo“Can I use this coupon here?”
For broader payment planning, see our cash and card guide for Korea.
Also considering a cosmetic clinic?
Before booking, identify the doctor, check the clinic’s registration and get the price and aftercare details in writing. Discuss the procedure’s suitability and risks with the clinician.
Check the named doctor’s specialty. Ask for the doctor’s full Korean name. For a plastic surgeon, the society’s specialist search covers specialists active in that society. If the name is absent or unclear, ask the clinic for the doctor’s qualifications and how to verify them. Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons’ specialist search.
Check the clinic or facilitator separately. The Medical Korea registration lookup includes a public institution-status search below the account lookup. Match the name, organization type and current status. Registration and a doctor’s specialist qualification are separate checks.
Get the important details in writing. Ask who will perform the procedure, what risks and aftercare it involves, how changes are communicated, and what the full price includes.
Korea’s Medical Act, Article 24-2 requires explanation and written consent for the potentially serious-risk surgery, transfusion and general-anesthesia situations it covers.
The required information includes the main participating doctor’s name; changes to specified consented details require written notice. Ask for a copy of your consent form.
Do not confuse treatment tax relief with shopping refunds. As checked on September 25, 2026, Article 107-3 of the Restriction of Special Taxation Act limits the foreign-tourist cosmetic-medical VAT refund scheme to eligible services supplied by December 31, 2025. Do not assume it covers a new treatment in 2026. Ask for an itemized quote including any applicable tax.
Frequently asked questions
Can I try products on my hand before buying?
Yes, use the designated display testers. Availability and instructions vary by product and store. Keep your purchased refund items unopened; trying a separate display tester does not mean opening those purchases.
What makes a purchase eligible for a tourist refund?
The purchase must meet the ₩15,000 minimum, and the visitor, goods and participating store must qualify. For immediate refunds, each transaction must also be below ₩1,000,000 and the trip total within ₩5,000,000. Keep the goods unused for export.
Do I need an airport refund if the cashier already deducted it?
You do not claim the same immediate refund twice. Confirm what the receipt shows. A regular refund voucher or a downtown refund can involve further departure procedures.
Will my Global membership rewards work in an Olive Young store in Korea?
No. OY MEMBERS rewards belong to the Global platform. Use the current branch’s own coupon or welcome-event terms for any separate in-store offer.
What should a clinic quote include?
Ask for the procedure, the named doctor, the full price including applicable tax, aftercare and how additional charges or changes will be handled. Keep the written quote with your booking details.
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