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Korea Duty Free Festa 2026

SHOPPING · UPDATED NOV 2, 2026

When

Oct 29 – Nov 15, 2026

Discount

Up to 25% off, plus gifts and points by spend (varies by shop)

Where

Airport, port, downtown and online duty free shops nationwide

Instant tax refund

Passport · under ₩1M a purchase, up to ₩5M a trip

♡ Save

Korea's duty free shopping festival runs Oct 29 – Nov 15, 2026, with up to 25% off at airport, port, downtown and online duty free shops, plus gifts and points as you spend. Some shops give extra off if you show an attraction ticket. Outside duty free, shops with instant tax refund take the VAT off at the till when you show your passport.

Duty free shops at Incheon Airport · Photo: Kanchi1979 (CC BY 2.5), via Wikimedia Commons

Korea Duty Free Festa: what you get

1. UP TO 25%Discounts at duty free shops nationwide

   Run by the Korea Customs Service and the Korea Duty Free Association as part of the Korea Grand Festival. Rates differ by shop, brand and membership level, and some items and coupons can't be combined.

2. GIFTSGifts and points as you spend more

   Most shops add gift vouchers, prepaid cards or points in tiers by purchase amount. Ask at the shop's information desk for the current tiers.

3. SHOPSWho takes part

   Downtown: Lotte (Myeongdong main store, World Tower), Shinsegae Myeongdong, Hyundai Trade Center, Shilla Seoul, HDC iPark (Yongsan) and others. Airports: Incheon T1 and T2 (departures and arrivals), Gimpo arrivals, Gimhae, Daegu and Cheongju. Online duty free shops too.

Keep your ticket stubs (extra perks)

1. $10 OFFGyeongbokgung Duty Free, Incheon departures

   $10 off a purchase of $50 or more when you show a ticket or receipt from a local tourist, cultural or experience site.

2. CREDITLotte Duty Free

   Store credit (LDF Pay) for foreign visitors who show a ticket or receipt from a major cultural tourism site.

3. CREDITShilla Duty Free

   A prepaid card when you show an attraction ticket or souvenir receipt.

4. NEARBYShinsegae Myeongdong

   Coupons for nearby attractions, restaurants and popular shops, plus a regional souvenir pop-up on the 11th floor.

Instant tax refund outside duty free (how it works)

1. 1Shop at a store that offers instant tax refund

   Look for the tax refund sign at the counter, or ask before you pay.

2. 2Show your passport when you pay

   The VAT comes off the price on the spot, so there's no refund step at the airport for that purchase.

3. 3Stay under the limits

   Each purchase must be under ₩1,000,000, and your instant-refund total since you entered Korea can't go over ₩5,000,000 (Korea's VAT special rules for foreign tourists, Art. 6).

Say it in Korean (show this screen)

1. Can I get the tax refund right here?

   Yeo-gi-seo ba-ro taek-seu ri-peon-deu dwae-yo?

   여기서 바로 택스 리펀드 돼요?Copy
2. Is there a Duty Free Festa discount?

   Dyu-ti-peu-ri pe-seu-ta hal-in i-sseo-yo?

   듀티프리 페스타 할인 있어요?Copy
3. I have a ticket from a tourist site.

   Gwan-gwang-ji ip-jang-gwon i-sseo-yo.

   관광지 입장권 있어요.Copy

Local tips

• Duty free prices are often shown in US dollars, so the won amount depends on the day's exchange rate.
• Our tip: free entry doesn't give you a ticket, so for the ticket-stub perks keep a paid ticket or a souvenir receipt.
• Duty free goods still count toward your home country's customs allowance.

FAQ

Sources: Korea Tax Times: Korea Duty Free Festa 2026 opens (Korea Customs Service material), Oct 29, 2026 · Yongin Ilbo: up to 25% off at duty free shops, Oct 29, 2026 · Korea.kr: Korea Grand Festival program list (Duty Free Festa, Oct 29 – Nov 15) · Korea Tax Times: instant refund conditions (Korea Customs Service), Apr 3, 2026

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