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Korea Grand Festival 2026

SHOPPING · UPDATED OCT 25, 2026

When

Oct 29 – Nov 15, 2026 (18 days)

Where

Nationwide, in store and online

Duty free

26 shops, discount rates vary

Also

SSG Day Oct 30 – Nov 8

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Korea's biggest sale season runs 18 days, Oct 29 – Nov 15, 2026. Here is what a visitor can actually use: duty-free discounts, airport welcome programs, Shinsegae's SSG Day, and the foreigner-only perks you can stack on top.

Lotte Duty Free, Myeongdong, at night · Photo: Leeinm (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

What it is

1. NAMEKorea Grand Festival (코리아 그랜드 페스티벌)

   A government-run sale season that bundles 10 ministries' shopping events into one. K-Sale Festa, the new name for the Korea Sale Festa, is the main shopping part of it.

2. WHENThu Oct 29 – Sun Nov 15, 2026

   18 days, nationwide. The opening ceremony is in Andong.

3. WHATAbout 40,000 companies take part

   Department stores, marts, online shops, traditional markets and small businesses run discounts on food, fashion, beauty, electronics and more. Organizers say promotions for foreign shoppers are being expanded this year.

What a visitor can use

1. DUTY FREEKorea Duty Free Festa: 26 duty-free shops

   The Korea Customs Service runs a discount event at duty-free shops nationwide, in store and online. Reported maximum rates differ (plans in July said up to 50%, a recent report says up to 25%), so check each shop.

2. AIRPORTSWelcome programs at airports and ports

   Foreign arrivals get welcome programs and travel information at airports and ports during the festival. Exact booths and times haven't been published.

3. SSG DAYShinsegae SSG Day: Oct 30 – Nov 8

   Shinsegae Duty Free puts global beauty, fashion and liquor brands up to 70% off. Our full SSG Day guide: seoulful.guide/sale

4. HERITAGESome heritage sites go free

   The government says some national heritage sites will open for free during the festival. Which sites and dates hasn't been announced yet. In 2025 the four main palaces and Jongmyo were free during the festival.

Stack the foreigner-only perks

1. MEMBERSHIPDepartment store foreigner memberships

   Lotte and Shinsegae give foreign visitors 5% off with their memberships; join before you pay. Guide: seoulful.guide/member

2. CARDSTourist shopping cards

   Prepaid and membership cards only foreign visitors can get. Guide: seoulful.guide/card

3. PASSPORTCarry your passport

   Duty-free shops ask for your passport and flight details, and you need it for tax refunds too.

Make it a half day (our route)

1. 1Lotte Duty Free, Myeongdong

   Inside Lotte Department Store's main store.

   롯데면세점 명동본점CopyGoogle Maps
2. 2Shinsegae Duty Free, Myeongdong

   Close by, in the Shinsegae main store area of Jung-gu.

   신세계면세점 명동점CopyGoogle Maps
3. 3Myeongdong streets

   Beauty shops and street food right next door.

Say it in Korean (show this screen)

1. SAYIs there a sale discount?

   se-il hal-in i-sseo-yo?

   세일 할인 있어요?Copy
2. SAYHere is my passport.

   yeo-gwon yeo-gi i-sseo-yo

   여권 여기 있어요Copy
3. SAYCan I get a tax refund?

   taek-seu ri-peon dwae-yo?

   택스 리펀 돼요?Copy

Local tips

• Our tip: compare the duty-free price with the store price; 'up to' rates only apply to some items.
• Our tip: the busiest overlap is Oct 30 – Nov 8, when SSG Day runs inside the festival.
• Deals and rates can change; check in store or on the official Korea Grand Festival site.

FAQ

Sources: News1 via Financial News: 2026 Korea Grand Festival opens Oct 29 (Oct 23, 2026) · Topstar News: Korea Grand Festival benefits (Oct 21, 2026) · Businesskorea: 2026 K-Sale Festa runs 18 days from Oct 29 · Kyosu: 2026 K-Sale Festa opens Oct 29 · Chosun Biz: Korea Grand Festival plan, 26 duty-free shops (Jul 3, 2026) · Etoday: Korea Grand Festival plan (Jul 3, 2026) · Financial Shinmun: SSG Day opens Oct 30 (Oct 19, 2026) · Daily Pop: SSG Day, up to 70% off (Oct 19, 2026)

Related guides

All Seoulful guides → All of October 2026 →