Shopping at Olive Young in Korea (2026)
The 30-second version
| You want to… | What to know |
|---|---|
| get the tax back | Show your physical passport at the till. Receipts of ₩15,000 to ₩1,000,000 can be refunded on the spot. |
| know what other visitors buy | Olive Young's data points to sunscreen (5 of the top 10 items for US shoppers in 2024) and skincare for sensitive skin (up about 78% in Jan–Aug 2026). |
| pay the least | Olive Young runs a big sale four times a year. Shop during one if your dates line up. |
| restock at home | From 29 May 2026, US orders go through Olive Young US; customers elsewhere use Olive Young Global. |
1. The instant tax refund
Olive Young's Myeongdong flagship explains the rules on its English page, and they are the standard Korean instant-refund rules:
- Spend ₩15,000 or more on one receipt and show your physical passport.
- Each receipt can be refunded on the spot from ₩15,000 up to ₩1,000,000, with a ₩5,000,000 maximum (ask staff how it applies to you).
- The refund is roughly 5–8% of the price.
- Some items are excluded, such as sanitary goods and shopping bags.
- No physical passport with you, or not eligible for the instant refund? Ask for a refund slip and claim it at the airport refund counter when you leave.
2. What foreign shoppers actually buy
Olive Young publishes its own numbers on foreign customers. The short version: in January–August 2026 foreign shoppers spent over ₩1 trillion in its Korean stores, about a third of offline sales.
Growing categories (Jan–Aug 2026)
- Dermocosmetic skincare — products for sensitive or troubled skin: up about 78% from a year earlier.
- Inner beauty — collagen, probiotics and similar supplements: up about 64%.
- Hair care — named as a growing category.
Sunscreen, especially for US shoppers
In Olive Young's 2024 data, sun care made up five of the top ten products bought by customers from the United States. Shoppers from China, Japan and Taiwan kept buying sheet masks and toners, often together with serums and ampoules.
Products Olive Young has named as favourites
These are products Olive Young or Korean trade press named in their announcements. We have not tested them for you; the year shows how old each mention is.
| Product | Type | Where it was named |
|---|---|---|
| Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen | Sunscreen | Bought most by foreign tourists in Seoul shopping districts, first half of 2023; named again as a popular item in the June 2024 sale |
| Torriden Dive-In serum | Hydrating serum | Named by Olive Young as a popular item in the June 2024 sale |
| Dr.G Red Blemish Clear Soothing Cream | Calming cream | Named by Olive Young as a popular item in the June 2024 sale |
| Mediheal Madecassoside pads | Toner pads | Named by Olive Young as a popular item in the June 2024 sale |
| COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence | Essence | Popular with family travellers in Myeongdong and Dongdaemun, 2023 |
Everyone's skin is different. Patch-test anything new, and read the ingredient list if you have allergies.
3. Time it with a sale
Olive Young's main sale, "Olive Young Sale", runs four times a year (the June 2024 one ran 31 May – 6 June). If your trip lands on one, the same basket costs less, so check Olive Young's channels for dates when you plan.
4. Restocking once you are home
Since 29 May 2026 Olive Young runs two online stores: Olive Young US for customers in the United States and Olive Young Global for everyone else. If you liked something in Korea, search for it there before buying from a reseller.
Before you fly
- Mobile data: Korea eSIM: Yesim vs Airalo, prices compared.
- Find your shades first: personal colour analysis in Seoul.
Shopping in Busan?
Busan has its own Olive Young branches and shopping areas such as Seomyeon. For tickets and day trips, see things to do in Busan on Klook (affiliate link).
FAQ
What do I need for the instant tax refund at Olive Young?
Your physical passport and at least ₩15,000 on one receipt. Olive Young Myeongdong's page says receipts of ₩15,000 to ₩1,000,000 can be refunded on the spot.
How much tax do I get back?
Roughly 5–8% of the price, according to Olive Young Myeongdong's page. Some items, such as sanitary goods and shopping bags, are excluded.
When is the Olive Young Sale?
Olive Young said in 2024 that it runs its main sale four times a year (the June 2024 one ran 31 May – 6 June). Check Olive Young's channels for the next dates.
Can I buy the same products online after I get home?
Since 29 May 2026, orders delivered in the United States go through Olive Young US, and US customers can no longer use Olive Young Global. Customers elsewhere use Olive Young Global.
Sources we checked
- Olive Young Myeongdong Global (official, English): instant tax refund ₩15,000–₩1,000,000 per receipt, ₩5,000,000 limit, physical passport, 5–8%, exclusions (checked 2026-11-14)
- The Korea Times, 31 Aug 2026: foreign sales Jan–Aug 2026, 33% of offline sales, dermocosmetics +78%, inner beauty +64%, 151 designated stores
- CJ Newsroom, 26 Feb 2025: 2024 data, sun care five of the top ten for US customers; masks and toners for China, Japan, Taiwan
- CJ Newsroom, 10 Jun 2024: Olive Young Sale four times a year; June 2024 sale dates (31 May – 6 June) and popular items
- Cosmorning, 5 Jul 2023: products foreign tourists bought in Seoul shopping districts, first half of 2023
- Olive Young Global notice, 28 Apr 2026: Olive Young US launched 29 May 2026; US deliveries only through Olive Young US; US customers redirected from Global (checked 2026-11-15)
- Olive Young help centre: Olive Young US and Global separated from 29 May 2026