Olive Young, a must-visit on your K-beauty travel itinerary

K-beauty, along with K-pop and K-food, is a major reason why many travelers choose to visit Korea. The thrill of finding and indulging in the dishes seen on shows, purchasing cosmetics used by Korean celebrities, and emulating their styles has become a fascinating aspect of travel.
K-Beauty, centered around items like sheet masks and cushions, have been well-loved for a long time. Nowadays, products used by famous celebrities or those they endorse are particularly popular. Consequently, cosmetic shopping has become an essential part of a trip to Korea, with Olive Young taking center stage. #oliveyoung has become the leading hashtag symbolizing K-Beauty shopping, with a plethora of travel photos featuring Olive Young stores and products. Olive Young has truly become a must-visit when traveling in Korea.

The popularity of K-Beauty and Olive Young extends beyond offline stores to the online space. Operating in English and Japanese in over 150 countries, the Olive Young Global Mall (global.oliveyoung.com) provides a fast and secure delivery service, and runs various promotional benefits, allowing international customers to access the latest K-Beauty items.

Dedicated to Global K-beauty Shopping, OLIVE YOUNG MYEONGDONG GLOBALSTORE Reopens

Inspired by the international tourists’ love for K-Beauty, a new Olive Young store opened its doors in Myeongdong on November 1, 2023. OLIVE YOUNG MYEONGDONG GLOBALSTORE is dubbed as Korea’s first global-specialized store. With the concept of a “Global K-Beauty O2O (online to offline) shopping platform,” OLIVE YOUNG MYEONGDONG GLOBALSTORE is characterized by enhanced services for global customers, considering that approximately 90% of its daily visitors, averaging around 3,000 people, are international tourists. The store's information services have also expanded to include English, Chinese, and Japanese, as well as displaying product names in English on all electronic labels.

The “K-Beauty Now Zone,” as you enter through the front door features products popular among foreigners and those recommended by Olive Young, allowing visitors to spot the hottest K-Beauty items at a glance. One unique feature of OLIVE YOUNG MYEONGDONG GLOBALSTORE is the “Global Service Lounge.” Visitors can receive welcome gifts and discount coupons while enjoying the lounge area and free Wi-Fi. The lounge also operates a Tax-Free desk from 10:00 to 22:30, offering extended hours to provide more convenient services. OLIVE YOUNG MYEONGDONG GLOBALSTORE also offers the “Immediate Tax Refund” service so customers can avail of the tax-free benefits right at the checkout counter.

Quick and Easy Shopping with Immediate Tax Refund

The Tax-Free system allows customers to either purchase goods at an immediate tax-free price from tax-free shops, or purchase goods at full price and receive a refund for the paid tax. Foreign tourists staying for less than 6 months, or overseas Koreans with a residence period abroad of more than 2 years and staying in Korea for less than 3 months are eligible for immediate tax refund benefits.

There are two ways to receive a tax refund: The standard tax refund, where the tax-inclusive amount is paid during shopping and refunded at the departure gate or refund counters in the city; and the immediate refund, where the tax-free amount is already deducted from the purchase price. The latter is more convenient as it eliminates the need for an additional visit to a center or counter. However, this service is only available at stores equipped with a computer system capable of

transmitting buyer information directly to the Korea Customs Service for approval. OLIVE YOUNG MYEONGDONG GLOBALSTORE offers both immediate and standard tax refunds. With over 200 Olive Young stores currently providing this service, further expansion is expected.
It is that simple and hassle-free. Experience the joy of K-Beauty shopping at OLIVE YOUNG MYEONGDONG GLOBALSTORE at tax-free prices.

[How to receive an immediate tax refund]

① Enjoy K-Beauty shopping at OLIVE YOUNG MYEONGDONG GLOBALSTORE.
② Present your passport during checkout.
③ Make payment at the tax-free price and receive a “tax completion” stamp on the receipt.
④ Enjoy the rest of your trip without any additional procedures and return home

* This content was provided by the Shopping & Accommodations Team of Korea Tourism Organization. For usages or inquiries, please contact the team.

* This content was last updated in November 2023, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check for updates before visiting.