Guide · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Are Fake Goods Legal in Korea? Customs Rules, Reporting and Complaints
Selling fakes in Korea carries up to 7 years in prison or a ₩100 million fine; small personal-use quantities in a traveler's luggage are exempt from the customs IP ban, larger ones are not. Plus Myeongdong red flags, the 1666-6464 report line and the 1330 complaint channel.
Published · Updated
Is selling counterfeit goods illegal in Korea?
Yes. Article 230 of Korea's Trademark Act punishes trademark infringement with up to 7 years in prison or a fine of up to ₩100 million. Article 235 of the Customs Act also bans the import and export of goods that infringe a trademark registered in Korea.
Will customs confiscate fakes I bought as a tourist?
Small personal-use amounts fall outside the customs ban, but that is not a free pass. Article 243 of the Customs Act Enforcement Decree says the import/export ban in Article 235(1) does not apply to small quantities of a traveler's personal belongings carried for non-commercial, personal use. The Korea Customs Service's English departure guide still warns that carrying in counterfeit products may lead to confiscation and Trademark Act penalties of up to 7 years in prison or a ₩100 million fine. Larger quantities, or goods clearly for resale or gifts, carry more risk.
What happens if I take fakes from Korea back to mainland China?
Anything beyond a "reasonable quantity for personal use" is treated as infringing goods. Article 31 of China's Regulations on Customs Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (as amended by State Council Order No. 572, in force since April 1, 2010) says articles carried or mailed across the border by individuals that exceed a reasonable personal-use quantity and infringe protected IP are handled as infringing goods. The regulation does not set a specific number of items.
How can I tell a shop is selling counterfeits?
Look for the patterns Korean investigators have published. The Korean Intellectual Property Office (now the Ministry of Intellectual Property) released the results of a Myeongdong crackdown in March 2025. The shops shared these traits:
- Street touts bring customers in; the door stays locked and only opens for them.
- They serve foreign tourists only, with signs in foreign languages and advance promotion on Instagram and similar platforms.
- Hidden rooms or secret doors hold the higher-grade "mirror" copies, sold separately.
- Prices are roughly 5–20% of the genuine item.
- Six Myeongdong shops were raided in February 2025: 8 people were charged and 3,544 items seized, worth about ₩20 billion at genuine prices. Louis Vuitton was the most common brand, followed by Chanel and Hermès.
How do I report a counterfeit seller?
Call 1666-6464 or file a report with the One-Stop IP Infringement Report Center run by the Korea Intellectual Property Protection Agency (KOIPA). The center takes reports on counterfeit goods and the sellers making or distributing them, online or offline. People who report manufacturers or distributors of fakes can apply for a reward under rules revised on January 1, 2023, if they meet the conditions.
Where can tourists file a shopping complaint in Korea?
The Korea Tourism Organization's 1330 Tourist Complaint Center. Call 1330 in Korea or +82-2-1330 from abroad, or file online at touristcomplaint.or.kr. Complaints are received, passed to the relevant department for investigation, and answered once resolved. 1330 also takes calls, live chat, and messages via KakaoTalk, Line and WhatsApp.
Does the Korea Consumer Agency handle cross-border consumer disputes?
Yes, but since January 1, 2026 requests go through the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center. The Korea Consumer Agency has merged its former Cross-Border Transaction Consumer Portal into the center, so consultations involving overseas parties are filed by calling 1372 (no area code). The old portal now only shows requests filed by December 31, 2025.
Checked 2026-11-04 on the Korean National Law Information Center (Customs Act, its Enforcement Decree, Trademark Act), Korea Customs Service, China MOFCOM legal database (State Council Order No. 572), Korea.kr policy briefing (KIPO, 2025-03-20), KOIPA, VISITKOREA 1330 and the Korea Consumer Agency cross-border portal.
Shopping guides
- Seoul sale calendar (late Oct – Mar) — Every big sale and brand sale in Seoul from late October to March. Announced dates are kept apart from expected ones (based on past years), every row is checked against a source, and each says whether tourists can use it and whether it's in stores or online.
- Seoul November 2026 sale calendar — Every big sale you can catch in Seoul in November 2026: Korea Grand Festival (Oct 29 – Nov 15), Olive Young Black Friday (Nov 1–7), 11st Singles Day (Nov 1–11), department store winter sales, MUSINSA Black Friday, US Black Friday on Nov 27 and the Korea Grand Sale from Dec 23. Each has this year's dates with sources, past editions and the latest verification date.
- Olive Young Black Friday 2026 (Nov 1–7) — Olive Young Black Friday 2026 runs Nov 1–7 in stores and online: daily deals by date, the Nov 4 Blackprize box drop, and what tourists can use.
- Korea Grand Sale & Sale Festa 2026 — The autumn Korea Grand Festival runs Oct 29–Nov 15, 2026 and is open to everyone. The winter Korea Grand Sale is for foreign visitors and runs Dec 23, 2026–Feb 13, 2027. This guide distinguishes the events and covers duty-free discounts up to 25% on Oct 29–Nov 15 and individual store conditions.
- Singles Day 11.11 in Korea 2026 — Korea's 11.11-related sales in 2026: 11st Grand 11 Day (Nov 1–11), G market Big Smile Day (Nov 2–13) and AliExpress 11.11 (Nov 1–18), mostly online and needing a Korean account. Offers and conditions, past dates, and the November sales you can use in Seoul stores.
- Korea Black Friday 2026 dates — Korea's Black Friday isn't one day: from late October through November there's the Korea Grand Festival, Shinsegae's SSG Day, and separate Black Friday sales from Olive Young, 29CM, MUSINSA and individual brands. This page lists the dates announced so far by brand and platform, gives last year's dates where nothing is announced, and says whether tourists can buy in store.
- Olive Young sale dates 2026 — Olive Young's big sale (올영세일) runs four times a year, one week each in March, June, September and December. In 2026 it ran Mar 1–7, May 31 – Jun 6 and Aug 30 – Sep 5; November Black Friday is set for Nov 1–7, and the December edition was not announced as of Oct 30, so last year's dates are shown for it. Also covers Olive Day (the 25th–27th of each month), the daily online deal, and how tourists buy and get a tax refund in store.
- Department store tourist coupons by store — Lotte Myeongdong, Shinsegae Main and Gangnam, The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, Hyundai Apgujeong and Trade Center, and Galleria Luxury Hall: what each gives tourists now, where to collect it, what to bring, plus address, subway exit, hours and November closing days (checked Nov 2).
- Outlets near Seoul — The main outlets around Seoul compared: which has the most luxury, which is best for sportswear, how to get there by bus, opening hours, tourist coupons and tax refunds, from the outlets' own sites.
- FAQ — The questions visitors ask most, answered using related guides: tax-refund minimums, how to get department-store tourist coupons, whether they stack with tax refunds, Alipay and WeChat Pay, outlets and sale dates. Each answer names its guide; the counter has the final word.
- Korea tax refund steps — How Korea's immediate and general shopping tax refunds differ: eligibility, KRW limits, refund slips, checked bags, and airport export confirmation.
- Korea Downtown Tax Refund and Airport Counters 2026 — You don't have to wait for the airport to get your Korean tax refund: purchases of up to ₩6,000,000 can be refunded in downtown Seoul first. Based on Korea Tourism Organization data, this page lists each airport's refund counter location, hours and payout currencies.
- Seoul QR Discounts: Check Wallet Eligibility First — Spotted an "up to 5% off" QR payment promo in Seoul? Check the designated wallet name in the full terms first. Using one official campaign's rules as an example, this guide covers what to verify before paying: wallet eligibility, participating stores, discount amount and usage limits.
- Musinsa Black Friday 2026 — Musinsa has not announced its 2026 winter Black Friday dates as of Nov 2, 2026. Last year it ran from 7 pm on Nov 16 to midnight on Nov 26, 2025, with about 4,500 brands and up to 80% off; 2024 dates for comparison.
- Olive Young FAQ — Whether tourists can join Olive Young membership, why prices differ between stores and online, the instant tax refund at the counter from ₩15,000 with a physical passport, the March/June/September/December Olive Young Sale, and which payment methods stores take.
- Foreign cards in Korea — Most Korean shops take Visa and Mastercard, but subway and bus gates don't accept foreign cards yet; since March 2026 Seoul's new subway machines sell tickets on foreign cards (about 3.7% fee). Pay in won, not your home currency.
- WOWPASS FAQ — WOWPASS is a prepaid card for foreign visitors with a built-in T-money transit function. Card price, the 16 cash currencies, the 1,000 KRW withdrawal fee and how to get T-money back, from the official site and terms.
- Kakao Pay for tourists — Short-term tourists generally can't open Kakao Pay, Naver Pay or Toss, but Alipay, AlipayHK, PayPay and other Alipay+ wallets pay at Kakao Pay merchants. Officially announced wallets, places and Naver Pay's tourist measures.
- Korea Grand Sale benefits — Korea Grand Sale 2027 runs Dec 23, 2026 – Feb 13, 2027. What has been officially announced so far, where to pick up the coupon book, and which partners are confirmed.
- Free vs paid coupons — Lotte, Hyundai, Galleria and Shinsegae run foreigner programs you join at an in-store desk with your passport, and the official steps include no purchase. What each gives, what to bring, where to go, and how to tell what a platform voucher adds.
- Duty free vs tax refund — Duty-free prices already exclude VAT and individual consumption tax; department stores charge tax-inclusive prices and refund the tax before you leave (from ₩15,000). Downtown duty-free goods are collected only at the departure pickup counter. Plus Korea's official allowance and purchase-limit rules.
- Tax refund with discounts — Coupons and payment discounts lower the price the VAT refund is based on, and the refund you actually get is less than 10% because operator fees are deducted. Plus the 2026 instant-refund limits, the minimum purchase and refunds to Alipay, WeChat Pay or card.
- Department store hours — Weekday and weekend hours, restaurant floor hours and November 2026 closing days for Lotte Main, Shinsegae Main and Gangnam, The Hyundai Seoul, Hyundai Apgujeong and Galleria Luxury Hall, plus Lunar New Year and Chuseok closures and downtown duty-free hours.
- Tax refund & coming sales
Source: National Law Information Center (법제처) · 상표법 제230조 침해죄 ↗ · National Law Information Center (법제처) · 관세법 제235조 지식재산권 등의 보호 ↗ · National Law Information Center (법제처) · 관세법 시행령 제243조 적용의 배제 ↗ · Korea Customs Service · Customs Procedures and Declarable Goods for Departure ↗ · post in Chinese ↗ · 대한민국 정책브리핑 · 특허청 명동 일대 위조상품 단속 결과 (2025-03-20) ↗ · 한국지식재산보호원 · 지식재산침해 원스톱 신고상담센터 ↗ · VISITKOREA (Korea Tourism Organization) · 1330 Travel Helpline & Complaint Center ↗ · 한국소비자원 · 국제거래 소비자포털 상담신청 서비스 통합 안내 ↗
Checked Nov 4, 2026
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In progress
Olive Young December Sale — expected; dates TBA