Guide · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Olive Young Tourist 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.
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Can tourists join Olive Young membership without a Korean phone number?
The Korean in-store membership (with points) is for Korean residents only: Olive Young says you need to live in Korea and have a phone number in your own name. Membership special prices are only for members with an account on the Korean online mall (oliveyoung.co.kr). Olive Young points foreign customers to Olive Young Global Mall (global.oliveyoung.com) membership instead. It is free and has 5 tiers (BABY to GOLD), but it belongs to the overseas-shipping online mall, not to Korean store points.
Are Olive Young prices the same in every store and online?
Not always. Olive Young's FAQ says the same product can be priced differently depending on the store's local market (competition, new openings), promotions run by each channel (online mall or store), and partner payment-method deals. Olive Young Global Mall is a separate online store priced in US dollars and shipped from Korea to 60+ countries. Its shipping page lists Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, Macau, Mongolia, the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan for Asia; mainland China and Korea are not listed.
Can I get an instant tax refund at Olive Young stores?
Yes. The Myeongdong Global store says that if you spend ₩15,000 or more and show your physical passport, you get the tax refund right at the counter. Sanitary goods, shopping bags and dried fruit are not eligible. If you don't have your physical passport, aren't registered with Korea Customs, or have stayed in Korea more than 6 months, you get a refund slip and claim it at the airport refund counter.
| Item | Myeongdong Global store's official FAQ |
|---|---|
| Minimum | ₩15,000 per receipt |
| Maximum per receipt | ₩1,000,000 |
| Total limit | ₩5,000,000 |
| Refund rate | 5–8% of the purchase amount, calculated in ₩1,000 steps |
| Slips from other shops | GTF refund slips can be refunded at the GTF desk in the 2F Global Service Lounge, with your physical passport |
When is the Olive Young Sale?
Four times a year, in March, June, September and December, for about one week each time. CJ Olive Young says each sale puts around 30,000 products on special price, with more than 1,500 brands taking part. There is also "Olive Day" on the 25th–27th of each month, but its coupons depend on the 5 tiers of the Korean membership (Olive Members), and the daily "Today's Special" deal runs only on the online mall and app.
Do Olive Young stores take Alipay, WeChat Pay and UnionPay?
Yes. The Myeongdong Global store lists simple payments such as WeChat Pay and Alipay among its services. CJ Olive Young press releases also describe in-store discount events for Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay and WOWPASS (for example in Feb–Mar 2026, 10% off ₩100,000+ with UnionPay, up to ₩20,000; those events have ended and each new one is announced separately). Olive Young's official pages do not publish a full list of card brands accepted in stores.
Can I return or exchange something I bought at Olive Young?
Yes, for unopened regular items within 15 days of purchase. Bring the payment method you used and the receipt. Refunds are only given at the store where you bought the item; exchanges can be made at any Olive Young store in Korea for an item of equal or higher value.
Where is the Olive Young Myeongdong Global store and when is it open?
Every day 10:00–22:30, holidays included, at 53 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul: Exit 8 of Myeongdong Station (Line 4) or Exit 5 of Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2). Services include tax refund, gift wrapping (₩1,000–2,500), gift card sales and foreign-language help; paper bags cost ₩100 and reusable bags ₩500. The store has no restroom; Olive Young suggests using the nearest subway station.
Checked 2026-11-04 on the Olive Young Myeongdong Global store site (myeongdongtown.oliveyoung.com), the oliveyoung.co.kr FAQ, Olive Young Global Mall membership and shipping pages, and the CJ Olive Young newsroom. Rules and promotions change; the store's own notice on the day applies.
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 discounts — The four department stores' tourist programs: how much they take off, which floor to go to, what to bring, which brands are excluded, and how they work with tax refunds and Alipay, WeChat Pay or UnionPay.
- 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.
- 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.
- Counterfeits 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.
- 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: CJ Olive Young · OLIVE YOUNG MYEONGDONG GLOBAL – FAQ, floor map, directions ↗ · CJ Olive Young · 올리브영 온라인몰 FAQ ([매장] 동일한 상품인데 가격이 왜 다른가요?) ↗ · OLIVE YOUNG Global · Membership (OY MEMBERS) ↗ · OLIVE YOUNG Global · Shipping ↗ · CJ Olive Young newsroom · 알고 사면 더 재미있는 올리브영 세일 설명서 (2026-09-14) ↗ · CJ Olive Young newsroom · 올영세일 외국인 재방문 3년 새 11배 증가 (2026-06-22) ↗ · CJ Olive Young newsroom · 외국인 관광객 대상 제휴·할인 혜택 확대 박차 (2026-02-02) ↗
Checked Nov 4, 2026
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In progress
Olive Young December Sale — expected; dates TBA