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Start your Korean skincare shopping in Seoul at Olive Young Myeongdong Town Store and understand how to plan your visit, request a tax refund, and check eligibility rules.
The practical answer
A practical starting point for browsing Korean skincare in Seoul is the Olive Young Myeongdong Town Store at 53 Myeong-dong-gil, Jung-gu. Olive Young is described as a multi-brand beauty and health retailer, and its Myeongdong Town location offers a range of cosmetics brands for visitors to try before purchase. The store accepts both cash and card payments and provides a tax refund service for eligible international visitors. Before visiting, verify the branch listing for the most current details.
VISITKOREA also lists Sulwhasoo flagship locations in Bukchon and Gangnam. Its page describes a reservation-only traditional Korean medicine spa program, so confirm current store access and any program reservation directly with the branch rather than assuming the program is a walk-in shopping service.
Planning your visit and tax refund process
To plan a visit to Olive Young Myeongdong Town Store, go to 53 Myeong-dong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul. The store's published hours are 10:00 to 22:30, but you should check the branch listing before your visit to confirm current hours and services.
To request a tax refund at Olive Young, eligible non-Korean visitors must spend at least ₩15,000 in a single transaction on goods that are new, unopened, and unused. Show your passport at the time of purchase and keep your receipts, as these are required for the refund process.
Immediate tax refunds at participating stores are available if your single payment is at least ₩15,000 and less than ₩1,000,000, with total purchases during your trip not exceeding ₩5,000,000. Only non-Korean visitors staying less than six months are eligible, and you must depart Korea within three months of purchase for the refund to apply.
What to check
Tax refund eligibility at Olive Young and similar stores requires that you are a non-Korean visitor staying less than six months, spend at least ₩15,000 per receipt on new, unopened, and unused goods, and depart Korea within three months of purchase. Present your passport at the time of purchase to process the refund.
Distinguish between duty-free and tax refund shopping: duty-free retail excludes specified taxes from the sales price, while a tax refund allows eligible travelers to claim back taxes paid on qualifying goods at participating stores.
Refund amounts and processing periods may vary, so always check the latest refund details before making purchases. The VISITKOREA tax-refund guide was last updated October 21, 2025, and store hours or refund rules may change. Confirm current information before your visit. For broader trip planning, see the Kignal destination guides.