Daiso Tax Refund Korea 2026: Yes, It Qualifies Too — Minimum Purchase and How to Claim It

Bottom line: If you bought cosmetics or household goods at Daiso, don't throw away the receipt — check first whether the store has a "Tax Free" sign. Like Olive Young or department stores, Daiso counts as an ordinary tax-refund-eligible store, so a foreign tourist who has stayed in Korea under 6 months can get the VAT back on anything bought within 3 months of departure. Larger branches, like the Myeongdong Station store, even have multilingual staff and an in-store refund kiosk.

If you didn't know: because Daiso reads as a "cheap household-goods store," plenty of tourists never realize it qualifies for a tax refund and just toss the receipt. Refund-eligible purchases (15,000 won or more per store, per receipt) that add up to 100,000 won would get you back roughly 7-8% after fees — around 7,000-8,000 won, an estimate that varies with the refund operator's fee — but skip the receipt and that money just stays behind.

Daiso has become something tourists make a point of visiting in Korea over the past few years. When its Myeongdong Station branch expanded from 5 floors to 12 in 2024, it added an in-store tax-refund system and multilingual staff. Because prices are so low, it's easy to assume no single receipt will clear the refund threshold — but a few items of cosmetics, a pouch, and some travel goods from one store add up past 15,000 won fast.

To get the refund, show your passport at the register and have them issue a Tax Free receipt. At a store with instant refunds, you simply pay the price minus VAT on the spot; otherwise, hold onto the receipts and scan them at a refund kiosk outside the departure gates at Incheon Airport. Fall outside the residency or purchase-window conditions and you lose eligibility entirely, so it's safer to check those conditions early in your trip rather than near the end.

This article summarizes official information and is not legal, medical, or financial advice.

Journey stage: Going home · Verified 2026-10-13 · Source Korea Customs Service, Korea Tourism Organization