# Olive Young Big Sale Dates, Tax Refund and Shopping Guide

> Catch the quarterly Olive Young Big Sale (March, June, September, and December) in Seoul to save up to 70% on Korean skincare. Even without a domestic Korean phone number for app coupons, marked shelf sale prices apply to everyone. Bring your physical passport for instant tax-free deductions at the register over 15,000 KRW, dodge afternoon queues, and pack liquids into checked baggage.

- URL: https://formthrow.com/en/k-culture/olive-young-sale-guide/
- Published: November 1, 2026
- Data as of: November 1, 2026

Shoppers who miss the quarterly Olive Young Big Sale calendar often end up paying full retail prices or spending 30 minutes stuck in afternoon cashier lines in Seoul. Foreign travelers cannot register for mobile app coupons because the platform requires local Korean phone verification (PASS), yet discounted red price tags on store shelves apply to everyone at checkout. Spending at least 15,000 KRW in a single receipt and showing your physical passport lets the cashier deduct value-added tax directly on the spot, bypassing airport refund desks entirely.

## Olive Young Big Sale Schedule and Promotion Types

Olive Young organizes discounts across four major quarterly sales, monthly member days, and winter year-end showcases.

| Event Type | Frequency and Timing | Discount Depth and Key Benefits | Shopper Strategy |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Olive Young Big Sale | Quarterly (First week of March, June, September, December; 7 days) | Up to 70% off, 1+1 bundle sets, daily surprise doorbusters | Best time for bulk purchases if your travel dates align. Popular 1+1 sets sell out by morning on days 1 and 2. |
| Olive Young Day | Monthly (25th to 27th; 3 days) | Category-specific markdowns and reward points | Shelf sale prices marked with red tags apply automatically at the register even without app membership. |
| Black Friday | Early to mid-November (Annual) | Seasonal winter moisture care and new brand bundles | Great window to purchase rich barrier creams and winter serums right before the December big sale. |
| Olive Young Awards | Early December through year-end | Exclusive limited editions of annual top-ranked items | Stores stock value sets featuring full-size products bundled with generous travel miniatures or refills. |

The headline discount event is the quarterly "Olive Young Big Sale" held during the opening week of March, June, September, and December. During this week-long event, prominent Korean skincare labels like Torriden, Mediheal, Round Lab, and UNOVE roll out exclusive 1+1 bundles and oversized duo packages. Because these bundles move fast, visiting during the first two days of the sale between 10:00 and 11:30 AM guarantees the best selection.

## Instant Tax Refund Rules and Payment Options

Presenting your physical passport at checkout deducts the local value-added tax directly from your total bill.

* **Minimum spend**: Your single transaction total must reach at least **15,000 KRW**.
* **Single receipt ceiling**: Instant in-store deductions apply up to **under 1,000,000 KRW** per receipt.
* **Trip stay cumulative limit**: You can claim instant tax refunds up to a combined total of **5,000,000 KRW** across your entire stay in Korea.
* **Required document**: You must hand your **original physical passport** to the cashier. Digital smartphone photos and paper photocopies cannot be processed by point-of-sale passport readers.

When instant tax refund applies, your receipt displays the discounted net total. You do not need to show items to customs officers or queue at kiosk terminals at Incheon or Gimpo International Airport. Receipts exceeding 1,000,000 KRW receive standard tax-free slips that require airport validation; review our [Korea tax refund guide](https://formthrow.com/en/travel/korea-tax-refund/) for step-by-step airport kiosk instructions.

Cashiers accept international credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and American Express without transaction fees. Travelers using reloadable debit solutions can check our [Korea cash, cards, and WOWPASS guide](https://formthrow.com/en/travel/korea-cash-card-exchange/) to capitalize on in-app cashback promotions.

Unlike tax-free shopping rules in Japan, Korean retailers do not enclose your purchases in sealed tamper-evident plastic bags. You can freely open products and apply sheet masks in your Seoul hotel room that same evening without complications when boarding your return flight.

## Beating Checkout Queues and Branch Selection

Branches in heavy tourist quarters suffer long checkout queues every afternoon.

Seoul real-time urban monitoring data shows foot traffic peaking at Myeongdong tourist zones at 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM on weekdays, and 1:00 PM on weekends. Major flagship branches such as Myeongdong Town, Central Myeongdong Town, and Olive YoungN Seongsu regularly record checkout wait times between 20 and 35 minutes from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

To avoid crowds, plan your visit during the morning golden window between **10:00 AM and 11:30 AM**. Displays remain tidy, bundle sets sit fully stocked, and checkout takes less than five minutes.

If Myeongdong central street feels overcrowded, walk five to ten minutes toward Euljiro 1-ga Station, Jongno, or Seodaemun. Smaller neighborhood branches near your accommodation carry identical sale prices with zero wait times. For an in-depth breakdown of regional flagships and Daiso beauty counters, browse our [Seoul K-beauty shopping guide](https://formthrow.com/en/k-culture/k-beauty-shopping-seoul/).

## Packing 100ml Liquids for Your Flight Home

Stocking up on toners, mists, or large ampoules requires careful luggage preparation before heading to the airport.

International aviation security regulations strictly prohibit containers **exceeding 100ml of liquids or gels** in carry-on baggage. Even if a bottle is half-empty, airport security checkpoints will confiscate and discard any container labeled with a capacity of 150ml or 200ml. Multi-pack sheet masks heavy with essence can also fall under liquid restrictions.

Pack all skincare products exceeding 100ml inside your checked suitcases at your hotel room, wrapping them securely among soft clothing before dropping luggage off at airline check-in counters.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can foreign tourists download coupons from the Olive Young app?

No. Creating an account and claiming digital coupons in the Olive Young mobile app requires identity verification (PASS) tied to a Korean mobile carrier network, which short-term tourists cannot complete. Red promotional sale tags displayed directly on store shelves apply automatically to all shoppers at the register without barcode scans.

### Can I receive an instant tax refund using a passport photocopy or phone picture?

Under Korean tax law, photocopies and smartphone photos are strictly rejected by the dedicated point-of-sale optical scanners. You must present your original physical passport at the cash register to deduct the value-added tax immediately from your payment.

### Can I open and use cosmetics purchased at Olive Young while still in Korea?

Unlike Japanese duty-free rules that seal items in clear tamper-evident plastic bags until departure, Korean in-store tax-refunded items are handed to you unsealed. You can open facial masks or moisturizers in your hotel room the very evening you purchase them without customs penalties.

## Sources

- [Olive Young Myeongdong Town (Global store guide)](https://myeongdongtown.oliveyoung.com/en), CJ Olive Young
- [CJ Olive Young Big Sale Official Announcement](https://cjnews.cj.net/), CJ Newsroom
- [Tax refund for foreign tourists in Korea](https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/infoBscView.do?vcontsId=140736), VISITKOREA
- [Aviation Carry-on Liquids and Gels Regulations](https://airport.kr/ap_en/1433/subview.do), Incheon International Airport
- [Reddit r/koreatravel & r/AsianBeauty Olive Young Big Sale Dates & In-Store Tax Free Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/koreatravel/), Reddit
- [Creatrip Foreigner Shopping Guide for Olive Young Seoul](https://creatrip.com/en/blog/), Creatrip