Korea Tax Refund: Cash or Only Back to Your Card?
CONNECT ON Inc. · How we verify · sources read SEP 10, 2026
Highlights
The short answer
The Incheon Airport tax refund kiosk pays out in cash by default, but you can choose to have the amount credited to your own credit card instead, which is the better option if the refund is large or you'd simply rather not carry the cash. This comes from the airport's own current refund procedure, so a traveller deciding between the two isn't choosing a workaround — both options are built into the standard process.
Payments, Cards & Tax Refund · Cards · Cash · VAT refundPhotograph: K Travel Way
Korea's airport tax refund process runs through a self-service kiosk once you've completed the shopping and customs steps, and the payout method is your choice at that kiosk rather than fixed in advance.
Do I get cash or does it go to my card?
The kiosk processes the refund as cash by default; if the amount is large or you prefer not to receive cash, you can choose to have it credited to your own credit card instead
Where are the kiosks?
Terminal 1 kiosk and service desk are near Gate 28, 3rd Floor, Duty-Free Zone, next to the central pharmacy on the 3rd floor of the Concourse Terminal 2 kiosk and service desk are near Gate 253, across from Gate 250, 3rd Floor, Duty Free Zone
When are they open?
00:00–24:00 A staffed service desk is also available with more limited hours: 07:00–22:00
What do I need before I get to the kiosk?
A purchase receipt and tax refund documents, issued at the time of purchase with your passport; these must be kept until departure A refund is refused if the documentation was not requested at purchase, or if it was filled out incompletely
Questions people ask
Is there a minimum purchase amount to qualify for a tax refund?
Yes — the purchase has to be over ₩15,000 to request the refund documentation at the time of buying.
Can I choose a card refund if my cash refund amount would be large?
Yes — the kiosk defaults to cash, but choosing a credit card credit instead is explicitly offered as an option, and it's the one the airport itself suggests for a large amount.
