Gangnam
Dr. Yoon-Gon Ryu
Aesthetic Medicine Specialist
Flagship clinic · KOL for leading lifting & regenerative devices · Featured in Authority Magazine (2026)
Korea’s foreign-patient scheme once returned part of the 10% VAT on qualifying cosmetic skin procedures, but the cosmetic-procedure refund ended from 1 January 2026, so treatment cost is now VAT-inclusive and best confirmed at the clinic.
Skin treatment cost in Korea includes 10% VAT, and the foreign-patient medical VAT refund that once returned part of it on qualifying cosmetic procedures ended from 1 January 2026. So patients now pay the VAT-inclusive price with no cosmetic refund. Because rules can change, confirm current pricing and any tax rules at consultation rather than assuming a refund still applies.
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Skin treatment cost in Korea has always included a 10% value-added tax (VAT) on cosmetic procedures. What changed the effective cost for foreign patients was the medical VAT refund scheme, introduced in 2016, which let eligible short-stay visitors reclaim part of that 10% on qualifying cosmetic treatments. It was a fiscal benefit for medical tourists, not a clinic discount, and it applied to specific cosmetic categories rather than every service.
Under that scheme, the effective out-of-pocket cost could be a little lower than the sticker price, because a share of the VAT was returned after treatment. The refund was never the full 10%, since an approved operator deducted a handling fee, so the net saving was a portion of the VAT. The base treatment price itself was set by the clinic and depended on the procedure, the device, the area treated, and the number of sessions.
Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance announced in 2025 that this VAT refund for cosmetic and dermatological procedures would end, and it was scrapped from 1 January 2026. From that date, cosmetic treatment cost is simply the VAT-inclusive price, with no medical refund to reclaim. The separate retail shopping refund is unaffected. Because pricing is consultation-led and tax policy can shift again, the accurate approach is to confirm the current cost and any tax rules at the clinic rather than rely on an old figure.
The cost mechanism rested on Korea’s 10% value-added tax added to cosmetic skin treatment. Under the former refund, an eligible short-stay foreign patient treated at a facility registered with an approved operator could reclaim part of that 10% before leaving the country. The clinic issued a dedicated tax refund receipt showing the treatment, the amount paid, and the VAT portion, and the patient claimed it at the airport, at a designated in-city counter, or through the operator, typically within about 3 months. Because the operator deducted a service fee, the net refund was a share of the 10% VAT rather than the whole amount, so the effective cost sat between the pre-VAT price and the full VAT-inclusive price. The base price itself depended on factors a consultation clarifies: the specific procedure, the device used, the size of the treated area, and how many sessions a plan needs. The key change is that the Ministry of Economy and Finance moved in 2025 to end this benefit for cosmetic and dermatological procedures, and it ended from 1 January 2026. So the effective cost is now the VAT-inclusive price, with no portion returned. Note that the separate tourist shopping tax-refund program for retail purchases is unaffected. Because prices are consultation-led and never fixed here without an assessment, and because tax rules can be revised, our team explains current pricing transparently at consultation rather than promising a figure or a refund.
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Because the cosmetic refund ended from 1 January 2026, step 1 is confirming that the price is VAT-inclusive, since policy can change again.
Cost depends on the procedure, device, and treated area, so the clinic’s doctors assess your skin before quoting, not before your 1st visit.
Many skin treatments need more than 1 session, so a plan of 2 or 3 sessions is priced differently from a single visit.
The 10% VAT is built into the quoted price in 2026, so the number you are told is the amount you pay at the desk.
You get 1 standard treatment receipt per visit; since 2026 no medical refund receipt is issued, but the receipt still supports your budgeting.
See representative outcomes from Reberry Clinic. Results build gradually and vary by individual; your plan is assessed at consultation.
At our Gangnam or Myeongdong locations in Seoul, the clinic’s doctors assess your skin, then the team explains, in English, VAT-inclusive pricing and the current 2026 tax rules.
You pay the quoted VAT-inclusive price and receive a standard receipt; since the cosmetic refund ended in 2026, no medical refund receipt is issued.
The pricing and tax discussion adds only minutes at the desk, and the team confirms what applies before your 1st session so there are no surprises.
Because there is currently no cosmetic-procedure refund, your budget reflects the VAT-inclusive price rather than a portion returned later at the airport.
Keep copies of your receipts, and note that tax rules can be revised, so confirm the current pricing and requirements at consultation before each visit.
Cost depends on the procedure, device, treated area, and number of sessions, and it includes the 10% VAT in the 2026 price. Because pricing is consultation-led, a precise figure comes after a skin assessment. You can explore options first on our skin care page and confirm your price at consultation.
No, the medical VAT refund for cosmetic and dermatological procedures ended from 1 January 2026, so no part of the VAT is reclaimed on cosmetic care now. The price you are quoted is the VAT-inclusive amount you pay. This differs from the retail shopping refund, which continues for eligible purchases at shops.
Yes, in 2026 the 10% VAT is built into the quoted price, so the number you are told at consultation is the amount you pay at the desk. Since the cosmetic refund ended, there is no separate VAT portion to reclaim later. Our team keeps quotes transparent so you can budget accurately before you travel.
Under the former scheme the refund was a portion of the 10% VAT, not the full 10%, because an approved operator deducted a handling fee. The net saving depended on the qualifying treatment and price paid. Since the refund ended in 2026, this is historic context rather than a current way to lower cost.
Base cost varies with the specific procedure, the device used, the size of the treated area, and how many sessions the plan needs. A single session is priced differently from a course of 2 or 3. The clinic’s doctors match treatment to your skin on our skin care page, then the team quotes accordingly.
No, the retail shopping tax refund applies to eligible retail purchases, such as skincare products bought at shops, not to medical treatment. It is unaffected by the 2026 medical change and handled separately at retail counters. When budgeting for a procedure, keep the two schemes distinct so you plan with accurate numbers.
Because cost depends on your skin, the chosen device, the area, and the number of sessions, an accurate price needs a consultation rather than a generic figure. This keeps quotes honest and VAT-inclusive. You can review the range of treatments on our skin care page and get your specific price at the assessment.
In effect, out-of-pocket cost is the VAT-inclusive price, since the portion previously refunded is no longer returned. The base price is set by the clinic, while VAT is charged normally. Our team explains pricing transparently at consultation, and you can review your options first on our skin care page.
Yes, tax and refund policies are set by Korean authorities and can be updated, which is exactly why the cosmetic refund was ended in 2026 after being introduced in 2016. Because of that, we confirm the current rule and pricing at consultation rather than relying on older information, so you always budget with accurate figures.
Keep your passport and every standard treatment receipt for your records. Since the cosmetic refund ended in 2026, no medical refund receipt is issued, but organised receipts still help with expense tracking and follow-up. A transparent clinic issues clear, itemised receipts at every visit without you needing to ask.
No, the former tax refund returned part of the VAT you already paid through an official scheme, not a promotional discount from the clinic. VAT is charged normally as part of the price. Any current offers are separate from tax policy, and our team keeps billing transparent and receipt-based at every visit.
No, tax policy is a fiscal matter and has no bearing on the clinical care you receive. Your skin treatment is planned and performed the same way regardless of any refund. The clinic’s doctors match modalities to your skin type and goals, and the tax question only affects the price you budget, not safety.
For a single session, 2 to 3 days is usually comfortable, allowing a consultation, treatment, and a short review. If you plan several treatments, budget a few extra days. Our English-speaking team helps coordinate appointments across our Seoul locations around your travel dates and departure from Korea.
For many non-invasive skin treatments, flying within a day or so is generally fine, though cabin air is drying, so moisturise and protect treated skin. For procedures with aftercare, follow your doctor’s guidance. A tailored skin care routine helps you maintain results while you travel.
International patients can continue care across return visits, and the clinic offers remote check-ins in English between trips. Keep your treatment receipts on file for your own records. You can also maintain results at home with a tailored skin care routine recommended by the clinic’s doctors.
Treat older articles carefully, since many were written before the cosmetic-procedure refund ended from 1 January 2026 and may overstate savings. Always confirm current pricing with the clinic before planning your budget. Our English-speaking team gives you the up-to-date VAT-inclusive figure so you are not relying on outdated numbers.
| With former refund (pre-2026) | Without refund (from 2026) | Retail shopping refund | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you paid | VAT-inclusive price, part of the VAT reclaimed later | VAT-inclusive price, nothing reclaimed | Not applicable to medical treatment |
| Effective cost | Slightly below sticker after the partial VAT refund | The full VAT-inclusive price you are quoted | Reduced price on eligible retail purchases |
| Who qualified | Short-stay visitors at a registered facility | All patients pay the same VAT-inclusive price | Tourists buying eligible retail goods |
| Documents | Medical refund receipt plus passport and entry record | Standard treatment receipt only | Retail refund slip at participating shops |
| Where handled | Airport or in-city medical refund counter | Paid in full at the clinic desk | Retail refund counters, separate from clinics |
| Status now | Historic context only | The current rule from 1 January 2026 | Unaffected and still available |
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