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 cosmetic VAT refund, introduced in 2016, was discontinued on 31 December 2025, so from 1 January 2026 aesthetic skin treatments in Seoul are priced VAT-inclusive with no medical refund.
No, not anymore. Korea’s foreign-patient cosmetic VAT-refund scheme was discontinued on 31 December 2025, so from 2026 aesthetic skin treatments in Seoul do not qualify for a VAT refund. The 10% VAT is now simply part of the price; budget for the full quoted amount, confirmed transparently at consultation across our Seoul locations in Gangnam and Myeongdong.
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The tax refund on skin treatment refers to Korea’s foreign-patient medical VAT (value-added tax) scheme, introduced in 2016, which let eligible short-stay foreign visitors reclaim a portion of the 10% VAT charged on certain cosmetic medical procedures, including qualifying skin treatments. It was a fiscal policy aimed at medical tourists, not a clinic discount, and it applied to specific cosmetic categories rather than every service.
Under that scheme, a qualifying clinic registered with an approved refund operator issued a dedicated medical refund receipt, and the visitor claimed the refund at a designated in-city counter, at the airport before departure, or through the operator’s process, usually within a set window. The amount returned was a share of the VAT rather than the full 10%, because operator and handling fees were deducted.
Importantly, 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 and aesthetic treatment prices are VAT-inclusive with no medical refund. Because tax policy can shift again, the accurate, non-promissory position is to verify the current rules at the point of care rather than assume a refund applies. At Reberry Clinic, care is English-supported across our Seoul locations in Gangnam and Myeongdong.
The refund mechanism rested on Korea’s 10% value-added tax. When an eligible short-stay foreign patient received a qualifying cosmetic skin procedure at a registered facility, VAT was charged as normal, but the patient could reclaim part of it before leaving the country. A qualifying institution registered with an approved refund operator issued a dedicated tax refund receipt showing the treatment, the amount paid, and the VAT portion. The patient then presented that receipt, their passport, and usually their entry record at a designated refund counter, at the airport, or through the operator, typically within about 3 months of treatment. Because an operator handled verification, a service fee was deducted, so the net refund was a share of the 10% VAT, not the whole amount. Eligibility was tied to being a genuine short-stay visitor, not a long-term resident, and to the treatment falling inside the covered cosmetic categories. The key change is that Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance moved in 2025 to terminate this benefit for cosmetic and dermatological procedures, and it ended from 1 January 2026. Note that the separate tourist shopping tax-refund program for retail purchases is unaffected. Because rules like these are set by the authorities and can be revised, our team confirms the current position at consultation rather than promising a figure.
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Because the cosmetic-procedure refund ended from 1 January 2026, step 1 is always to verify the current rule at the clinic, since policy can change again.
Under the former scheme you had to be a short-stay foreign visitor, not a long-term resident, with the procedure inside the qualifying cosmetic categories.
The refund only applied at a facility registered with an approved operator, so this had to be verified before your 1st session, not after.
The clinic issued a dedicated medical tax refund receipt showing the VAT portion of the 10% charged, alongside your standard receipt.
You presented the receipt and passport at the airport, an in-city point, or via the operator, usually within about 3 months of treatment.
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At our Gangnam or Myeongdong locations in Seoul, the clinic’s doctors assess your skin, and the team explains, in English, the current tax rules and VAT-inclusive pricing.
You receive your treatment with a standard receipt; since the cosmetic refund ended in 2026, no medical refund receipt is issued unless rules change again.
The tax question is paperwork, not a treatment, so it adds only minutes at the desk, and our team confirms what applies before your 1st session.
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 requirements at consultation before each visit.
No, the medical VAT refund for cosmetic and dermatological procedures ended from 1 January 2026, so treatment prices are now VAT-inclusive with no refund. This differs from the retail shopping refund, which continues. Our team confirms the current rule for your plan on our skin care page and at consultation.
Yes, Reberry Clinic operates locations in Seoul at Gangnam and Myeongdong, plus a further location at Incheon Airport. International patients receive their skin consultation, treatment, and tax guidance there with full English support, so planning care in Seoul around your travel dates is straightforward across our locations.
The refund for cosmetic and dermatological procedures ended from 1 January 2026, after Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance announced the change in its 2025 tax plan. Introduced in 2016, the scheme returned part of the 10% VAT to eligible short-stay visitors. From 2026, patients pay the VAT-inclusive price with no medical refund.
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 for processing. The net amount depended on the qualifying treatment and price paid. Since the refund ended in 2026, this is now historic context rather than a current benefit.
No, the change applies only to the medical VAT refund for cosmetic and dermatological procedures. The separate tourist shopping tax refund for eligible retail purchases, such as skincare products bought at shops, is unaffected and still processed at retail refund counters. The two schemes are administered differently, so do not confuse them when budgeting.
The former scheme covered specific cosmetic categories rather than every service, so not all skin treatments qualified even then. From 2026 the medical refund no longer applies to any of them. You can still explore treatment options on our skin care page and confirm current pricing at consultation.
Under the former scheme you needed the dedicated medical tax refund receipt, your passport, and your entry record, all issued through a facility registered with an approved operator. Since the refund ended in 2026, only a standard treatment receipt is issued now. Keeping records organised still helps for your own budgeting and follow-up.
Yes, tax and refund policies are set by Korean authorities and can be updated at any time, which is exactly why the cosmetic refund was ended in 2026 after being introduced in 2016. Because of that, we confirm the current rule at consultation rather than relying on older information, so you always plan with accurate figures.
Reberry Clinic has locations in Seoul at Gangnam and Myeongdong, both reachable by subway, plus an Incheon Airport location. Our multilingual team helps patients understand pricing and current tax rules wherever they are treated, and you can browse treatments first on our skin care page.
No, the former tax refund was a return of 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 be out of date. Always confirm the current rule with the clinic before planning your budget. Our English-speaking team gives you the up-to-date position so you are not relying on outdated guidance.
No, because the cosmetic-procedure medical VAT refund ended in 2026, a dedicated medical refund receipt is no longer issued; you receive a standard treatment receipt instead. If policy changes in future, our team will confirm any new process at consultation. You can plan your visit first on our skin care page.
| Airport Refund Counter (former) | In-City Refund Point (former) | Current Rule (from 2026) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it happened | At the departure airport before your flight | At a designated downtown refund counter in Seoul | No cosmetic-procedure medical VAT refund is issued |
| Applies to | Short-stay visitors leaving soon after treatment | Short-stay visitors staying a few days in the city | All patients pay the VAT-inclusive treatment price |
| Documents | Refund receipt plus passport and entry record | Refund receipt plus passport and entry record | Standard treatment receipt only, no refund receipt |
| Timing | On departure day, allowing extra time at the airport | During your stay, within the former refund window | Confirmed at consultation, as policy can be revised |
| Retail shopping refund | Unaffected and handled separately at retail counters | Unaffected and handled separately at retail counters | Still available for eligible retail purchases |
| What to do now | Historic context only | Historic context only | Budget for VAT-inclusive pricing and verify current rules |
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